Upgrading and Repairing PCs

3D Graphics Accelerators

Since the late 1990s, 3D acceleration—once limited to exotic add-on cards designed for hardcore gameplayers—has become commonplace in the PC world. Although business software has yet to embrace 3D imaging, full-motion graphics are used in sports, first-person shooters, team combat, driving, and many other types of PC gaming. Because even low-cost integrated chipsets offer some 3D support and 3D video cards are now in their sixth generation of development, virtually any user of a recent-model computer has the ability to enjoy 3D lighting, perspective, texture, and shading effects in her favorite games. The latest 3D sports games provide lighting and camera angles so realistic that a casual observer could almost mistake the computer-generated game for an actual broadcast, and the latest 3D accelerator chips enable fast PCs to compete with high-performance dedicated game machines, such as Sony's PlayStation 2, Nintendo's GameCube, and Microsoft's Xbox, for the mind and wallet of the hard-core gameplayer.

How 3D Accelerators Work

To construct an animated 3D sequence, a computer can mathematically animate the sequences between keyframes. A keyframe identifies specific points. A bouncing ball, for example, can have three keyframes: up, down, and up. Using these frames as a reference point, the computer can create all the interim images between the top and bottom. This creates the effect of a smoothly bouncing ball.

After it has created the basic sequence, the system can then refine the appearance of the images by filling them in with color. The most primitive and least effective fill method is called flat shading, in which a shape is simply filled with a solid color. Gouraud shading, a slightly more effective technique, involves the assignment of colors to specific points on a shape. The points are then joined using a smooth gradient between the colors.

A more processor-intensive, and much more effective, type of fill is called texture mapping. The 3D application includes patterns—or textures—in the form of small bitmaps that it tiles onto the shapes in the image, just as you can tile a small bitmap to form the wallpaper for your Windows desktop. The primary difference is that the 3D application can modify the appearance of each tile by applying perspective and shading to achieve 3D effects. When lighting effects that simulate fog, glare, directional shadows, and others are added, the 3D animation comes very close indeed to matching reality.

Until the late 1990s, 3D applications had to rely on support from software routines to convert these abstractions into live images. This placed a heavy burden on the system processor in the PC, which has a significant impact on the performance not only of the visual display, but also of any other applications the computer might be running. Starting in the period from 1996 to 1997, chipsets on most video adapters began to take on many of the tasks involved in rendering 3D images, greatly lessening the load on the system processor and boosting overall system performance.

Because there have now been six generations of 3D accelerators (depending on what you count as a "generation"), and more and more memory is standard to enable high-resolution 3D animations, most high-quality 3D accelerator cards cost at least $200, and some models packed with 128MB of DDR SDRAM and the latest accelerator technology can sell for as much as $350–$400. Both video games and 3D animation programs are taking advantage of their capability to render smooth, photorealistic images at high speeds and in real time.

Fortunately, users with less-demanding 3D performance requirements often can purchase low-end products based on the previous generation of 3D accelerator chips for less than $100. These cards typically provide more-than-adequate performance for 2D business applications. Most current mid-range and high-end 3D accelerators also support dual-display and TV-out capabilities, enabling you to work and play at the same time.

3D technology has added an entirely new vocabulary to the world of video display adapters. Before purchasing a 3D accelerator adapter, you should familiarize yourself with some of the terms and concepts involved in the 3D image generation process.

The basic function of 3D software is to convert image abstractions into the fully realized images that are then displayed on the monitor. The image abstractions typically consist of the following elements:

• Vertices. Locations of objects in three-dimensional space, described in terms of their x, y, and z coordinates on three axes representing height, width, and depth.

• Primitives. The simple geometric objects the application uses to create more complex constructions, described in terms of the relative locations of their vertices. This serves not only to specify the location of the object in the 2D image, but also to provide perspective because the three axes can define any location in three-dimensional space.

• Textures. Two-dimensional bitmap images or surfaces designed to be mapped onto primitives. The software enhances the 3D effect by modifying the appearance of the textures, depending on the location and attitude of the primitive. This process is called perspective correction. Some applications use another process, called MIP mapping, which uses different versions of the same texture that contain varying amounts of detail, depending on how close the object is to the viewer in the three-dimensional space. Another technique, called depth cueing, reduces the color and intensity of an object's fill as the object moves farther away from the viewer.

