Menu
Home Explore People Places Arts History Plants & Animals Science Life & Culture Technology
On this page
3Dlabs
Fabless semiconductor company

3DLABS Inc. Ltd. was a fabless semiconductor company founded in 1994 by Yavuz Ahıska and Osman Kent, headquartered in San Jose, California. It developed the GLINT and PERMEDIA high-end graphics chip technology used in leading computer graphics cards for the CAD and DCC markets, including its Wildcat and Oxygen cards. In 2006, 3DLABS shifted focus to media processing and, by 2009, became the Singapore-based company ZiiLABS.

Related Image Collections Add Image
Profiles
1 Image
We don't have any YouTube videos related to 3Dlabs yet.
We don't have any PDF documents related to 3Dlabs yet.
We don't have any Books related to 3Dlabs yet.
We don't have any archived web articles related to 3Dlabs yet.

History

3Dlabs was formed from a management buy-out of DuPont Pixel Systems in the UK in April 1994 and went public on Nasdaq in October 1996. 3Dlabs acquired Dynamic Pictures in July 1998 and the Intense3D division of Intergraph in July 2000. It was itself acquired by Creative Labs in June 2002. In February 2006, 3Dlabs announced that it would stop developing professional 3D graphics chips and focus on embedded and mobile media processors.

3Dlabs was an early pioneer in bringing 3D graphics to the PC. Its GLINT 300SX graphics processor was the industry's first single chip, 3D-capable graphics device that was shipped on graphics boards from multiple vendors. Gamma was the first single chip graphics geometry processor for the PC. Permedia was the first low-cost OpenGL accelerator chip. 3Dlabs was a member of the OpenGL Architecture Review Board and played an important role in the development of OpenGL 2.0 and ongoing evolution of the OpenGL API.

The new media processor business was developed out of the original UK R&D center with most of the workstation graphics teams that came from Intense3D and Dynamic Pictures having been hired by Intel and NVIDIA.34

In November 2006 3Dlabs introduced the DMS-02, its first media processor capable of 720P HD Video for portable devices. In January 2009 the SoC team merged with a Creative product division and rebranded as ZiiLABS. It claimed the new company was to offer processors and complete market-ready hardware and software platforms to consumer OEMs and ODMs.

Media processors

The ZMS processors are based on a low-power multicore architecture including dual ARM cores for handling traditional CPU tasks plus a closely coupled, fully programmable SIMD array processor to do the heavy lifting for intensive media processing tasks such as; 2D graphics, 3D graphics, video decode/encode, image processing and floating point (32-bit IEEE). The processors integrate on-chip peripherals and interfaces suitable for a broad range of handheld and embedded devices.

Originally developed under the 3Dlabs name, the processor-related products are now sold and supported by ZiiLABS.

Graphics card listing

These are cards which were supplied by 3DLABS. Drivers and limited support for these products can be found at: https://web.archive.org/web/20080227235127/http://www.3dlabs.com/content/legacy/

Chips:

  • 3Dlabs GLINT GMX - GMX 1000 (Gamma + MX), GMX 2000 (Gamma + 2xMX)5
  • 3Dlabs GLINT Gamma (geometry processor)6
  • 3Dlabs GLINT DMX - DMX 1000 (Delta + MX), DMX 2000 (Delta + 2xMX)7
  • 3Dlabs GLINT Delta (triangle setup processor)
  • 3Dlabs GLINT MX8
  • 3Dlabs GLINT 500TX
  • 3Dlabs GLINT 300SX
  • 3Dlabs Permedia
  • 3Dlabs Permedia NT (Permedia + GLINT Delta)
  • 3Dlabs Permedia 2910

Boards:

  • Wildcat Realizm series - consists of Vertex/Scalability Units (VSU), Visual Processing Units (VPU)11
    • (2005) 3Dlabs Wildcat Realizm 800 - 1 VSU, 2 VPU, 512 + 128 MB GDDR3, 512-bit memory interface, x16 PCIe
    • (2005) 3Dlabs Wildcat Realizm 500 - 1 VPU, 256 MB GDDR3, 256-bit memory interface, x16 PCIe,
    • (2004) 3Dlabs Wildcat Realizm 200 - 1 VPU, 512 MB GDDR3, 256-bit memory interface, AGP x8
    • (2004) 3Dlabs Wildcat Realizm 100 - 1 VPU, 256 MB GDDR3, 256-bit memory interface, AGP x8
  • Wildcat VP (Visual Processing) Series - based on P10 and P9 chips:
    • (2003) 3Dlabs Wildcat VP990 Pro - P10, 512 MB RAM, AGP x8
    • (2003) 3Dlabs Wildcat VP880 Pro - P10, 256 MB RAM, AGP x8
    • (2002) 3Dlabs Wildcat VP970 - P10, 128 MB RAM, AGP x8
    • (2002) 3Dlabs Wildcat VP870 - P10, 128 MB RAM, AGP x8
    • (2002) 3Dlabs Wildcat VP760 - P10, 64 MB RAM, AGP x8
    • (2003) 3Dlabs Wildcat VP560 - P9, 64 MB RAM, AGP x8
  • Wildcat4 Series:
    • (2003) 3Dlabs Wildcat4 7210 - 256 MB texture memory and 128 MB frame buffer, AGP Pro 50 x8
    • (2003) 3Dlabs Wildcat4 7110 - 128 MB texture memory and 128 MB frame buffer, AGP Pro 50 x8
  • Wildcat III Series:
    • (2002) 3Dlabs Wildcat III 6210 - 256 MB texture memory and 128 MB frame buffer, AGP Pro 50
    • (2002) 3Dlabs Wildcat III 6110 - 128 MB texture memory and 64 MB frame buffer, AGP Pro 50
  • Wildcat II Series:
    • (2001) 3Dlabs Wildcat II 5110 - 64 MB texture memory and 64 MB frame buffer, AGP Pro 50 x4
    • (2001) 3Dlabs Wildcat II 5000 - 32 MB texture memory and 32 MB frame buffer
  • 3Dlabs Oxygen GVX42012 - 2xGLINT R4 + GLINT Gamma G2 + 128 MB SGRAM
  • 3Dlabs Oxygen GVX1 Pro13 - GLINT R4 + GLINT Gamma G2 + 64 MB SDRAM + DVI-I
  • (2000) 3Dlabs Oxygen GVX21014 - 2xGLINT R3 + GLINT Gamma G2 + 64 MB SGRAM
  • 3Dlabs Oxygen GVX115 - GLINT R3 + GLINT Gamma G1 + 32 MB SDRAM, PCI and AGP version available
  • 3Dlabs Oxygen VX116 - GLINT R3 + 32 MB SDRAM
  • 3Dlabs Oxygen VX1-1617 - GLINT R3 + 16 MB SDRAM
  • 3Dlabs Oxygen VX1 Stereo18 - GLINT R3 + 32 MB SDRAM + CrystalEyes
  • 3Dlabs Oxygen VX1 1600SW19 - GLINT R3 + 32 MB SDRAM + LVDS connector (for use with the SGI 1600SW flat panel)
  • 3Dlabs Permedia3 Create!20 - Permedia3
  • 3Dlabs Oxygen GMX21 - a GMX 2000 based card
  • 3Dlabs Oxygen RPM22 - dual RPM based card
  • 3Dlabs Oxygen ACX23 - a Permedia 2 based card

Acquired with Intense3D:24

  • Intense3D Wildcat 4210
  • Intense3D Wildcat 4110
  • Intense3D Wildcat 4105
  • Intense3D Wildcat 4000
  • Intense3D Wildcat 3510
  • Intense 3D Pro 3600
  • Intense 3D Pro 3400
  • Intense 3D Pro 2200S
  • Intense 3D Pro 2200
  • Intense 3D Pro 1000

Acquired with Dynamic Pictures Inc.:

  • Dynamic Pictures Oxygen25 102,26 202,27 40228
  • Dynamic Pictures V19229

Before ATI acquired the FireGL team in 2001, Diamond Multimedia used 3Dlabs chipsets for some of their FireGL cards. Newer Technology sold the RenderPix cards based on the 500TX + Glint Delta for the Macintosh. Formac also made a number of Macintosh graphics cards using Permedia 1, 2, and 3 chipsets.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 3Dlabs.

References

  1. "3Dlabs Announces PERMEDIA 2 Graphics Processor for Low-cost 2D, 3D, Geometry and Video Acceleration". 3Dlabs Inc. (Press release). Archived from the original on April 22, 1998. https://web.archive.org/web/19980422000229/http://www.3dlabs.com/news/p2anoce.html ↩

  2. "3Dlabs Announces PERMEDIA 2 Graphics Processor for Low-cost 2D, 3D, Geometry and Video Acceleration". 3Dlabs Inc. (Press release). Archived from the original on April 22, 1998. https://web.archive.org/web/19980422000229/http://www.3dlabs.com/news/p2anoce.html ↩

  3. Abazovic, Fuad (21 August 2006). "Intel signed up most of the 3Dlabs team". The Inquirer. Archived from the original on 30 August 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20060830133407/http://uk.theinquirer.net/?article=33812 ↩

  4. https://archive.today/20130222173504/http://uk.theinquirer.net/?article=33873[dead link] https://archive.today/20130222173504/http://uk.theinquirer.net/?article=33873 ↩

  5. "GMX chipset specs". 3Dlabs Inc. Archived from the original on February 19, 1999. https://web.archive.org/web/19990219095003/http://www.3dlabs.com/products/gmx.html ↩

  6. "Gamma chips specs". 3Dlabs Inc. Archived from the original on December 6, 1998. https://web.archive.org/web/19981206074137/http://www.3dlabs.com/products/gamma.html ↩

  7. "DMX chipset specs". 3Dlabs Inc. Archived from the original on February 22, 1999. https://web.archive.org/web/19990222092007/http://www.3dlabs.com/products/dmx.html ↩

