Matrox continues to set the graphics standard:
Introducing the MGA Impression Plus -- The one-board solution for Windows,
multimedia and 3D graphics on the PC

May 23, 1994 -- Montreal, Canada -- Matrox Graphics Inc. introduces the MCA
Impression Plus 64-bit graphics accelerator, the world's first one-board
solution for Windows, multimedia and 3D graphics acceleration, priced at
only $599. The MGA Impression Plus combines leading edge 64-bit
technology: the proven award winning MGA 64-bit graphics accelerator chip,
with newly integrated 3D acceleration; support for VideoLogic's
PowerPlay64 video accelerator chip with the VESA Media Channel
(VM-Channel); and Texas Instrument's TVP 3026 64-bit double-buffer RAMDAC.
Offering the fastest Windows performance, the MGA Impression Plus also
reaches ultra high resolutions up to 1600 x 1200, the highest refresh
rates, and 24-bit color acceleration at 1280 x 1024. In addition, a set of
new utilities have been added to the MGA Power Drivers - advanced
productivity features for Windows and CAD.

Proven Performance

The MGA Impression Plus comes with the reputation for quality and
performance established by the MGA Series since its introduction in March
1993. Based on the MGA 64-bit graphics processor, the MGA Impression Plus
brings high levels of performance to the PC, with over 40 million honest
Winmarks in Ziff Davis WinBench 4.0, using the standard color palette, as
opposed to other palettes used by competitors which display incorrect
colors in 8-bit modes to achieve higher speed. For fast true-color
acceleration. the MGA Series uses VRAM blockwrite capabilities to
accelerate true colors in one 24-bit pass through VRAM instead of three
8-bit passes used by competitors. Also, the new Packed Pixel function of
the MGA Impression Plus enables it to accelerate 24-bit colors at
resolutions of 1280 x 1024. The MGA Impression Plus incorporates a 170 MHz
DAC to provide rock-solid, 90 Hz refresh at 1280 x 1024 resolutions, and
120 Hz at 1024 x 768 or a 200 MHz DAC for 1600 x 1200 at 80 Hz. With over
20 international editorial awards and strategic alliances with key players
in the PC industry such as Compaq, Gateway 2000 and Hewlett Packard, MGA
is recognized as the new standard in graphics acceleration.

Advanced Productivity

Features The MGA Impression Plus bundles Matrox's proven advanced
productivity features, the MGA Power Drivers, including: Instant
ModeSwitch to instantly switch color depth and resolutions without having
to exit Windows: Pixel Touch for hardware pan and zoom 2 to 4 times: and
QCDP for visualizing 24-bit color work at high resolutions in 8 and 16-bit
modes

In addition to the proven MGA productivity features, the MGA Impression
Plus comes with brand new productivity features to optimize your Windows
applications. With the new Monitor Selection feature, you can maximize the
performance of your monitor and graphics accelerator through interactive
testing and automatic adjustment of colors, resolutions and refresh rates
in a Windows setting. Also, the new BoardInfo selection lets you access
key information about your board and system instantly. Through the
improved MGA Control Panel, you can preset the four combinations of color
depth and resolutions you expect to use the most in your applications. The
Mode Setup window lets you preview your chosen color depth and
resolutions, as well as virtual desktop sizes. This new Control Panel
simplifies your use of ModeSwitch, with a clear display of your preferred
mode settings. and enables you to quickly set your cursor color, hotkeys
and other functions.

Once vou have selected your original settings, you can access your MGA
features through the new MGA Quick Access window. This repositionable
iconic menu, which can be displayed vertically or horizontally on your
screen, replaces the hot keys and allows vou quick access to various
functions, including your four preset modes, ModeSwitch, and PixelTouch,
without using as much memory or space as the full Control Panel.

Other functions include: the new CenterPopup, which will automatically
center any menu or window you open to the middle of the screen:
CenterWindow, a new hotkey function, will center the opened window within
the visible desktop area. When working In the virtual Desktop, the new
PanLock will lock the working area of the virtual desktop, and new MaxVIEW
(hotkey) maximizes the current window to fit within the boundaries of the
visible part of the desktop area.

The Future in Graphics Acceleration

The MGA Impression Plus with 2MB VRAM for the PCI bus (upgradable to 4MB )
is based on the proven MGA 64-bit graphics accelerator chip with newly
integrated 3D hardware acceleration. incorporating z buffering and
double-buffering functions. This allows users to accelerate 3D in real
time, up to 90,000 Gouraud-shaded polygons per second, making the MGA
Impression Plus an ideal platform for advanced CAD and graphics
applications, as well as new applications in animation, virtual reality,
games, education, and illustration. The MGA Impression Plus also provides
two times the VGA performance over previous MGA versions. The MGA
Impression Plus is fully upgradable to 4MB through a snap-on 2MB VRAM
module to increase resolutions as high as 1280 x 1024 x 24-bit packed
pixel mode, 1600 x 1200 x 16-bit and 3D resolutions up to 1152 x 882 x
16-bit.

