Intel Provides Leading-Edge Development Tools For The Intel740™ Graphics Accelerator

Performance SDK with Intel Observation Architecture Increases Development Efficiency and Optimization on the Pentium® II Processor Platform with Intel740 Chip

LONG BEACH, Calif., May 5, 1998 – In a continued effort to provide Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) with advanced optimization tools for the Intel Architecture, Intel introduced today its new Intel740™ graphics accelerator Performance Software Developer's Kit (SDK) at the Computer Game Developers Conference* (CGDC). Aimed at enabling the development of applications optimized for the Pentium® II processor platform with the Intel740 graphics accelerator, this Performance SDK includes a new optimization utility using the Intel® Observation Architecture (OA), which allows developers to quickly identify and eliminate performance bottlenecks in applications. Intel will be holding a seminar on "Intel740 Graphics Accelerator Performance Tuning" at CGDC to help ISVs use these tools to quickly optimize applications.

Improving Application Development with the Performance SDK
The Intel740 graphics accelerator Performance SDK provides all the necessary tools for developers to take full advantage of the Pentium II processor platform with the Intel740 graphics accelerator. The SDK includes a software developer's manual, application notes, sample code and sample applications, as well as the Profiler for Observation Architecture utility. These tools are aimed at enabling efficient optimization for some of the Intel740 graphics accelerator's key features and taking full advantage of the performance of the Pentium II processor platform. Sample code for Direct3D* Retained Mode (RM) and Immediate Mode (IM) optimization is also provided. The Performance SDK will be distributed to ISVs at CGDC and available for free download on Intel's Developer Web site at: www.intel.com/design/graphics.

"Intel is dedicated to providing leading edge optimization tools to developers, enabling them to deliver state-of-the-art applications for the Pentium II processor platform," said Theodore Omtzigt, performance engineering manager at Intel's Graphics Component Division. "The Intel740 graphics accelerator Performance SDK with Observation Architecture allows ISVs to optimize for the Intel740 graphics chip while balancing their application for the Pentium II processor platform and fine tuning their Direct3D implementation, to deliver overall outstanding performance. This makes the Intel740 graphics accelerator the graphics solution of choice for developers."

The Intel740 graphics accelerator Performance SDK with Observation Architecture allows developers to improve their applications' performance and graphics quality while reducing development time, allowing for quicker time to market of exciting new applications.

Advanced Optimization Tools with Intel Observation Architecture
Intel's Observation Architecture (OA) is a set of advanced hardware and software features built into the Intel740 graphics chip and drivers which let developers "peek" into the graphics pipeline and observe bandwidth utilization and throughput in several hardware operations. Profiler for OA is a unique performance tuning utility that lets developers gauge the performance of their application by monitoring the activities of the Intel740 graphics chip, as well as identify and eliminate bottlenecks in the graphics pipeline in real time, resulting in well-balanced applications. Profiler for OA, which is included in the Performance SDK, shows the usage of various graphics hardware functions in real time, such as pixel fill engine, setup engine, texture cache throughput, local memory throughput, rendering rate, frame rate, Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) throughput and more. This information can be monitored locally or via a network, and can also be downloaded into a spreadsheet for easy analysis and application behavior profiling. Observation Architecture can be used under Windows* 95 and Windows NT* 4.0, and supports DirectX* and OpenGL*. Activision used Profiler for OA to improve frame rate and image quality for their title Battlezone*. "Profiler for OA is a one-of-a-kind tool that gave us excellent insight into the graphics sub-system," states Andrew Goldman, producer for Activision's Battlezone. "We were able to use Profiler to balance our application for the Pentium II processor platform and the Intel740 graphics accelerator. Within a short period of time, we knew how to greatly increase our frame rate, which in turn gave us the headroom to add even more awesome graphics features."

Ubi Soft also used Profiler for Observation Architecture to improve the quality and performance of their award-winning title, Tonic Trouble*. "Profiler for OA gave us immediate and measurable benefits. We used Profiler to identify hot spots and balance our title for the PC. We were able to nearly double our frame rate without sacrificing quality or the number of features we implemented in Tonic Trouble such as bilinear filtering, mip mapping, fog, transparency, particles and mirroring. This profiler is the best optimization tool a graphics vendor can provide," said Eric Huynh, technical manager at Ubi Soft.

Enabling Software Developers at CGDC
As part of its endeavor to enable ISVs with powerful optimization tools and techniques, Intel is hosting a seminar on "Intel740 Graphics Accelerator Performance Tuning" at CGDC to provide developers with information on the Intel740 graphics chip as well as proposed approaches to reach performance targets with the Intel740 graphics accelerator. Sessions will be held on May 8 from 9 to 11 a.m. and from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Part of the session will also concentrate on using Profiler for OA for performance enhancement and tuning. In addition, attendees will receive a copy of the Intel740 graphics accelerator Performance SDK, and the first 400 will be given a coupon for a free Diamond Stealth* G460 graphics boards based on the Intel740 graphics accelerator.

* Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.