S3 Graphics Unleashes Full OpenGL 3.0 API Support with Beta Driver for Chrome 500

[btarunr]

S3 Graphics today released Beta drivers for the latest version of the OpenGL 3.0 API to take advantage of the Khronos Group's open, cross-platform 3D standard on the newly released Chrome 500 Series programmable GPUs. This major milestone allows software developers to start OpenGL 3.0 development on S3 Graphics hardware using the latest beta driver and GLSL 1.3 shading language on Windows XP and Vista.

These drivers bring out the latest capabilities of the OpenGL 3.0 API so developers can enhance their software applications to fully utilize the Chrome 500 Series graphics hardware for innovative and realistic 3D rendering. New features in OpenGL 3.0 include a new version of GLSL shader language, vertex array objects, 32-bit FP textures, four new texture compression methods, sRGB rendering/blending, and performance enhancements for conditional rendering with highly efficient array indexing.

The first S3 Graphics product to support the latest OpenGL 3.0 API, the S3 Graphics Chrome 530 GT, is available now through the GStore online outlet at: https://s3gstore.s3graphics.com/

"S3 Graphics is proud to be a major participant and contributor to the Khronos Group and OpenGL Architecture Review Board (ARB). Our goal is to bring to market cutting edge graphics based on full compliance with the requirements of the OpenGL standard," said Yanjun Zhang, Director of Linux Development at S3 Graphics. "With our visual computing ecosystem of partners and customers continuing to grow, the OpenGL community can be confident that S3 Graphics hardware and software are ready to take advantage of the new graphics features of OpenGL 3.0 for upcoming applications."

S3 Graphics offers a premium line of discrete graphics processors, from the Chrome 400 Series to the latest Chrome 500 Series multimedia GPUs for the most immersive OpenGL 2D/3D experience. Diverse markets that can take advantage of Chrome 500 Series OpenGL 3.0 acceleration include game, CAD, workstation, and other related PC and workstation markets. To download the latest OpenGL 3.0 beta driver, please go to this page

[KBD]

i wonder what the deal is with availability of these 500 series cards, i cant find any in the US.

[VulkanBros]

Arent these cards not mainly for OEM´s and IGP´s - I have never seen them in Europe either

[mtosev]

S3 - who cares

[magibeg]

Originally Posted by mtosev

S3 - who cares

They can actually make alright cards for low end systems that don't draw a lot of power.

[cdawall]

Originally Posted by mtosev

S3 - who cares

i do and just as a note to you the S3 chrome 440GTX will preform with your X800 not to mention is DX10

[KBD]

Originally Posted by cdawall

i do and just as a note to you the S3 chrome 440GTX will preform with your X800 not to mention is DX10

yea, me too, not only are these cards good for a budget a rig but also S3's products give the company a chance to get their name out there, it introduces a possibility that they will start making more high end cards, already they compete on the low end (though not very succesfully) with ATI and nvidia but it would be awesome if there was a third GPU chipmaker in the market. More choices are always better for the consumer so i hope they play a larger role in this segment in the future.

[Demon_82]

Who cares about S3? Hmmm, let's check your graphic cards... oh, all of them support S3TC... the S3 standard in texture compression created years ago. So well, care about them a little... and remember, even this small competition is good for the business.