Maximum Color Resolutions

                   8-Bit         16-bit        24-bit/32-bit

2MB              1600 x 1200    1152 x 882       800 x 600
4MB              1600 x 1200    1600 x 1200     1280 x 1024
2MB w/3D res      800 x 600      800 x 600          N/A
4MB w/3D res     1152 x 882     1152 x 882       800 x 600

MGA Impression Plus complies to major industry standard APIs (Application
Programming Interface). such as Microsoft's Open GL. Intel's 3DR,
Autodesk's HOOPS, and VESA's upcoming industry wide
VAGI. Matrox has also developed its own 3D API. SXCI to support 3D
application developments under DOS and Windows. and provides SXCI Software
Development kits (SDKs).

The MGA Impression Plus also provides its own powerful DynaView CAD drivers
under DOS and advanced AutoCAD features under Windows. DynaView features
for DOS include: Real-time Spy Glass and Bird's Eye views: Windows-like
Scroll and Zoom bars: Real-time display for flicker-free drawing updates:
Resizeable and positionable main window: Programmable pop-up iconic menus
and tool bar: Interactive 3D movement and rotation: lnstantaneous Gouraud
shaded rendering: Real-time 3D rendered walkthroughs and fly-bys: and
Powerful design checking. AutoCAD for Windows features include: 3D viewer,
for real-time pan, zoom, rotation, rendering, and slice-through: Bird's
Eye and Spy Glass views: and Instant ModeSwitch, allowing you to instantly
switch between wireframe. Gouraud shaded and NTSC resolutions without
exiting Windows.

MGA 3D compared to workstation-level technology

System          Iris Indigo R4400 CPU        MGA Impression Plus
                                              with a Pentium P54C

Accelerated 3D
polygons                32,000                       40,000
Price                   $7,000                       $4,000

Video Acceleration

The MGA Impression Plus provides high quality video playback; with its
support for Microsoft DCI, accelerating software video at 24 frames per
second from various CODECs, such as Indeo and Cinepak, as well as
Video-for-Windows.

For superior video playback at high resolutions, the MGA Impression Plus
can be upgraded, through an add-on board, with the VideoLogic PowerPlay64
video accelerator chip (available Q4 '94), for the seamless integration of
graphics and real-time video on the PC. This chip will enable the user to
accelerate video hardware playback in high quality at resolutions up to
1280 x 1024 at 30 frames per second and to merge graphics and video
through a single frame buffer and DAC. The PowerPlay64 also provides
hardware color space conversion and interpolated scaling capabilities, for
enhanced video playback. Moreover, the 32-bit 100MB per second VESA Media
Channel (VM-Channel) connector on the add-on module will optimize your
multimedia applications by breaking the VGA resolution and performance
barriers imposed by the standard VESA feature connector.

The VM-Channel of the PowerPlay64 provides a powerful connection for video
expansion on the PC, offering a 32-bit video expansion bus which supports
up to 15 video streams simultaneous!. It is compatible with any video
compression standard (CODEC), and provides an industry-wide long-term
solution to video on the PC. The VM-Channel also provides a separate
channel for video cards to communicate independently of the local bus to
avoid slowing down the CPU with video traffic, therefore eliminating
system conflicts, performance degradation and dropped frames which are
problems encountered when sending raw, uncompressed video over the PCI
bus. The VM-Channel also breaks the barrier of the standard feature
connector, which only supports video integration in VGA mode, a limitation
which cripples any high performance graphics card by restraining your
applications to VGA resolutions and losing all Windows acceleration
functions. By supporting the VM-Channel standard, the MGA Impression Plus
will be compatible with future multimedia add-on cards, providing the
ideal solution for MPEG video playback, video teleconferencing, Video for
Windows, video capture, print to video, digital video editing and video
compression users. MGA Impression Plus also includes a standard feature
connector for full backward compatibility with other peripherals.

MGA Impression Plus video functions with VideoLogic upgrade:

PowerPlay64 video accelerator chip
* For smooth scaling up to 1280 x 1024 at 30 frames/ sec.
* For superior quality video on the PC

32-bit high bandwidth VM-Channel data path
* For the seamless integration and automatic synchronization
  of graphics and video
* To support up to 15 video streams simultaneously
* Compatible with a wide range of third party video boards 

Single frame buffer and DAC for both graphics and video
* Dramatically reduces parts cost by eliminating the need
  for 2 frame buffers and DACs 

Compatible with any CODEC
* Complete flexibility as user needs and standards change

Hardware acceleration of Microsoft's DCI video playback
* For superior quality software video playback and smooth scaling

Supports multiple live video windows
* For video teleconferencing, multimedia editing, etc.

Direct host bus connection
* Avoids slowing down CPU

The PowerPlay64 upgrade of the MGA Impression Plus will be available in Q4
'94. For users who have upgraded to 4MB before the availability of the
PowerPlay64, Matrox will trade the 2MB upgrade for a PowerPlay64 with 2MB
module at the cost of $100.

MGA Impression Plus Prices

-- MGA Impression Plus PCI 2MB                     $599
-- 2MB add-on module                                299
-- PowerPlay64 Module (avail Q4'94)                 149
-- PowerPlay64 with 2MB Module                      399

The MGA Impression Plus 2MB upgradable to 4MB is expected to ship in late
July, 1994.

Matrox Electronic Systems Ltd.
1055 St. Regis Blvd.
Dorval, Quebec, Canada H9P 2T4
514.685.2630,  Fax 514.685.2853

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