  8. "3Dlabs Announces GLINT MX 3D Graphics Processor". 3Dlabs Inc. Archived from the original on April 22, 1998. https://web.archive.org/web/19980422000315/http://www.3dlabs.com/news/mxanounc.html ↩

  9. "3Dlabs Announces PERMEDIA 2 Graphics Processor for Low-cost 2D, 3D, Geometry and Video Acceleration". 3Dlabs Inc. (Press release). Archived from the original on April 22, 1998. https://web.archive.org/web/19980422000229/http://www.3dlabs.com/news/p2anoce.html ↩

  10. http://vgamuseum.info/index.php/component/k2/item/17-3dlabs-permedia-2 PERMEDIA 2 Graphics Processor on vgamuseum.info http://vgamuseum.info/index.php/component/k2/item/17-3dlabs-permedia-2 ↩

  11. "3Dlabs Wildcat Realizm User's Guide" (PDF). 3Dlabs Inc. http://www.3dlabs.com/legacy/manuals/3dl_Realizm_ug_EN.pdf ↩

  12. "Oxygen GVX420 specs". 3Dlabs Inc. Archived from the original on February 4, 2001. https://web.archive.org/web/20010204033600/http://www.3dlabs.com/products/gvx420.asp ↩

  13. "Oxygen GVX1 Pro specs". 3Dlabs Inc. Archived from the original on February 4, 2001. https://web.archive.org/web/20010204031900/http://www.3dlabs.com/products/gvx1_pro.asp ↩

  14. "Oxygen GVX210 specs". 3Dlabs Inc. Archived from the original on February 4, 2001. https://web.archive.org/web/20010204034000/http://www.3dlabs.com/products/oxygengvx210.asp ↩

  15. "Oxygen GVX1 specs". 3Dlabs Inc. Archived from the original on February 8, 2001. https://web.archive.org/web/20010208142047/http://www.3dlabs.com/products/oxygengvx1.asp ↩

  16. "Oxygen VX1 specs". 3Dlabs Inc. Archived from the original on February 8, 2001. https://web.archive.org/web/20010208141052/http://www.3dlabs.com/products/oxygenvx1.asp ↩

  17. "Oxygen VX1-16 specs". 3Dlabs Inc. Archived from the original on December 17, 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20001217015000/http://www.3dlabs.com/products/oxygenvx1_16.asp ↩

  18. "Oxygen VX1 Stereo specs". 3Dlabs Inc. Archived from the original on December 18, 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20001218044200/http://www.3dlabs.com/products/vx1_stereo.asp ↩

  19. "Oxygen VX1 1600SW specs". 3Dlabs Inc. Archived from the original on December 18, 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20001218033100/http://www.3dlabs.com/products/vx1_1600.asp ↩

  20. "Permedia3 Create! specs". 3Dlabs Inc. Archived from the original on February 8, 2001. https://web.archive.org/web/20010208142046/http://www.3dlabs.com/products/permedia3.asp ↩

  21. "Oxygen GMX specs". 3Dlabs Inc. Archived from the original on October 18, 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20001018231115/http://www.3dlabs.com/products/oxygengmx.asp ↩

  22. "Oxygen RPM specs". 3Dlabs Inc. Archived from the original on April 27, 1999. https://web.archive.org/web/19990427055020/http://www.3dlabs.com/products/oxygen/orpm.html ↩

  23. "Oxygen ACX specs". 3Dlabs Inc. Archived from the original on December 16, 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20001216212500/http://www.3dlabs.com/products/oxygenacx.asp ↩

  24. "Intergraph graphics support". Intergraph. https://support.intergraph.com/itservices/sysdocs/docs.asp#graphics ↩

  25. "Oxygen Family Specs". Dynamic Pictures Inc. Archived from the original on February 7, 1998. https://web.archive.org/web/19980207114620/http://www.dypic.com/cardcompare.html ↩

  26. "Dynamic Pictures' Next-Generation Accelerator Fuels Workastation-Class 3D Graphics on PCs". Dynamic Pictures Inc. Archived from the original on February 7, 1998. https://web.archive.org/web/19980207114659/http://www.dypic.com/oxygen102pr.html ↩

  27. "Dynamic Pictures Unveils Oxygen(TM) 3D Graphics Accelerator Family". Dynamic Pictures Inc. Archived from the original on February 7, 1998. https://web.archive.org/web/19980207114737/http://www.dypic.com/familypr.html ↩

  28. "Dynamic Pictures Announces Availability of Oxygen 402 the Industry's First Quad-Processor Graphics Accelerator". Dynamic Pictures Inc. Archived from the original on February 7, 1998. https://web.archive.org/web/19980207114816/http://www.dypic.com/oxygen402pr.html ↩

  29. Blair MacIntyre. "PC 3D Graphics Accelerators FAQ - B10 Dynamic Pictures V192". http://stason.org/TULARC/pc/3d-graphics-cards-faq/B10_Dynamic_Pictures_V192.html ↩