XI Graphics Announces Plans to Bring Hardware-Accelerated 3D to Linux

FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE

Date: October 14, 1998

Contact:

Jim Koehler or Dan Snyders
GD&A Public Relations
(303) 447-1190
jim@gda-pr.com
dan@gda-pr.com

Xi Graphics Announces Plans to Bring
Hardware-Accelerated 3D to Linux
Technology Demo Now
Available

Denver — The leader in high-performance X display servers
for Linux and UNIX announces a special, limited quantity Technology
Demo version of its planned
Accelerated-X_3D^TM Display
Server. This Technology Demo is a complete Accelerated-X
Display Server that integrates both 2D and 3D capability into the
server body and includes the Open GL API and developer’s tools. In
making the announcement, Xi Graphics becomes the first to make a
hardware-accelerated 3D X server available on a wide range of
graphics boards on Intel Linux machines.

“We have experienced high demand for this software from end users,
game developers, CAD development groups and government
organizations,” says Lee Roder, Xi Graphics’ engineering director.
He also stresses that although the 3D Technology Demo is not yet
retail product, portions of it have undergone extensive internal
testing. “It is being made available to a select group of experts
in the field so they can evaluate and critique the concepts used in
the 3D server architecture.”

The 3D Technology Demo is targeted at qualified developers who are
currently deploying OpenGL applications and are interested in
moving to Linux/UNIX on the PC platform. It allows developers the
opportunity to field test the package and work with Xi Graphics in
the “Proof of Concept” stage of the product. Developers who
purchase the $375 package will receive free upgrades to the demo
and to the final product for one year after its release.

“This is not a production product,” says Roder. “It is very early,
raw code and should not be compared in performance to any Windows
or Mac product. That comes later when the architectural approach
has been completed.”

The new server, which will be a companion product to the company’s
existing Accelerated-X Display Server line, incorporates advanced
features such as rendering of multiple concurrent 3D windows,
advanced texture-caching, tablet support (Wacom and Summagraphics),
spaceball support (Logitech Magellan) and 8, 15/16, 24/32 bbp
support (depending upon hardware support).

Support for several initial 3D graphics chipsets, such as Glint
Delta/MX, Permedia II, Ticket2Ride IV, i740 and SiS 6326, is
included. Additionally, the 3D Demo server will be available for
use on Intel hardware with Linux, UnixWare7 and Solaris/x86, v2.7,
v2.6 and v2.5.1 operating systems in Intel Hardware.

This 3D Technology Demo is a controlled release; therefore,
developers interested in taking advantage of this opportunity
should contact Xi Graphics only by e-mail via devrel@xig.com. The Xi Graphics Web
site can be found at www.xig.com.
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