Intel Extreme Graphics 3 to Support Dual-Monitor
Posted by nick99 - 11-30-03 01:06 - 0 comments
 

Historically end-users in communities requiring a number of monitors per one computer used rather expensive specially developed graphics cards. The situation changed when consumer graphics chips developers NVIDIA, Matrox and ATI Technologies unveiled their solutions with dual-display support in 1999 and 2000 – those products were substantially more affordable compared to professional graphics cards. Next year Intel will bring dual-monitor virtually for free for nearly every PC based on Intel’s next-generation chipset for desktop computers known under Grantsdale-G code-name.

Sources familiar with Intel’s plans report that Grantsdale-G provides a flexible and stable platform for corporate and consumer. Offered features include PCI Express x16 graphics port (PEG x16), Intel Extreme Graphics 3 – Intel’s third generation integrated graphics core, dual-channel DDR-II SDRAM, dual-monitor, 4 Serial ATA-150 ports, 4 PCI Express x1 ports and Azalia audio.

Earlier this year we learnt Intel’s next-year chipset hero Grantsdale-G will have hardware support for Pixel Shaders 2.0 in order to properly render GUI interface of Microsoft’s next-generation software peak code-named Longhorn. The Vertex Shaders 2.0 support will be probably carried out by Intel’s monstrous new Pentium 4 CPUs at stunning speeds.

Systems with two and more monitors are typically used by finance, engineering, design, media and some other communities for more efficient work. The market of professional 2D solutions (the majority of which support 2 or more monitors) is growing rather substantially. According to IDC, in the Q2 2003 it soared 17% quarter-over-quarter. NVIDIA is the top supplier of professional 2D solutions with 53% share, Matrox Graphics has the second spot with 19%, other companies – primarily ATI Technologies and Appian – occupy 28%.
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Intel disclosed plans to integrate WLAN capabilities into its next-generation desktop chipset code-named Grantsdale. Earlier the company did not disclose plans to add support for Wi-Fi into its next year’s mainstream core-logic. The move may bring a lot of benefits for customers, but may leave manufacturers of low-cost WLAN equipment without clients. According to a report from Reuters, Intel’s President Paul Otellini confirmed the information about integrated Access Point capabilities available in Intel Grantsdale during his meeting with analysts in November. The official did not disclose any technical details, but it transpired that the chipset will not include an actual Wi-Fi radio, so users will still need a wireless add-on card. There is no information about the actual cost of such integrated Wi-Fi technology, though, it is pretty clear that it will be considerably cheaper compared to conventional Wireless LAN solutions.

Intel Grantsdale-P chipset is expected to sport 533 and 800MHz Quad Pumped Bus for LGA775 processors, dual-channel DDR-II memory at up to 533MHz, PCI Express x16 port for graphics cards (PEG x16), 4 Serial ATA-150 ports, 4 PCI Express x1 ports and Azalia audio. Intel’s Grantsdale-G chipset will also provide Intel Extreme Graphics 3 core with support for 2 displays. Additionally, Intel plans to provide Grantsdale-GV and Grantsdale-GL products for cost-effective PCs as well as Alderwood core-logic for high-end desktop computers. There is no information whether Alderwood or low-cost versions of Grantsdale sport the WLAN capabilities or not. In early 2003 during the quarterly conference call NVIDIA’s CFO Marvin Burkett said the company was going to integrate wireless Ethernet (WLAN) controller in the upcoming Media and Communication Processors by the end of the year, though, the company has not announced any MCPs with integrated WLAN capabilities.
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