DOS Days

Matrox Graphics, Inc.

Matrox was a Canadian graphics card manufacturer for the IBM PC and its compatibles, based in Montreal and was founded way back in 1976. Though they started out producing "frame grabbers" for various hardware, the company really took off from 1994 to 1995 with revenues jumping from $120M to $250M. From 1993 they had stopped used third-party chipsets, instead choosing to design their own - the first of these was to be used on the Impression and Impression Pro video cards.

They were probably most famous for their MGA (Matrox Graphics Architecture) engine, launched in May 1993, which was a 64-bit engine that produced superior 2D graphics (important during the era of CRTs) and also had a reputation for being high performers. Similar to ATI's Mach32 and S3's 86Cxxx family of chipsets, MGA accelerated common graphics functions such as BitBlts (bit block transfers) and pattern, polygon, and rectangle fills. It went one better though, and also provided acceleration for 3D Gouraud shading, z-buffering, and character drawing. It was optimised for 486- and Pentium-class computers and was designed with PCI in mind, with its 128-bit bus: 64-bit for graphics (twice as wide as most existing graphics accelerators at the time) and 64-bit for video output. There was also an NTSC/PAL encoder daughterboard called VideoPro that could be installed on MGA cards to provide broadcast-quality TV video output to your desktop.

They were also notably remembered for their multi-display capabilities, with "dual-head" and even "quad-head" graphics cards to drive up to 4 displays at once.

Matrox even provided games developers with their API, called MSI (Matrox Simple Interface), though this was not widely adopted and eventually only 12 titles directly supported MSI. MSI was limited to games that supported 640 x 480 x 16 with Z-buffer sorting and no bilinear filtering.

With the introduction of 3D accelerators in the mid-to-late 90s, Matrox gradually became unable to keep pace with the competition from nVidia and ATI. In 2002, they launched their final 3D graphics card, Parhelia-512, before pulling out of the consumer graphics card market to focus on more niche industries, such as CAD and the multi-display features they were so strong in.

Matrox resides at 1025 St. Regis Blvd. Dorval, QC, Canada, H9P 2T4 Tel: (514) 969-6320 Fax: (514) 969-6363

The company still exists today, and in September 2019 one of the original founders took back 100% control of Matrox.

Here's a summary of the Matrox cards in chronological order, and by bus type:

ISA / VLB Cards PCI Cards AGP Cards
ISA Cards:
Hiper+/WIN (1992)
MGA Impression (1993)
MGA Impression Pro (1993)
MGA Impression Plus / Impression 200 (1994)

VESA Local Bus Cards:
MGA Ultima (VLB, 1993)
MGA Ultima Plus / Ultima 200 (VLB, 1993)

MGA Impression Plus / 200 (1994)
MGA Millennium (1995)
Mystique (1996)
Millennium 2 / Millennium II (1997)
Millennium m3D PCX2 (1997)
Mystique 220 (1997)
Millennium G200 Quad (1998)
Millennium G450 (2000)
Millennium G550 (2001)
Millennium 2 / Millennium II (AGP 1x, 1997)
Millennium G200 (AGP 1x, 1998)
Mystique G200 (AGP 1x, 1998)
Millennium G250 (AGP 1x, 1998)
Millennium G400 (AGP 1x/2x/4x, 1999)
Millennium G400 Max (AGP 1x/2x/4x, 1999)
Millennium G450 (AGP 1x/2x/4x, 2000)
Millennium G550 (AGP 4x/8x, 2001)
Millennium P650 Dual Head (AGP 4x/8x, 2002)
Millennium P650 Low Profile (AGP 4x/8x, 2002)
Parhelia / Parhelia 512 (AGP 4x/8x, 2003)

 

Hiper+/WIN

Launched: 1992
Graphics Chip: S3 86C924 "Carrera"
Bus: 16-bit ISA
Memory: 1 MB DRAM
Ports: 15-pin DSUB
Core Clock Speed: ? MHz
RAMDAC: AT&T ATT20C492, Winbond 82C490 DirectColor
RAMDAC Speed: ? MHz
Price: ?
Part #: 0472-00
Known Board Revisions: A

