San Jose, CA, November
8, 1999 -
Quantum3D(TM) Inc., the leader in PC-based interactive
3D visual computing systems, today announced AAlchemy(TM),
a watershed realtime 3D graphics subsystem family
for visual simulation and training applications.
AAlchemy will offer the most scalable and advanced
PC-based graphics capabilities to date, delivering
full-scene, sub-pixel anti-aliasing with greater
polygon throughput, a significantly higher fill
rate, faster texture download, and improved image
quality. The AAlchemy family, a subsystem of Quantum3D's
Heavy Metal(TM) GX+ visual computing system, represents
the third generation of Quantum3D's unique anti-aliasing
technology. It couples Quantum3D's proven, patent-pending
products with new architecture founded on upcoming
graphics technology from 3dfx(R). AAlchemy will
be launched at I/ITSEC, and can be ordered now via
the Quantum3D Mercury(TM)
Rising Program.
First PC-based Gigapixel Per
Second Performance
AAlchemy will deliver scalable texture fill rates
from 140 megapixels per second to greater than one
gigapixel per second, depending on system configuration.
AAlchemy features enhanced triangle and texture
paging throughput to deliver industry-leading peak
textured triangle rates and texture paging performance,
capable of supporting 1280 x 1024 resolution or
greater.
AAlchemy will employ T-Buffer(TM)
technology, jointly developed by 3dfx and Quantum3D,
which enables the graphics subsystem to deliver
unmatched, full-scene sub-pixel anti-aliased image
quality, along with previously impossible special
effects that significantly enhance visual realism.
The AAlchemy architecture approach will enable wide
parallelism for single-pass, full-scene, sub-pixel
anti-aliasing and deep parallelism for scalable
fill rate. AAlchemy will also exploit the enhanced
rendering and texture capabilities in the 3dfx chip
to deliver 32-bit per-pixel color and Z, source,
and destination alpha-blending, stencil buffering,
advanced texture compression, enhanced transparency
support, and advanced video capabilities.
"Quantum3D delivered the
first open architecture PC-based visual computing
systems with full-scene, sub-pixel anti-aliasing,
and continues to deliver the best value solutions
today for developers and integrators in visual simulation
and training," said Rick Bess, Vice President
of Marketing and Business Development for Quantum3D.
"The AAlchemy family is the most advanced open
architecture, scalable graphics subsystem to date.
It is both a revolution in performance and value
and an evolution of proven technology. AAlchemy
demonstrates Quantum3D's continued commitment to
meeting our customers' requirements and give them
more choice than ever before."
General Information
Heavy Metal GX+ with AAlchemy is an open architecture,
scalable system that enables single or multi-channel
configuration and combines the most advanced industry-standard
components with Quantum3D's value-added and patent-pending
realtime 3D graphics technologies. Quantum3D systems
are compatible with a wide range of leading realtime
3D scene managers such as MultiGen-Paradigm's Vega(TM),
Soft Reality's SoftVR(TM), CATI's X-IG, and CG2's
Vtree(TM) as well as Quantum3D's OpenGVS(TM); with
3D graphics APIs such as 3dfx Glide(R) and Microsoft(R)
Direct3D(R); with realtime 3D file formats such
as OpenFlight(R) and Terra Page(TM); and with leading
operating systems. Leaders in visual simulation
and training worldwide have already adopted Heavy
Metal GX+ with Quantum3D's advanced graphics subsystem
Mercury, delivering PC-based full-scene, sub-pixel
anti-aliasing today. Applications developed on Heavy
Metal GX+ Mercury systems will run on AAlchemy,
enabling Mercury users to upgrade easily to AAlchemy's
improved scalability, image quality, and performance.
Participants in the Quantum3D Mercury Rising Program
(details on the Quantum3D web site at www.quantum3d.com)
will receive upgrades to AAlchemy.
Quantum3D will announce AAlchemy
specifications on November 15th, and will start
shipping AAlchemy in Q1 2000.
About Quantum3D
Quantum3D, San Jose, California, develops and markets
integrated interactive 3D visual computing systems,
realtime 3D graphics subsystems, and related system
software, that combine to deliver sustained realtime
frame rates, superior graphics quality, and value.
Quantum3D delivers complete 3D visual computing
solutions for the visual simulation and training
market and the out-of-home entertainment markets,
and is the exclusive supplier of 3dfx graphics technology
into those markets. In addition, Quantum3D creates
and distributes realtime 3D development software
tools and products, enabling developers to fully
optimize their applications to benefit from the
company's visual computing systems.
Quantum3D, Heavy Metal, Mercury,
AAlchemy, SimGL, and OpenGVS are trademarks of Quantum3D.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective
owners.