Using these elements, the abstract image descriptions must then be rendered, meaning they are converted to visible form. Rendering depends on two standardized functions that convert the abstractions into the completed image that is displayed onscreen. The standard functions performed in rendering are

• Geometry. The sizing, orienting, and moving of primitives in space and the calculation of the effects produced by the virtual light sources that illuminate the image

• Rasterization. The converting of primitives into pixels on the video display by filling the shapes with properly illuminated shading, textures, or a combination of the two

A modern video adapter that includes a chipset capable of 3D video acceleration has special built-in hardware that can perform the rasterization process much more quickly than if it were done by software (using the system processor) alone. Most chipsets with 3D acceleration perform the following rasterization functions right on the adapter:

• Scan conversion. The determination of which onscreen pixels fall into the space delineated by each primitive

• Shading. The process of filling pixels with smoothly flowing color using the flat or Gouraud shading technique

• Texture mapping. The process of filling pixels with images derived from a 2D sample picture or surface image

• Visible surface determination. The identification of which pixels in a scene are obscured by other objects closer to the viewer in three-dimensional space

• Animation. The process of switching rapidly and cleanly to successive frames of motion sequences

• Antialiasing. The process of adjusting color boundaries to smooth edges on rendered objects

Common 3D Techniques

Virtually all 3D cards use the following techniques:

• Fogging. Fogging simulates haze or fog in the background of a game screen and helps conceal the sudden appearance of newly rendered objects (buildings, enemies, and so on).

• Gouraud shading. Interpolates colors to make circles and spheres look more rounded and smooth.

• Alpha blending. One of the first 3D techniques, alpha blending creates translucent objects onscreen, making it a perfect choice for rendering explosions, smoke, water, and glass. Alpha blending also can be used to simulate textures, but it is less realistic than environment-based bump mapping (see the section "Environment-Based Bump Mapping and Displacement Mapping," later in this chapter).

Because they are so common, data sheets for advanced cards frequently don't mention them, although these features are present.

Advanced 3D Techniques

The following are some of the latest techniques that leading 3D accelerator cards use. Not every card uses every technique.

Stencil Buffering

Stencil buffering is a technique useful for games such as flight simulators, in which a static graphic element—such as a cockpit windshield frame, which is known as a HUD (heads up display) and used by real-life fighter pilots—is placed in front of dynamically changing graphics (such as scenery, other aircraft, sky detail, and so on). In this example, the area of the screen occupied by the cockpit windshield frame is not re-rendered. Only the area seen through the "glass" is re-rendered, saving time and improving frame rates for animation.

Z-Buffering

A closely related technique is Z-buffering, which originally was devised for computer-aided drafting (CAD) applications. The Z-buffer portion of video memory holds depth information about the pixels in a scene. As the scene is rendered, the Z-values (depth information) for new pixels are compared to the values stored in the Z-buffer to determine which pixels are in "front" of others and should be rendered. Pixels that are "behind" other pixels are not rendered. This method increases speed and can be used along with stencil buffering to create volumetric shadows and other complex 3D objects.

Environment-Based Bump Mapping and Displacement Mapping

Environment-based bump mapping introduces special lighting and texturing effects to simulate the rough texture of rippling water, bricks, and other complex surfaces. It combines three separate texture maps (for colors, for height and depth, and for environment—including lighting, fog, and cloud effects). This creates enhanced realism for scenery in games and could also be used to enhance terrain and planetary mapping, architecture, and landscape-design applications. This represents a significant step beyond alpha blending. However, a feature called displacement mapping produces even more accurate results.

Special grayscale maps called displacement maps have long been used for producing accurate maps of the globe. Microsoft DirectX 9 supports the use of grayscale hardware displacement maps as a source for accurate 3D rendering. The Matrox Parhelia, the ATI Radeon 9500, 9700, and 9800 series, and the GeForce FX all support displacement mapping.

Texture Mapping Filtering Enhancements

To improve the quality of texture maps, several filtering techniques have been developed, including MIP mapping, bilinear filtering, trilinear filtering, and anisotropic filtering. These techniques and several others are explained here:

• Bilinear filtering. Improves the image quality of small textures placed on large polygons. The stretching of the texture that takes place can create blockiness, but bilinear filtering applies a blur to conceal this visual defect.

