User Guide

NVIDIA Corporation
13
Detonator XP User’s Guide
C HAPTER
3
T HE G E F ORCE 3 F AMILY OF GPU S
Features and Benefits
Note: For detailed technical information on the GeForce3 family of GPUS, see
the NVIDIA web site: www.nvidia.com.
GeForce3 is often called the “infinite effects” GPU. By utilizing technology
such as the nfiniteFX
engine, Lightspeed Memory Architecture, and high-
resolution antialiasing (HRAA), GeForce3 produces spectacular graphics in
real time.
nfiniteFX engine is the NVIDIA programmable Vertex and Pixel Shaders,
collectively. The nfiniteFX engine allows developers the freedom to program a
virtually infinite number of custom special effects in order to create life-like
characters and environments.
Vertex Shaders are used to breathe life and personality into characters and
environments. For example, through vertex shading, software developers can
create true-to-life dimples or wrinkles that appear when a character smiles.
Pixel Shaders alter lighting and surface effects that replace artificial and
computerized appearances of images with materials and surfaces that mimic
reality.
Lightspeed Memory Architecture
is the NVIDIA memory bandwidth
optimizations designed to make complex scenes render much faster. These
optimizations make full-scene antialiasing (FSAA) practical and enable users
to enjoy high-resolution antialiasing.
High-Resolution Antialiasing (HRAA) delivers fluid frame rates of 60 frames
per second or more at high resolutions (e.g., 1024x768x32 or higher) with full-
scene antialiasing (FSAA) turned on.
DetXP_Features.book Page 13 Thursday, October 11, 2001 3:53 PM