MGA Impression

Launched: 1993
Graphics Chip: MGA-II (codenames Dubic, Titan and Helena)
Bus: ISA or VESA Local Bus
Memory: 3 MB VRAM (+ up to 2 MB DRAM expansion)
Ports: 15-pin DSUB
Core Clock Speed: 33 MHz
RAMDAC: Bt 485KHJ170
RAMDAC Speed: 175 MHz
Price: $999

Aimed at the CAD (Computer-Aided Design) and specialist graphics rendering market, this card was the first from Matrox to use their new homegrown graphics chipset instead of a third partys. Impression was the single chip, cheaper version compared to Impression Pro, though the card was still very expensive.

The MGA-II chips on Impression supported PCI, VLB and ISA, and were codenamed Dubic and Titan. Helena was the codename for the Impression Lite and Impression Plus Lite.

It came with integrated 3D hardware acceleration, so it could handle 3D Gouraud shading in real-time at a resolution of 1280 x 1024 in 8-bit colour, as well as hardware pan and zoom. On the ISA version of the card, 3D shading support was limited to 800 x 600 but this did support full 24-bit colour.

Owners could purchase a 2 MB DRAM memory add-on for $200, which could act as a Z-buffer and improve 24-bit colour performance by using this additional memory for off-screen bitmap caching.

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MGA Impression Pro

Launched: 1993
Graphics Chip: MGA-II (codenames Dubic, Titan and Helena)
Bus: VESA Local Bus
Memory: 4.5 MB VRAM (+ up to 4 MB DRAM expansion)
Ports: 15-pin DSUB
Core Clock Speed: 33 MHz
RAMDAC: Texas Instruments PTVP3020
RAMDAC Speed: ? MHz
Price: $1,999

MGA Impression Pro was the same as MGA Impression, but came with two of their chipset chips onboard which theoretically doubled the performance of the MGA Impression.

Stock VRAM memory was increase from 3 MB to 4.5 MB, and like the cheaper card, the Pro supported a DRAM memory expansion for the purpose of a Z-bufer, though it supported twice as much for this purpose, at 4 MB instead of 2.

MGA Ultima

Launched: 1993
Graphics Chip: MGA-I (codename Atlas)
Bus: PCI or VESA Local Bus
Memory: 2 MB or 4 MB VRAM (+2 MB expansion option)
Ports: 15-pin DSUB
Core Clock Speed: 33 MHz
RAMDAC: Bt 485KPJ135
RAMDAC Speed: 135 MHz
FCC ID: ID7G0050001
Price: $599 (2 MB) or $799 (4 MB)

A cheaper and more tightly-integrated card that was designed to replace the pricey Impression.

MGA Ultima Plus / Ultima Plus 200

Launched: 1993
Graphics Chip: MGA-I (codename Atlas)
Bus: VESA Local Bus or PCI
Memory: 2 MB VRAM (upgradable to 4 MB)
Ports: 15-pin DSUB
Core Clock Speed: 33 MHz (PCI), 50 MHz (VLB)
RAMDAC: Texas Instruments PTVP3020
RAMDAC Speed: 175 MHz (Ultima Plus), 200 MHz (Ultima Plus 200)
Price: $599 (Ultima VLB), $999 (Ultima PCI), or $999 (Ultima Plus PCI)

Ultima Plus was the same as Ultima, though designed to replace the Impression Pro card (for high-resolution WIndows applications in 24-bit colour such as 2D CAD work). Unlike Impression, Ultima cards sacrificed the 3D accelerator for very high performance in 2D at high resolutions (up to 1600 x 1200 x 16-bit colour depth) and high refresh rates (66 Hz). The fastest supported refresh rate at 1600 x 1200 was 80 Hz.

Owners could purchase a 2 MB VRAM add-on for $250.

A later variant called the MGA Ultima Plus 200 came with a faster 200 MHz RAMDAC, which allowed 1600 x 1200 x 16-bit at 76 Hz refresh rate, or 100 Hz refresh rate if the resolution was reduced to 280 x 1024.