• MIP mapping. Improves the image quality of polygons that appear to recede into the distance by mixing low-res and high-res versions of the same texture; a form of antialiasing.

• Trilinear filtering. Combines bilinear filtering and MIP mapping, calculating the most realistic colors necessary for the pixels in each polygon by comparing the values in two MIP maps. This method is superior to either MIP mapping or bilinear filtering alone.

  Note Bilinear and trilinear filtering work well for surfaces viewed straight-on but might not work so well for oblique angles (such as a wall receding into the distance).

• Anisotropic filtering. Some video card makers use another method, called anisotropic filtering, for more realistically rendering oblique-angle surfaces containing text. This technique is used when a texture is mapped to a surface that changes in two of three spatial domains, such as text found on a wall down a roadway (for example, advertising banners at a raceway). The extra calculations used take time, and for that reason, it can be disabled.

• T-buffer. This technology eliminates aliasing (errors in onscreen images due to an undersampled original) in computer graphics, such as the "jaggies" seen in onscreen diagonal lines; motion stuttering; and inaccurate rendition of shadows, reflections, and object blur. The T-buffer replaces the normal frame buffer with a buffer that accumulates multiple renderings before displaying the image. Unlike some other 3D techniques, T-buffer technology doesn't require rewriting or optimization of 3D software to use this enhancement. The goal of T-buffer technology is to provide a movie-like realism to 3D rendered animations. The downside of enabling antialiasing using a card with T-buffer support is that it can dramatically impact the performance of an application. This technique originally was developed by now-defunct 3dfx. However, this technology is incorporated into Microsoft DirectX 8.0 and above, enabling other brands of video cards to use it.

• Integrated transform and lighting. The 3D display process includes transforming an object from one frame to the next and handling the lighting changes that result from those transformations. Many 3D cards put the CPU in charge of these functions, but most recent graphics accelerators from NVIDIA and ATI integrate separate transform and lighting engines into the accelerator chip for faster 3D rendering, regardless of CPU speed. NVIDIA started to use this feature in its GeForce 2 series, whereas ATI began to use this feature starting with the original RADEON. For more information, see the NVIDIA and ATI Web sites.

• Full-screen antialiasing. This technology reduces the jaggies visible at any resolution by adjusting color boundaries to provide gradual, rather than abrupt, color changes. Whereas early 3D products used antialiasing for certain objects only, the latest accelerators from NVIDIA and ATI use this technology for the entire display. The NVIDIA GeForce 4 Ti 4xxx series, GeForce FX, and ATI RADEON 9xxx series use highly optimized FSAA methods that allow high visual quality at high frame rates.

• Vertex skinning. Also referred to as vertex blending, this technique blends the connection between two angles, such as the joints in an animated character's arms or legs. NVIDIA's GeForce2, 3, and 4 series cards use a software technique to perform blending at two matrices, whereas the ATI RADEON series chips use a more realistic hardware-based technique called 4-matrix skinning.

• Keyframe interpolation. Also referred to as vertex morphing, this technique animates the transitions between two facial expressions, allowing realistic expressions when skeletal animation can't be used or isn't practical. See the ATI Web site for details.

• Programmable vertex and pixel shading. Both NVIDIA and ATI have embraced various methods of programmable vertex and pixel shading in recent versions. The NVIDIA GeForce3's nfiniteFX technology enables software developers to customize effects such as vertex morphing and pixel shading (an enhanced form of bump mapping for irregular surfaces that enables per-pixel lighting effects), rather than applying a narrow range of predefined effects. The NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti's nfiniteFXII pixel shader is DirectX 8 compatible and supports up to four textures, whereas its dual vertex shaders provide high-speed rendering up to 50% faster than the GeForce3. The ATI RADEON 8500 and 9000's version is called SmartShader, supports more complex programs than nfiniteFX, and provides comparable quality to nfiniteFXII. SmartShader is also supported by DirectX 8.1. ATI 9700 and 9500 support DirectX 9's floating-point pixel shaders and more complex vertex shader. NVIDIA GeForce FX also supports DirectX 9 pixel and vertex shaders, but it also adds more features.

