The robust & advanced hardware design enables the WinFast GeForce 256 DDR to display more complex, life-like realtime images for different types of visual computing applications such as 3D gaming, animation, high-end 3D authoring, high-resolution CAD design, e-commerce and business software packages. 

Q: What is DDR memory ? How does it help increase the graphics performance ?
A: DDR (Double Data Rate) memory is embedded with the latest memory technology that doubles the frequency of data fetching. Traditionally, each memory cycle is triggered by either positive or negative edge of a clock. DDR technology enables both positive and negative edges of a clock to initiate the memory cycle, making the memory data bandwidth approximately twice as higher. 

By utilizing DDR memory in a graphics subsystem, the speed of buffering and texturing can be greatly increased to release the bottleneck between the graphics processor and the memory. In an advanced graphics subsystem such as WinFast GeForce 256, instead of using the PC's central processor, massive graphics computation takes place at the on-board GeForce 256 GPU and its memory buffer; freeing the bottleneck between the graphics processor and the memory gets particularly important in order to achieve higher performance.

Q: What is a GPU ?
A: GPU is an acronym for "graphics processing unit." A GPU is a single-chip processor with integrated transform, lighting, triangle setup/clipping and rendering engines that is capable of producing a minimum of 10 million polygons per second. The GPU brings a major discontinuity in performance and image fidelity, and will fundamentally change the PC industry forever. 3D applications will never be the same. 

Q: Will I see any difference in performance when GeForce 256 runs existing games ?
A: YES! Current games and applications will benefit from GeForce 256's higher fill rate, especially in resolutions 1024 x 768 and higher. 

Q: Is the performance of GeForce 256 very CPU-dependent ?
A: Not At All. GeForce 256 provides high-performance graphics with any CPU. In addition, GeForce 256's integrated transform and lighting engines allow developers to increase geometry complexity without the performance penalty. Developers can now take full advantage of the CPU horsepower to apply more realistic physics, artificial intelligence, and game play. 

Q: When will the first games that take advantage of T&L be available ?
A: We expect over 15 titles will be available by Christmas '99. Some of the titles include The Whole Experience, Shadow Man, Halo, Midnight GT, and Messiah...etc. 

Q: How difficult will it be for developers to take advantage of T&L ?
A: In fact, developers are already developing high-quality databases for cut shots and level transitions today. In addition, GeForce 256's performance will also be optimal for PlayStation2® developers to convert those assets over to the PC. 

Q: Can GeForce 256's integrated T&L engines be used with Microsoft® DirectX® 7 ?
A: Yes. The GeForce 256 and DirectX 7 were designed in conjunction so that maximum performance and compatibility could be achieved. 

Q: Is DX7 required to take advantage of GeForce 256's T&L engines ?
A: No. Hardware T&L can be used with OpenGL® or DirectX 7. 

Q: If the GeForce 256 offloads the host CPU from performing the T&L calculations, what will be left for the CPU ?
A: By offloading the T&L computations, the CPU will now have the bandwidth to dramatically improve the level of quality for physics, artificial intelligence and character animation. 

Q: Is texture compression supported ?
A: Yes. GeForce 256 supports all five formats of DX6 texture compression. 

Q: What kind of bump mapping does GeForce 256 support ?
A: GeForce 256 supports single-pass emboss and dot-product bump mapping. With its integrated T&L geometry power, GeForce 256 will enable much more realistic "bump" effects without sacrificing performance. 

Q: Which companies are developing games to take advantage of GeForce 256's transform and lighting engines and other advanced features ?
A: The companies doing development taking advantage of GeForce 256 GPU are as follows at this moment, and the number is still increasing.