Windows performance of both the Ultima Plus and Ultima Plus 200 was exceptional. A buyers guide in 1994 quoted the Ultima Plus: "If you want the fastest Windows video card you can buy, consider the Matrox MGA Ultima Plus. Offered in both VLB and PCI version, the Ultima Plus has the innovative 64-bit chip design that pushes Windows to its limits.... The Ultima Plus has impressive Windows performance and delivers the best 24-bit color performance in Windows by far. It is among a few video cards that supports 1600 x 1200 resolution."

"When you are working in 24-bit color at high resolutions, you need all the speed you can get. You are also probably willing to pay for it. Matrox Graphics' MGA Ultima Plus (VLB, $699; PCI, $749) throws its powerful 64-bit MGA accelerator chip and 4 MB of VRAM design at your acceleration bottlenecks. The result is one of the fastest cards we have seen. The MGA Ultima Plus features a strong driver suite (including Matrox Graphics' excellent DynaView CAD drivers and support for on-the-fly mode switching) plus a host of utilties and additional drivers. Keep your eyes peeled for new memory technologies that should further enhance this already excellent product."     PC Magazine, (January 1995)

 

It is slow, however, when running DOS applications.

MGA Impression Plus 220

Launched: 1994
Graphics Chip: MGA-II (codename Athena)
Bus:16-bit ISA and PCI
Memory: 2 MB VRAM (upgradable to 4 MB)
Ports: 15-pin DSUB
Core Clock Speed: 33 MHz
RAMDAC Speed: 220 MHz
Price: $898, $449 (2 MB Plus PCI, Feb '95), $499 (2 MB Plus ISA, Feb '95)

Impression Plus was the first Matrox card that came with basic 3D features built into its hardware chipset, including Gouraud shading. It was the also the first graphics card on the market to support real-time 3D acceleration, able to play back full-screen video for Windows clips at 30 frames per second.

The 2 MB card could output at resolutions up to 1600 x 1200 at 85 Hz refresh rate. With the 4 MB memory upgrade, it offered 1280 x 1024 in 16.7 million colours at flicker-free refresh rates.

Impression Plus 220 got a faster 220 MHz RAMDAC over the Impression and Impression Plus' 175 MHz.

An optional upgrade for the Impression Plus was the $99 VideoLogic PowerPlay 64, which was a video accelerator chip that provided smooth, TV-quality video playback at up to 1600 x 1200 pixels.

There was also an Impression Lite (codename Helena) which came with 2 MB VRAM which was not upgradable. In February 1995, this retailed for $369 for the PCI version and $399 for the VESA Local Bus version.

"Twelve months ago, only Matrox offered a 64-bit graphics accelerator; this year, 64-bit boards are the only way to go. At the top of the 64-bit heap are Matrox's MGA Impression Plus, Number Nine's GXe64 Pro, ATI's Graphics Pro Turbo, and Diamond's Stealth 64 and Viper SE. They're all turning up as standard options in top-tier systems from Dell, Compaq and others. But 64-bit accelerators will go the way of the dodo: The first 128-bit video card was just hatched by Number Nine, opening a whole new realm of speed. This year's hottest innovation was Matrox's MGA Impression Plus card with 3-D acceleration. It renders realistic graphics--illustrations, animations and games--so fast that it puts workstations to shame, yet you can pick one up for a mere $350."
PC Magazine, Vol.7 Iss.12 (Dec 1994)

 

Millennium / MGA Millennium

Launched: 1995
Graphics Chip: IS-STORM (MGA2064W)
Bus: PCI
Memory: 2 MB or 4 MB WRAM (upgradable to 8 MB)
Ports: 15-pin DSUB, "Media XL" AV in/out port
Core Clock Speed: 50 or 60 MHz
RAMDAC: Texas Instruments TVP3026
RAMDAC Speed: 220 MHz
Part #s: MGA-MIL/2N (Base version with 2 MB), MGA-MIL/4N (Base version with 4 MB)
Price: $199 (2 MB, launch), $249 (4 MB, launch), $180 (2MB, Apr 1997), $250 (4MB, Apr 1997)
Known Board Revisions: A

Designed to be a Windows 2D GUI accelerator, this card provided blazing fast 2D performance with a crisp output. It could reach resolutions of 1600 x 1200 in 16.7 million colours with the full complement of 8 MB of RAM, and up to 200 Hz refresh rate. It was the successor to their earlier MGA Impression Plus.