• Floating-point calculations. Microsoft DirectX 9 supports floating-point data for more vivid and accurate color and polygon rendition. ATI Radeon 9500 and 9700 and NVIDIA GeForce FX are the first 3D accelerator chips to have full DirectX 9 support, with GeForce FX providing additional precision. The Matrox Parhelia supports this, but not all, DirectX 9 features.

Single- Versus Multiple-Pass Rendering

Various video card makers handle application of these advanced rendering techniques differently. The current trend is toward applying the filters and basic rendering in a single pass rather than multiple passes. Video cards with single-pass rendering and filtering typically provide higher frame-rate performance in 3D-animated applications and avoid the problems of visible artifacts caused by errors in multiple floating-point calculations during the rendering process.

Hardware Acceleration Versus Software Acceleration

Compared to software-only rendering, hardware-accelerated rendering provides faster animation. Although most software rendering would create more accurate and better-looking images, software rendering is too slow. Using special drivers, these 3D adapters can take over the intensive calculations needed to render a 3D image that software running on the system processor formerly performed. This is particularly useful if you are creating your own 3D images and animation, but it is also a great enhancement to the many modern games that rely extensively on 3D effects. Note that motherboard-integrated video solutions, such as Intel's 810 and 815 series, typically have significantly lower 3D performance because they use the CPU for more of the 3D rendering than 3D video adapter chipsets do.

To achieve greater performance, many of the latest 3D accelerators run their accelerator chips at very high speeds, and some even allow overclocking of the default RAMDAC frequencies. Just as CPUs at high speeds produce a lot of heat, so do high-speed video accelerators. Both the chipset and the memory are heat sources, so most mid-range and high-end 3D accelerator cards feature a fan to cool the chipset. Also, some high-end 3D accelerators such as the Gainward GeForce 4 Ti 4200 Golden Sample (based on the NVIDIA GeForce 4 Ti4200 chipset) use finned passive heatsinks to cool the memory chips and make overclocking the video card easier, as shown in Figure 15.10.

Software Optimization

It's important to realize that the presence of an advanced 3D-rendering feature on any given video card is meaningless unless game and application software designers optimize their software to take advantage of the feature. Although various 3D standards exist (OpenGL, Glide, and Direct 3D), video card makers provide drivers that make their games play with the leading standards. Because some cards do play better with certain games, you should read the reviews in publications such as Maximum PC to see how your favorite graphics card performs with them. It's important to note that, even though the latest video cards based on recent ATI and NVIDIA chips support DirectX 8.0, 8.1, and 9.0, many games still support only DirectX 7. As with previous 3D features, it takes time for the latest hardware features to be supported by game vendors.

Some video cards allow you to perform additional optimization by adjusting settings for OpenGL, Direct 3D, RAMDAC, and bus clock speeds, as well as other options.

Note If you want to enjoy the features of your newest 3D card immediately, be sure to purchase the individual retail-packaged version of the card from a hardware vendor. These packages typically come with a sampling of games (full and demo versions) designed or compiled to take advantage of the card with which they're sold. The lower-cost OEM or "white box" versions of video cards are sold without bundled software, come only with driver software, and might differ in other ways from the retail advertised product. Some even use modified drivers, use slower memory or RAMDAC components, or lack special TV-out or other features. Some 3D card makers use different names for their OEM versions to minimize confusion, but others don't. Also, some card makers sell their cards in bulk packs, which are intended for upgrading a large organization with its own support staff. These cards might lack individual documentation or driver CDs and also might lack some of the advanced hardware features found on individual retail-pack video cards.

Application Programming Interfaces

Application programming interfaces (APIs) provide hardware and software vendors a means to create drivers and programs that can work quickly and reliably across a wide variety of platforms. When APIs exist, drivers can be written to interface with the API rather than directly with the operating system and its underlying hardware.

Currently, the leading game APIs include SGI's OpenGL and Microsoft's Direct 3D. OpenGL and Direct 3D (part of DirectX) are available for virtually all leading graphics cards. A third popular game API is Glide, an enhanced version of OpenGL that is restricted to graphics cards that use 3Dfx chipsets, which are no longer on the market.

Although the video card maker must provide OpenGL support, Microsoft provides support for Direct3D as part of a much larger API called DirectX.

