Sign in Subscribe
Computer peripherals industry

3Dlabs and Autodesk Collaborate on GLINT-based 3D Acceleration for 3D Studio MAX

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

3D Studio MAX users can now enjoy workstation-level performance and productivity on their PCs, thanks to a partnership between 3Dlabs and Autodesk. The collaboration has resulted in the development of highly optimized Heidi drivers that directly drive 3Dlabs' GLINT 3D processor chip, providing significant acceleration and image quality enhancements for 3D Studio MAX.

Key Takeaways:

  • 3D Studio MAX users can experience a two- to four-fold acceleration in 3D viewing and interaction speeds with GLINT-based boards compared to 8-bit software rendering.
  • The optimized Heidi drivers, developed by 3Dlabs and Autodesk, directly control the GLINT silicon, taking maximum advantage of its extensive rasterization power and resulting in a speed advantage of two times or more compared to running Heidi layered over accelerated OpenGL.
  • 3Dlabs is making the optimized Heidi drivers available free of charge to all GLINT board level customers, and the GLINT Heidi drivers will be included with the first release of 3D Studio MAX.
  • Omnicomp Graphics' GLINT-based 3DEMON board has been used throughout the Heidi driver development, and the Heidi drivers will be included with the 3DEMON board, enabling 3D Studio MAX users to enjoy a four times price/performance advantage over Silicon Graphics workstations.
  • 3Dlabs' GLINT 300SX implements 100% of the OpenGL rendering operations in silicon, including 32-bit color support, Gouraud shading, and depth buffering, and provides complete 3D pixel processing for Heidi.

Statistics:

  • 3D Studio MAX users can experience a two- to four-fold acceleration in 3D viewing and interaction speeds with GLINT-based boards compared to 8-bit software rendering.
  • GLINT-based boards can simultaneously increase visual display quality by up to four times compared to 8-bit software rendering.
  • 3Dlabs has developed highly optimized Heidi drivers that directly drive its GLINT 3D processor chip, resulting in a speed advantage of two times or more compared to running Heidi layered over accelerated OpenGL.
  • Over 40 companies have incorporated GLINT into their 3D products, making it the industry-standard accelerator architecture for high-performance 3D graphics on the PC.

Sources:

  • 3Dlabs' collaboration with Autodesk to develop highly optimized Heidi drivers for 3D Studio MAX
  • Omnicomp Graphics' GLINT-based 3DEMON board used throughout Heidi driver development
  • 3Dlabs' GLINT 300SX implementing 100% of OpenGL rendering operations in silicon
  • Autodesk's Heidi driver strategy enabling real-time 3D acceleration on PCs
  • 3Dlabs' OEM supply of chips, enabling software, and technology for 3D graphics
  • Omnicomp's design and manufacturing of high-performance 2D and 3D graphics and multimedia products.

Read more