The card had quite a price premium compared to its direct competitors at the time. Matrox integrated their 3D engine from the earlier (and market failure) Impression cards to the Millennium. It got good-quality dual-ported WRAM memory (which is faster than SGRAM) from Samsung, but for a 3D-capable card it had no texturing unit - something gamers weren't excited about. This of course is because it was never pitched as a gaming card.

So instead of hardware texturing it had to use its software drivers. Its hardware 3D capabilities included 3D Gouraud shading (in real-time up to 1280 x 1024 in 16-bit colour), double-buffering and Z-buffering. It supported a range of standard APIs including OpenGL, Microsoft Direct3D, and Criterion Renderware. According to the adverts, it could render 190,000 3D polygons per second.

For more details, go to my dedicated page for the MGA Millennium.

 

Mystique

Launched: May 1996
Codename: 1064SG
Graphics Chip: IS-MGA-1064SG-D, IS-MGA-1064SG-H
Bus: PCI
Memory: 2 MB, 4 MB or 8 MB SGRAM (64-bit)
Ports: 15-pin DSUB
Core Clock Speed: 50 - 60 MHz
RAMDAC Speed: 135 - 170 MHz (8-bit colour depth)
Price: $499 (4 MB), $279 (2MB, Apr 1997), $149 (2 MB SGRAM upgrade module), $259 (4MB, Dec 1996)

The Mystique was Matrox' response to gamers demands for a 'proper' 3D card with a texturing engine, since the first Millennium had none. It was their first card that was directly targeted at the consumer market.

In a single chip (the MGA-1064SG) Matrox integrated the RAMDAC and video engine with a hardware scaler. The new texturing engine handled perspective correction, transparency lookup table, lighting in true colour precision, and dithering, though despite being the best 3D card from Matrox even through 1997, it did not have bilinear filtering, fogging, mip-mapping or anti-aliasing - instead relying on "nearest neighbour" interpolation. It also didn't directly support OpenGL.

"The new Mystique sets its sights squarely on Direct3D. Its MGA-1064SG chip is an advanced bus-mastering controller with support for perspective-corrected texture maps, high-resolution palettized textures, texture transparency, and tile-based MIP mapping. But it lacks hardware support for a number of features--bilinear filtering for texture maps, true alpha blending, and fog--found in other 3-D implementations. As a result, Direct3D applications that have these features are visibly improved when displayed on a card that supports these effects in hardware.

Matrox says it sacrificed some effects for a higher frame rate, which might be an acceptable tradeoff for fast-paced game action. Indeed, on our 3-D tests, the Mystique spits out Direct3D frames faster than most of its competitors. The subjective game-playing experience - taking into account frame rate - place the Mystique second only to Intergraph's Reactor in this roundup.

In the 2-D arena, the Mystique was a consistent performer, placing in the top ten of tested boards on our WinMark and Winstone tests. And its video playback quality (for both .AVI and MPEG) is much improved over the Millennium's, incorporating both x and y interpolation. These are stable, intelligently designed products that stack up well against their current competition. The mature Millennium can deliver the big-screen 2-D performance business and graphics users need. The Mystique couples respectable 2-D acceleration for business applications with good - if not religiously rendered - 3-D visuals for game players."     PC Magazine, 3 Dec 1996


As was typical for Matrox, their 2D image quality was fantastic - noticeably better than its peers at the time such as S3 ViRGE and ATI Mach64-based cards. 3D performance of this new chip, however, was sub-par. Mystique was a much cheaper card than the Millennium with a slower RAMDAC (even though it was integrated into the single graphics processor chip) and slower memory, though its 2D performance was almost as fast as Millennium up to XGA resolutions (1024 x 768).

It supports the following VGA and up graphics modes:

Resolution Max. Refresh Rate (Hz) Max. Colour Depth
1600 x 1200 60* 8-bit
1280 x 1024 85 8-bit
1152 x 864 75 16-bit
1024 x 768 85 16-bit
800 x 600 85 32-bit
640 x 480 85 32-bit

*Mystique 220 is able to display 1600 x 1200 at 75 Hz refresh rate.