The latest version of DirectX is DirectX 9, which enhances 3D video support, enhances DirectPlay (used for Internet gaming), and provides other advanced gaming features. For more information about DirectX or to download the latest version, see Microsoft's DirectX Web site at www.microsoft.com/windows/directx.

Note DirectX 9.0 is for Windows 98 and later versions (98SE, Me, 2000, and XP) only. However, Microsoft still provides DirectX 8.0a for Windows 95 users.

3D Chipsets

Virtually every mainstream video adapter in current production features a 3D acceleration-compatible chipset. With several generations of 3D adapters on the market from the major vendors, keeping track of the latest products can be difficult. Table 15.15 lists the major 3D chipset manufacturers, the various chipsets they make, and the video adapters that use them.

The following manufacturers' products are not included in Table 15.15 for the reasons listed:

• 3Dfx Interactive. Out of business; obtain last-available official and third-party drivers from www.voodoofiles.com.

• 3Dlabs. Now manufacturers Open GL-compatible workstation cards only.

• Intel. No longer manufactures graphics boards.

• Micron. No longer manufactures chipsets.

• VideoLogic. No longer manufactures graphics boards.

Note See Chapter 15 in both Upgrading and Repairing PCs, 12th Edition and 13th Edition on this book's DVD for more information about these companies' products and other older chipsets.

Note In each manufacturer's section, the following symbols are used to provide a ranking within that manufacturer's chipsets only: CURRENT—RECENT—OLD. Generally, CURRENT chipsets provide the fastest 3D performance and advanced 3D rendering features. RECENT chipsets, although lacking some of the speed or features of CURRENT chipsets, are also worthwhile, especially for those on a budget. OLD chipsets are generally superseded by RECENT and CURRENT chipsets and therefore are not recommended. OLD chipsets are listed by chipset only, whereas CURRENT and RECENT chipsets list selected video cards using those chipsets. Be sure to use this information in conjunction with application-specific and game-specific tests to help you choose the best card/chipset solution for your needs. Only products believed to be currently available are listed; consult the chipset vendors' Web sites for the latest information about third-party video card sources using a specific chipset.

