[JB72]

Some of you have probably heard the rumors. Matrox is releasing some big new video card on May 14th. They seem pretty confident it will put them back in the 3D game with Nvidia and ATI.

http://jc.planetpei.com/parhelia/tu_...chip_diagr.jpg


I've heard rumors that's supposed to have a good 10 bit HDTV/DVD decoder. Also rumors that it will incorperate Firewire in some novel fashion. There's a lot of bogud info. floating around, so I was wondering if any of you had some more solid details.


I suppose we'll find out on May 14th.

 

[ushac]

Yep, seems to have two 10bit 400Mhz RAMDACs. Also they make a note of good RFI-filters. Here's an article that seems accurate (it's in russian though so you'll have to babelfish it ): iXBT article


Some pics of interest:
http://ixbt.com/video2/parhelia512/dhhf/figure_1.jpg

http://ixbt.com/video2/parhelia512/f...1st_output.png

http://ixbt.com/video2/parhelia512/f...2nd_output.png

http://ixbt.com/video2/parhelia512/5thorder_pcb.jpg


It won't come cheap though - $400 for the 128Mb version and $500 for the 256Mb. Don't know if that's correct - we'll have to wait until tuesday, may 14th, 9.00 AM EST to see. From the specs it looks reasonable though. (80M transistors on .15u at 350Mhz - GF4Ti4600 has 64M transistors on .15u at 300Mhz)


Regards / Erik Språng

 

[ushac]

Here is a better translation . I wonder how those DVD/HDTV decoder/scaler thingys perform...


Regards / Erik Språng

 

[JB72]

I'm assuming those DAC charts suggest some good even color, ie no chroma bug right? This could be a great 2D cards methinks. Me hopes.

 

[Abq-Pete]

JB72,


Chroma bug has nothing to do with the DACs. It is an issue with the MPEG decoder. See the article at:

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volum...ug-4-2001.html


Regards, Peter

 

[JB72]

Thanks Pete


I geuss I was thinking of the Gamma issue maybe?

 

[Dan Bither]

Digit life has another article about this:

Digit Life article

 

[Namlemez]

Gamma issue (at least for the Radeon 8500) is software/driver too.


10 bit DACs means better looking color with less banding. Flat response means more accurate color reproduction. Of course, you can compensate for non-flat response by tweaking the output, which I think is what most people do. It is similar in idea to using an equalizer with an audio system.

 

[xcel]

Hi All:


___More information on the Matrox card was posted in the HT Computer forums here . In either case, I am very much looking forward to this card …


___Good Luck


___Wayne R. Gerdes

___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.

___ [email protected]

 

[thorr]

 http://www.ocworkbench.com/ocwbcgi/n...1172855,71685,


Flight simulator looks awesome! Just imagine with three projectors on a huge wide screen!

 

[shades57]

Need for Speed on my three sony 1272's - I can't wait!! How would one need to angle the screens?

 

[Mark J. Foster]

Howdy!


Anandtech has the announcement of the Parhelia chip here:

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.html?i=1620


Cheers!

MarkF

 

[pivot]

More detailed review at www.hothardware.com . It's slashdotted right now though...

 

[greggplummer]

Here's the Matrox site for the new Parhelia -512.

http://www.matrox.com/mga/products/parhelia512/home.cfm