The first Mystiques came with a 50 MHz core and memory running at 75 MHz. Without changing the model or version, a variety of flavours seemed to follow, such as 55/82.5 MHz and 60/90 MHz. It appears Matrox spent 1996 to mid-1997 gradually raising the Mystique's clock speeds.


An advert for the Millennium and Mystique, Dec 1996

According to the company at the time, the MGA‑1064SG could process 25 million texels/second where the texels were perspective correct, Gouraud shaded, transparent, Colour Lookup Table 8 expanded to 16‑bit RGB, and Z‑buffered. Game and 3D API support included DirectDraw and Direct3D as well as Criterion’s Renderware. 

Mystiques fitted with 4 MB from factory were upgradable to 8 MB. The 8 MB cards from factory simply had the 4 MB memory expansion module fitted. Another option header on the board allowed you to connect the Rainbow Runner - an MPEG-1 and AVI video playback module that included further video input and output ports. A Rainbow Runner TV module added a TV tuner.

"Maintaining the excellent DOS and Windows performance that made the Millennium a legend, the card provides some very fast 3D, with a catch. The Mystique does not support filtering, anti-aliasing, or fogging. Matrox argues that a well-written program can use higher resolution textures to get around the need for filtering and special lighting effects to take the place of fog. And indeed a game written specifically for the Mystique can indeed look gorgeous. But game developers are not likely to focus their efforts on special tricks just to support the Mystique.
Matrox has given us a valiant effort, but because of the Mystique's fatal flaw, the card has already earned the nickname of the "Mistake".

The Mystique is a solid performer with a few key pieces missing. The lack of filtering can be seen as nothing less than a fatal flaw."
     NEXT Generation, February 1997


The retail version of Mystique came bundled with three 3D games: MechWarrior 2, Destruction Derby 2 and Scorched Planet. IBM shipped their desktop and mini-tower PC 300PL range with Mystique cards in 1997.

Tip: If you get frequent lock-ups or freezes disable the "Use Bus Mastering" feature under the device driver Settings tab. This Bus Mastering is present on all Mystique models and will increase your frame rates but unfortunately increases instability

Summing up: Mystique had arguably the best 2D quality and performance for a 1996 and even 1997 card. For 3D gaming, performance still beat the early S3 ViRGE and ATI Mach 64 cards though 3D image quality was poorer due to its limited 3D feature set. If you have a 3dfx Voodoo 1 card, use that in conjunction with this for better 3D performance.

Millennium 2 / Millennium II

Launched: 1997
Codename: 164WMistral
Graphics Chip: MGA-2164W or MGA-2164WP-C
Bus: PCI and AGP 1x
Memory: 4 MB WRAM or 8 MB (expandable up to 16 MB)
Ports: 15-pin DSUB
Core Clock Speed: 66 MHz
RAMDAC Speed: 220 or 250 MHz
Product ID: MIL2P/4/220, MIL2P/4I, MIL2P/4/DELL, MIL2P/8/HP, MIL2P/8/DELL2, MIL2P/4G, MIL2P/4/DELL2
Price: $299 (4 MB), $399 (8 MB), $498 (mid-1997, 16 MB WRAM version)

Introducing faster 2D performance, higher maximum resolution, and a Direct3D-compliant 3D engine thanks to an upgraded version of the Mystique chip, the Millennium II added AGP support, double the video memory capacity (16 MB) and an enhanced RAMDAC.

Despite these upgrades however, it still lacked bilinear filtering just like the 1064SG on Mystique.

It was targeted at the business market.

Key features:

  • 62.5 MHz core clock
  • 4 MB of fast WRAM (64-bit memory bus width) - expandable in 4, 8 or 12 MB modules that slot into the two long sockets.

Dell shipped their Dimension XPS range with Matrox Millennium II cards in mid-1997, and Compaq did the same on their Pentium II desktops toward the end of that year. US-only PC maker, Quantex also shipped some Pentium II systems with the Millennium II. You could also upgrade a Millennium II card with the Matrox Rainbow Runner Studio, which gave the card video editing, video conferencing, and PC-to-TV capability with hardward MPEG video. In December 1997, PC Magazine ran a comparison of Pentium II desktops for Professional/Enthusiast, and the Matrox Millennium II was considered the best graphics card alongside the Number Nine Revolution 3D.

