Graphics get whiff of Oxygen

MiroMedia has teamed up with Dynamic Pictures to reduce the entry price for Windows-based, professional 3D graphics. New PowerThreads technology from Dynamic Pictures will be integrated into the drivers for Miro-Media's MiroOxygen3D graphics cards. Running on dual Pentium-based systems, MiroMedia claims the combination will outperform more costly 3D workstations. PowerThreads is a multithreading technology that improves the graphics performance of OpenGL applications by feeding the multiple processors of the MiroOxygen cards in parallel. Using the four-processor MiroOxygen 402 and a dual Pentium machine, four areas of the image can be rendered simultaneously. PowerThreads technology will also benefit single processor machines, and will be integrated into MiroMedia's lower-end card, the MiroOxygen 202, with two Oxygen chips. The new technology will benefit any applications based on the OpenGL graphics interface for Windows. Among those available already are animation applications such as Lightwave 3D, Softimage 3D and 3D Studio Max, as well as CAD/CAM packages such as SolidWorks, Pro/Engineer, Unigraphics and I-DEAS. Cheaper and faster Intel-based hardware, coupled with new technologies such as PowerThreads and AGP, should continue to reduce the entry level price for professional 3D and design. Graphics card manufacturers have been under pressure from the gaming community for some time to improve the performance of Windows graphics, and now have found that they can sell these improvements on to the design community. The MiroOxygen cards cost #2,150 for the 402 and #1,250 for the 202, and are available now. PowerThreads technology has been integrated into version 3.0 of the Oxygen OpenGL driver for Windows NT and is due to ship next month. MiroMedia: 01782 641616.