When graphics chip maker NVIDIA announced their GeForce 2 MX series of low-cost, high power chipsets, Mac users took notice -- for that company promised that this series would include Mac OS compatibility, and that they would be entering the Mac market at some point in the future. Already available for the PC market in an AGP configuration, this chipset provides remarkable bang for the buck: the legendary image quality and speed of the GeForce series with several special features, all for under $170.

Now GA-Hardware has noted that InnoVISION Multimedia is releasing a GeForce 2 MX-based card in PCI configuration. While this card is still PC-only, it does prove that a PCI version of this card is certainly feasible, excellent news for those without AGP support in their Macs who were considering moving to an NVIDIA card in the future.

The extensive list of features provided proves that while this is a low-cost chipset, it certainly does not lack in features. One remarkable aspect of this chipset is TwinView, the ability to drive two monitors with a single card. You can even use multiple features of the card at once, such as watch DVDs on one monitor while organizing your files within the other.

Here are details on this PC card:

InnoVISION Multimedia is excited to launch Industry's First GeForce2 MX PCI Bus Accelerator. The Inno3d TORNADO GeForce2 MX PCI is an exciting product that offers Digital Vibrance Control, TwinView display options, and a unified driver making it the ultimate graphics solution for one of the most powerful PCI bus upgrades. It leverages the GeForce2 GTS architecture, including features such as second generation transform and lighting (T & L), NVIDIA Shading Rasterizer (NSR), High-Definition Video Processor (HDVP), supports razor-sharp renders, crystal-clear 2D even at demanding resolutions as high as 2048 x 1536, in 32-bit color and altogether at an affordable cost. This rich feature set, combined with its amazing cost structure, makes the Tornado GeForce2 MX PCI truly a GPU graphic solution for the best PCI bus upgrade for the Intel 810 embedded graphic or equivalent type of system board and system.

The Tornado GeForce2 MX PCI provides stunning graphics experience, its transform and lighting engines provide over 20 million sustained triangles per second and its rendering subsystem provides 700 million texels per second. The Tornado GeForce2 MX PCI includes the NVIDIA Shading Rasterizer (NSR) that enables advanced per-pixel shading capabilities. This breakthrough technology simultaneously processes up to seven pixel operations in a single pass. With Digital Vibrance Control (DVC) technology built-in, it makes all visuals more crisp, colorful, and vibrant. In most office environments, fluorescent lighting makes visuals washed out and muted. With DVC, 2D and 3D graphics, images, and video are much brighter and cleaner thereby reducing eyestrain and improving the viewing experience.

TwinView Technology

In addition to blazingly fast 2D and 3D graphics, the Tornado GeForce2 MX PCI provides unparalleled display flexibility and alternatives with its new TwinView display architecture. Through TwinView, it supports a dizzying array of multidisplay configurations. Various combinations of multiple monitors, flat panels, and TVs can be connected to a single 3D accelerator. TwinView even supports two independent digital flat panels, an industry first, providing relief for severely constrained desktop environments. For example, a user could configure her PC to surf the web on her primary monitor while simultaneously watch a DVD movie on a television screen.

Nvidia GeForce 2 MX In-Depth

Inno3d GeForce2 MX PCI on GA-Hardware

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