Memory Upgrades* (sold separately)
• 4, 8, or 12 MB memory modules available for increased resolutions, colors, and speed.
• Upgrades sold separately. Video and memory upgrades cannot be used together.
Power your PC to the next level of performance - see what memory adds to your card!
Maximum 2D Resolutions and Colors
Colors 4 MB 8 MB 12 MB 16 MB
256 1920 x 1200 1920 x 1200 1920 x 1200 1920 x 1200
65K 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1200 1920 x 1200 1920 x 1200
16.7M 1280 x 1024 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080
 
Maximum 3D Resolutions and Colors
Colors 4 MB 8 MB 12 MB 16 MB
65K 1152 x 864 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1200 1920 x 1200
16.7M 800 x 600 1152 x 864 1280 x 1024 1280 x 1024

Tip: If you get frequent lock-ups or freezes disable "Use Bus Mastering" in the device driver settings.
Tip: There have been reports of issues running 3D with motherboards that use the Intel i815 and 440BX chipsets.

Note that the 15-pin connector on the PCI version of this card is *not* an Apple video connector, nor is it a game port! It is for a breakout cable that came with the optional Rainbow Runner card or the earlier Media XL daughterboard.

Summing Up: Sadly, the Millennium 2 still had a lack of 3D features that plagued the Mystique. Millennium 2 did however support 3D rendering in 32-bit colour depth, and got a 32-bit Z-buffer. In reality the Millennium 2 is about the same as a Mystique in 3D gaming - it suffers the same horrible lack of features that cause many games to display badly, if at all. Ordinarily the Mystique would beat it performance-wise, but the Millennium 2's faster WRAM memory make up for the shortfall.

Mystique 220

Launched: 1997
Codename: 1164SGCyclone
Graphics Chip: MGA-1164
Bus: PCI
Memory: 2 MB or 4 MB SGRAM
Ports: 15-pin DSUB
Core Clock Speed: 66 MHz
RAMDAC Clock Speed: 220 MHz
Product ID; MY220P/4N, MY220P/4G/20
Price: $140 (mid-1997)

A mild refresh of 1996's Mystique card with the only difference being the faster internal RAMDAC, now at 220 MHz over the original's 170 MHz. From a 2D perspective this put the Mystique 220 on par at XGA (1024 x 768) and higher resolutions with the original more expensive Millennium.

It is easy to spot a 220 over the original, with the main chip now coded "MGA-1164SG-A" instead of a 1064.

This card has good DOS, Windows 3.1 and Windows 98 support, though doesn't directly support OpenGL. It supports the following VGA and up graphics modes:

Resolution Max. Refresh Rate (Hz) Max. Colour Depth
1600 x 1200 75* 8-bit
1280 x 1024 85 8-bit
1152 x 864 75 16-bit
1024 x 768 85 16-bit
800 x 600 85 32-bit
640 x 480 85 32-bit

*Original Mystique is only able to display 1600 x 1200 at 60 Hz refresh rate.

A Mystique 220 Business version was also released, though this only differed in what bundled software you got.

Tip: If you get frequent lock-ups or freezes disable the "Use Bus Mastering" feature under the device driver Settings tab. This Bus Mastering is present on all Mystique models and will increase your frame rates but unfortunately increases instability
Tip: There have been reports of issues running 3D with motherboards that use the Intel i815 and 440BX chipsets.

Summing Up: Not a great deal of difference from the earlier Mystique, just slightly faster so it's the same message here - great 2D quality and performance for a 1997 card. For 3D gaming, performance still just fractionally beat the latest S3 ViRGE/DX card [also from 1997] with 4 MB on both and ATI Mach 64 cards though 3D image quality was poorer due to its limited 3D feature set. If you have a 3dfx Voodoo 1 card, use that in conjunction with this for better 3D performance.