Table 15.15. 3D Video Chipset Manufacturers

Manufacturer	Chipset	Available Boards
ATI	RAGE I (OLD) RAGE II+ (OLD) RAGE IIC (OLD) 3D RAGE II+DVD (OLD) RAGE PRO (OLD) RAGE PRO TURBO (OLD) RAGE 128 (OLD) RAGE 128 Pro (OLD)
	RADEON (RECENT)	ATI ALL-IN-WONDER RADEON ATI RADEON 64MB DDR version ATI RADEON 32MB DDR version ATI RADEON 32MB SDRAM version Club3D RADEON Jetway R6A1
	RADEON VE (RECENT)	ATI RADEON VE Dual Display Edition Club3D RADEON VE Dual Display Edition Jetway RV100 PowerMagic RADEON VE series
	RADEON 7000 (CURRENT)	ATI RADEON 7000 FIC 1st Graphics AT007V FIC A70L Club3D CGA-1064TVD Connect 3D Radeon 7000 PowerColor RV6 series Sapphire Radeon 7000 series
	RADEON 7200 (CURRENT)	ATI RADEON 7200 FIC 1st Graphics AT007 Club3D CGA-72xx series
	RADEON 7500 (CURRENT)	ATI RADEON 7500 Club3D RADEON 7500 Club3D CGA-73xx series Connect 3D Radeon 7500 Elsa Winner 7500 FIC 1st Graphics AT008V FIC A75L Hercules 3D Prophet 7500 PowerMagic RADEON 7500 PowerColor RV2 series Sapphire Radeon 7500 series Sapphire The Beast All in Wonder 7500 series
	RADEON 7500LE	Jetway RV200LE
	RADEON 8500 (CURRENT)	ATI RADEON 8500 ATI ALL-IN-WONDER RADEON 8500DV Club3D CGA-86xx series Hercules 3D Prophet 8500 Jetway R200A10D Sapphire Radeon 8500 series
	RADEON 8500LE (CURRENT)	Club3D CGA-85xx series FIC 1st Graphics AT008 Hercules 3D Prophet 8500 LE Hercules 3D Prophet FXD 8500 LE PowerMagic RADEON 8500
	RADEON 9000 (CURRENT)	Hercules 3D Prophet 9000 Club3D CGA-90xx series Club3D CGA-92xx series FIC AT009LE FIC A91L Connect 3D Radeon 9000 Giga-byte GV-R9000 series PowerColor RV25 series Sapphire Atlantis 9000
	RADEON 9000 PRO (CURRENT)	ATI Radeon 9000 Pro Connect 3D Radeon 9000 Pro FIC AT009 Hercules 3D Prophet 9000 PRO Giga-byte GV-R9000 PRO series PowerColor RV25 series Tyan Tachyon G9000 Pro Sapphire Atlantis 9000 Pro Sapphire The Beast All in Wonder 9000 Pro
	RADEON 9100 (CURRENT)	Club3D CGA-93xx series Connect 3D Radeon 9100 Giga-byte GV-R9100 series PowerColor AR2 series Sapphire Atlantis 9100 VisionTek Xtacy 9100 series
	RADEON 9500 (CURRENT)	FIC A95 Connect 3D Radeon 9500 Elsa Gladiac 9500 Giga-byte GV-R9500 PowerColor XR95 series Sapphire Atlantis 9500
	RADEON 9500 PRO (CURRENT)	ATI Radeon 9500 Pro Club3D CGA-96xx series Connect 3D Radeon 9500 Pro Elsa Gladiac 9500 PRO FIC A95P PowerColor XR95-C3 Sapphire Atlantis 9500 PRO VisionTek Xtasy 9500 PRO
	RADEON 9700 (CURRENT)	FIC A97 Connect 3D Radeon 9700 Giga-byte GV-R9700 PowerColor XR97-C3L PowerColor XF97-C3/B Sapphire Atlantis 9700
	RADEON 9700 PRO (CURRENT)	ATI Radeon 9700 Pro ATI All in Wonder 9700 Pro Club3D CGA-97xx series Elsa Gladiac 9700 PRO FIC A97P Giga-byte GV-R9700 PRO Hercules 3D Prophet 9700 PRO Jetway R300A2D PowerColor XF97-C3G Sapphire Atlantis 9700 PRO series Sapphire The Beast All in Wonder 9700 Pro Tyan Tachyon G9700 PRO
Matrox	MGA-200 (OLD) MGA-400 (OLD)
	MGA-450 (RECENT)	Matrox Millennium G450 Matrox Marvel G450 eTV Matrox G450 MMS
	MGA-550 (CURRENT)	Matrox Millennium G550 Matrox Millennium G550 Dual-DVI
	Parhelia-512	Matrox Parhelia 128MB Matrox Parhelia 256MB
NVIDIA	RIVA 128(2D/3D OLD) RIVA 128ZX (OLD) RIVA TNT (OLD) RIVA TNT2 (OLD) VANTA (OLD) GeForce256 (OLD) GeForce2 series (OLD) GeForce2 Ti (OLD)
	GeForce3 (RECENT)	Abit Saluro GF3 series Elsa Gladiac 920 Gainward CardExpert GeForce3 PowerPack series Hercules 3D Prophet III Leadtek WinFast GeForce 3 series Leadtek WinFast GeForce 3 TD series PNY Verto GeForce3 VisionTek GeForce3 XFX PVT20KMA
	GeForce3 Ti 200/500 (RECENT)	Abit Saluro GF3 Ti series Albatron Ti200 series Aopen GF3Ti series Club3D GeForce 3 Ti200 Chaintech A-G3xx series Gainward GeForce3 PowerPack Ti series Jaton 3DForce III Ti series Leadtek WinFast Titanium 200, 500 series Palit GF3 Ti200 Prolink PixelView GeForce3 Ti series PNY Verto GeForce3 Ti series Visiontek Xtasy 6564 Visiontek Xtasy 6964 XFX PVT20FMA XFX PVT20AMA
