The Nitro PCI Graphics Accelerator Provides 50% Greater Performance than
32-Bit Graphics Cards

64-bit PCI graphics accelerator offers unsurpassed performance; lists for
as much as $100 less than boards with comparable performance

Richardson, Texas (April 15, 1994)--STB Systems, Inc., today announced the
release of the first high-performance, 64-bit, PCI Local Bus graphics
accelerator card based on the Cirrus Logic CL-GD5434 video
controller/accelerator chip. The Nitro PCI graphics accelerator
outperforms popular 32-bit PCI Local Bus accelerator cards, yet it has a
suggested retail price that is as much as $100 less than boards with
comparable performance. The Nitro PCI brings the benefits of
cost-effective DRAM-based GUI acceleration to the high-performance
graphics market that typically has been served by more-expensive
VRAM-based solutions.

Powerful 64-bit GUI Engine Produces Greater Than 13,5 Million Winmarks

The CL-GD5434 video chip integrates a 64-bit GUI engine, 64-bit internal
data paths and a 64-bit frame buffer interface. This architecture yields
performance levels greater than 13.5 million pixels per second, based on
current benchmark tests performed by STB.

"Graphics- and image-rich applications have made PCs easier to use," said
Robert Hoskins, Marketing Communications Manager for STB Systems, "but
these packages virtually require some sort of graphics acceleration to
provide acceptable screen performance. Factors that drive the need for
improved GUI accelerators are the migration to higher-resolution displays
and greater per-pixel color depth.

"The Nitro PCI provides much better performance than currently available
32-bit graphics accelerators. We designed the new adapter to be extremely
flexible and offer multiple performance options for mid-range PCs,
higher-end PCs and video-based multimedia applications."

Most Advanced DRAM-Based GUI Accelerator

STB's use of the powerful 64-bit Cirrus Logic GUI engine makes the Nitro
PCI the industry's most advanced DRAM-based solution for optimal speed and
performance under Windows and other GUI applications. The Nitro PCI is the
first DRAM-based accelerator card with a 64-bit internal data path in
place of the typical 32-bit internal architecture. Because the CL-GD5434
can be connected directly with the PCI Local Bus, the Nitro PCI can
provide the high bandwidth and transfer rates which effectively eliminate
data bottlenecks. The Nitro PCI supports a bandwidth greater than 200
megabytes per second; this is twice the bandwidth possible with a 32-bit
architecture. The result for users is top graphics responsiveness.

The Nitro PCI provides hardware GUI acceleration features such as bit block
transfer (BitBLT), linear addressing, pattern fills, hardware cursor and
color expansion. The direct connection with the PCI Local Bus is supported
by an on-board BIOS which eliminates the need for external bus-interface
logic other solutions use to interface with external ROMs. STB's approach
decreases component count and costs, and it meets the single-load
requirement of the PCI bus specification.

64-Bit DRAM Interface Provides Non-Interlaced Graphics Without
Interleaving

The Nitro PCI has a 64-bit direct connect frame buffer interface that
provides the high display rewrite rates required for non-interlaced
graphics. With its 64-bit DRAM interface, the Nitro PCI supports
high-resolution graphics without the complex interleaved designs that
32-bit frame-buffer interfaces require. The 64-bit architecture thus
eliminates the cost and complexity associated with interleaving.

Using fast and cost-effective DRAM, the Nitro PCI comes in one- or
two-megabyte configurations that allow the widest range of display
resolutions and colors. The two-megabyte version supports 16.7 million
colors at 640-by-480 and 800-by-600 resolutions and 65,536 colors at a
resolution of 1024-by-768 in non-interlaced mode. Each version supports
refresh rates of 60, 70 and 72 Hz. These high-color and true-color modes
are appropriate for applications that utilize photo-realistic images and
require acceleration in SuperVGA resolutions.

The Nitro PCI ships with high-performance drivers that provide maximum
compatibility with a variety of popular Windows, Windows NT, OS/2, NeXT
Step, AutoCAD and DOS applications.

The GUI accelerator will include a VESA-compatible feature connector that
permits the use of other add-in boards, such as video overlay boards and
video capture boards.

"Green PC" Power Management

The Nitro PCI ships with PowerStar, a Display Power Management Signaling
(DPMS) utility. PowerStar meets the VESA specification for reducing a
monitor's power consumption to less than 30 watts when it is not in use.
The utility has four power-usage modes: maximum, standby, suspend and off.
Maximum mode is active when the monitor is on. The first power-down places
the monitor in standby mode; which blanks the monitor's screen but keeps
its red/green/blue electron guns active and ready to fire. The second
power-down places the monitor in suspend mode, which reduces power
consumption below 30 watts and is comparable to turning the monitor off.
Modes are controlled through a user interface that operates much like a
screen saver's. Users can define the amount of time that elapses before
each mode is activated.

The Nitro PCI is available in single and bulk quantities from computer
distributors, resellers and retail locations worldwide. Samples will be
available in late March, and STB plans to begin volume production in
mid-April. The suggested retail prices for the 1 MB and 2 MB versions of
the Nitro PCI are $179 and $249, respectively.

Technical Support

STB backs the Nitro PCI with a Lifetime Warranty, the longest in the
industry. Support is available via a toll-free technical support hotline
at 1 (800) 234-4334, via a 24-hour BBS at (214) 234-9615 and on Compuserve
at GO STBSYS.

STB Systems, Inc.

STB Systems, Inc. is recognized worldwide as a technology leader in the
design and manufacture of single- and multiple-channel video adapter
cards. STB supplies one of the industry's most complete lines of graphics
accelerator and VGA-to-NTSC video adapter boards. These products support
both domestic and international video standards.

Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Richardson, Texas, STB has established
a tradition of designing award-winning graphics controller boards and
writing specialized video drivers that provide maximum software
compatibility. STB estimates its annual revenues for the current fiscal
year will exceed $70 million.

STB Systems Inc
1651 North Glenville
Richardson, TX 75081
214-234-8750,  fax 214-234-1306,  BBS 214-437-9615

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