Millennium m3D PCX2

Launched: 1997
Graphics Chip: PowerVR PCX2
Bus: PCI v2.1
Memory: 4 MB SDRAM
Ports: None
Price: ?
Known Board Revisions: B

The m3D was a 3D graphics accelerator based around the NEC PowerVR chip. It had 4 MB of onboard RAM. Unlike other cards like the 3dfx Voodoo range, PowerVR did not have a VGA passthrough connector, instead relying on the board's drivers to detect 3D and make use of the card.

One key advantage of the PCX2 chip was that it supported 3D acceleration at up to 1024 x 768 resolutions.

"The m3D is a budget-conscious Quake-head's dream come true. Not only does its GL Quake performance and visual quality rival Voodoo, the m3D also offers the high resolutions and 24-bit color that 3Dfx can only dream of. And sons of Quake, such as Hexen II, look just as gorgeous.", Boot Magazine, December 1997

3D UPGRADE FOR FAST GAME PLAY
Matrox m3D takes you to the outer limits of 3D gaming. Combining high-speed 30 frames/second game play with support for up to 1024 x 768 resolution, Matrox m3D gives you the edge you need to truly enjoy today's Direct3D games. What's more, two 3D games are included: Ultim@te Race (full version) and Hexen IITM: Continent of Blackmarsh (9 level OEM version ). European customers will receive Ultim@te Race (full version) and MDKTM: Mission Laguna BeachTM (OEM version ). Also included are over 20 3D game demos, making it the most cost-effective, full-featured 3D upgrade for your PC.

BLAZING 3D SPEED
Speed is everything. Especially when playing today's action-packed Direct3D games. Matrox m3D turbo-charges your games at over 30 frames per second so you'll get real-time response and hours of non-stop, arcade action.

GAME MAXIMUM FRAME RATE @ 640 x 480
Quake 32 fps
Tomb Raider 60 fps
Hexen II 32 fps
Moto Racer 40 fps
Terracide 45 fps

HIGH DEFINITION 3D
Bigger is better. With Matrox m3D, you can now play compatible 3D games at up to 1024 x 768 resolution. At this higher resolution, the images in your games will be more clearly defined for a truly immersive and realistic gaming experience.

Games at 1024 x 768:
• Quake • Wipeout XL • X
• Tomb Raider • Hardcore 4 x 4 • G-Police
• Hexen II • Terracide • Organic Art

ENHANCED 3D IMAGE QUALITY

With standard VGAWith Matrox m3D

        with standard VGA                   with Matrox m3D

Matrox m3D works as a companion upgrade to your existing Direct Draw compatible PCI or AGP card with 2MB or more of memory. All you have to do is insert it into an available PCI slot in your PCI or AGP Intel Pentium® system. It's also specially optimized for Matrox Mystique, Mystique 220, Millennium, and Millennium II graphics cards and works with the Matrox Rainbow Runner Studio video editing module.

STATE-OF-THE-ART 3D FEATURES
FEATURE BENEFIT
PowerVR PCX2 3D controller
PCI connector For PCI and AGP systems with compatible PCI slots
4 MB of SDRAM Memory entirely dedicated to storing texture maps
Perspective correct texture mapping Ensures that textures move with objects when changing angles
Bilinear filtering Enables smooth, realistic surface textures
MIP-mapping Eliminates blocky images when viewed from different distances
Fogging Creates dramatic 'cloud' or 'smoke' effects used in combat games or flight simulators
Alpha-blending/transparency Allows objects to appear in front of each other with varying levels of transparency
32-bit Z-buffer For increased depth precision and higher performance
Gouraud shading Provides photo realistic shading effects
Direct3D support Supports a wide number of 3D games
Full-screen and windowed 3D support Offers flexible support for today's varying 3D games

More Images

User Manual

Millennium G200

Launched: 1998
Codename: G200A D2
Graphics Chip: MGA-G200
Bus: AGP 1x v1.0 (3.3V only)
Memory: 8 MB SGRAM (upgradable to 16 MB)
Ports: 15-pin DSUB
Core Clock Speed: 85 MHz
RAMDAC Speed: 250 MHz
Product ID: MGI-G2-DUALP-PL, MGA-G200A

G200 was Matrox’s first fully AGP-compliant graphics processor. While the earlier Millennium II featured AGP, it did not support the full AGP feature set. The G200 took advantage of DIME (Direct Memory Execute) to speed texture transfers to and from main system RAM. That allowed the G200 to use system RAM as texture storage if the board's local RAM was of insufficient size for the task at hand. G200 was one of the first cards to support this feature.