	GeForce4 MX series (CURRENT)	Abit Saluro GF4 MX series Albatron MX4xx series Aopen GF4MX series Aopen Aeolis MX440 series ASUS V8170 series ASUS V9180 series BFG Technologies GeForce 4 MX series Chaintech A-G4xx series Club3D CGN-17xx series eVGA 064P series eVGA 064A series eVGA 64-A4 series eVGA 128-A4 series Gainward GeForce4 PowerPack! Pro 6xx, Pro 4xx series Jaton 3DForce4 MX series Leadtek WinFast A1xx series MSI G4MX series Palit GF4 MX series Prolink PixelView GeForce4 MX series PNY Verto GeForce4 MX series VisionTek Xtasy GeForce4 MX 440, MX 420 XFX PVT17 series XFX PVT18 series XFX PVT97 series
	GeForce4 Ti series (CURRENT)	Abit Saluro GF4 Ti series Albatron Ti4xxx series Aopen Aeolis TI4200 series Aopen GF4TI series ASUS V84xx series ASUS V9280 series BFG Technologies GeForce 4 Ti series Club3D CGN-2xxx series Chaintech A-GXxx, A-GTxx series eVGA 64-A8 series eVGA 128-A8 series Gainward GeForce4 PowerPack! Ultra/750 series Gainward GeForce4 PowerPack! Ultra/650 series Jaton 3DForce4 Ti series Leadtek WinFast A2xx series MSI G4Ti series Palit GF4Ti series PNY Verto GeForce4 Ti series Prolink PixelView GeForce4 Ti series VisionTek Xtasy GeForce4 Ti 4600 XFX PVT25 series XFX PVT28 series
	GeForce FX (CURRENT)[1]	Albatron FX5800 series Asus V9900 BFG Technologies Asylum 5800 series PNY GeForce FX 5800 Prolink PixelView GeForceFX 5800 series
S3 Graphics[2]	SavageXP	Tyan Tachyon G3300
SiS	6326 (OLD)
	SiS300 (RECENT)	Aopen PA300 VR Pine PT-5985
	SiS305 (RECENT)	Aopen PA305 DCS WS305 Pine Technology 3D Phantom XP-2800 Chaintech AGP SI40
	SiS315 (RECENT)	CP Technology S315 series CP Technology CS315 DV Chaintech SIS151 Elitegroup AG315 series Gainward CardEXPERT SiS315 Hightech MX315 series Jaton 3DForce S-64 series Jaton 3DForce S-128 series Jetway Magic 315 series Jetway 315B series Joytech Apollo 3D Thrill 315 series Pine Technology 3D Phantom XP-3800 series, XP-2800 Transcend TS32MVDS3 USI VP-315S1/S2 Yuan AGP-125 Yuan AGP-130
	Xabre 80	Joytech Xabre 80 series Max Diligent X800 series Triplex Millenium Silver Xabre Lite
	Xabre 200	Chaintech A-S420 series Explorer Xabre 200 Joytech Xabre 200 series Max Diligent X820 series PowerColor XP200-B1 Triplex Millenium Silver Xabre Plus Vinix VX-3320 series
	Xabre 400	Aopen Xabre 400 series Chaintech A-S440 series Club3D CGS-4xx series DFI X-400 series ECS AG400 series Explorer Xabre 400 Honnie Triplex Xabre 400 Jaton 3DForce Xabre 400 series Joytech Xabre 400 series Max Diligent X840 series Pine Technology 3D Phantom XP-8200 Power Color XP400-B3 Triplex Millenium Silver Xabre Pro Vinix VX-3340 series
ST Micro-electronics/PowerVR	KYRO PowerVR Kyro (RECENT)	VideoLogic Vivid! InnoVISION Inno3D KYRO 2000 Hercules 3D Prophet 4000 XT
	KYRO PowerVR Kyro II (CURRENT)	Club3D Kyro II Hercules 3D Prophet 4500 series InnoVISION Kyro II 4500 VideoLogic Vivid!XS, XS Elite

^[1] GeForce FX-based products began to ship in quantities in the second quarter of 2003. See the Web sites of the vendors' partners listed for other NVIDIA chipsets for the latest graphics cards to use with this chipset.

^[2] The desktop graphics assets of the former S3 company (now known as SONICblue) have been transferred to this VIA/SONICblue joint venture. S3 sold its Diamond Fire GL workstation graphics product line to ATI (which continues to develop and sell it), but it continues to support its Diamond-branded desktop and workstation cards at http://www.sonicblue.com. For the latest vendors to use SavageXP, see the S3 Graphics Web site at http://www.s3graphics.com.