It came with an excellent 2D core, something that Matrox were famous for. The 3D core was not as fast as 3dfx Voodoo2, but in most cases it offered a significantly better image quality. 32-bit color rendering and a 32 bit Z-buffer are the ones responsible for that besides a lot of other nice features.

The key thing that caused potential G200 buyers to instead plum for an nVidia RiVA TNT or 3dfx Voodoo3 was the Matrox card's lack of OpenGL support. Matrox promised this was coming, but failure to have this ready at launch was enough to cause the G200 to flop. OpenGL support was critical in these days, as every 3D game was using it. Matrox was trying to please both the business user and the hard core gamer, which turned out to be a mistake.

"Pros
Integrated Solution - The G200 offers both 2D and 3D acceleration. Matrox has almost always provided the fastest 2D cards on the market and the G200 raises the bar once again.
Good Performance - Direct3D tests we've seen put it on par with Voodoo 2. OpenGL tests remain to be seen.
Decent Price - Boards should cost as little as $150 in 8MB configurations.
Excellent Image Quality
Cons
Matrox has a rocky track record; the Mystique suffered from very poor 3D performance.
On The Horizon
There is current no information regarding Matrox's next generation of chips."
     PC Accelerator, Issue 1 September 1998

 

"Both of Matrox's new accelerators are based on the MGA-G200 chip, which delivers excellent 2-D and middle-tier 3-D performance. The Matrox Millennium G200 is aimed at business and CAD users who want high-resolution support, solid performance, and upgradability at a good price. It's our Editor's Choice for business users. The well-stocked Matrox Marvel G200-TV comes with every feature for serious multimedia and gaming fans short of an espresso attachment.

Unlike most other vendors here, Matrox offers an array of add-ons - TV tuner ($150), DVD decoder ($80), video-editing daughterboard ($80), and digital flat-panel connector ($50) - so you can change the Millennium as your needs evolve. The more expensive Marvel includes an integrated TV tuner and TV-out capabilities, and it accepts most of the same options as the Millennium. A slick external cable box for the tuner eliminates the need to hunt behind the PC when attaching a digital camera, VCR, camcorder, or cable TV lead. We found the Marvel's on-monitor TV quality fine; the color was well saturated and the picture almost as sharp as a dedicated TV set. The tuner is controlled via a virtual remote control with easy access to picture adjustments.

Both cards share a common installation routine and most driver features. We had no problems setting up either one, and Matrox's interface offers a robust array of controls for customizing monitor settings and the Windows desktop. The Marvel has additional controls for its multimedia tools, plus a setup utility that walks you through configuring and testing the video ports and cabling. The manuals are clear, and there's quick-start guide for setting up the Marvel's more elaborate cabling.

When it comes to 3-D performance, the Matrox chip is a step behind the newer offerings from nVidia and 3Dfx. Results were in the middle of the pack. The chip also registered some minor quality flaws involving certain MIP-mapping, texture rasterization, and geometry rasterization features. But our test games played without any discernible artifacts or jittery screens, and games seemed particularly vivid - possibly enhanced by Matrox's new Vibrant Color Quality (VCQ) technique. The 2-D test scores were better, negligibly behind those of the leaders, and the Video Bandwidth results (an indicator of signal quality) were among the best we've measured.

The Marvel's software bundle is excellent, and includes Ulead Photo Express 2.0, Ubi Soft's Tonic Trouble, and a trial version of VDO-Phone Internet Trial. In addition, the bundle includes the new Avid Cinema video editing software, a joint effort between Avid and Matrox.

Generally, the Marvel and Millennium are stocked with features and software well suited for their intended markets. For the price, we wish the Marvel delivered better 3-D performance. For business users interested in a solid 2-D card with good enough 3-D and room to grow, the Millennium is an excellent choice."
     PC Magazine, 1st December 1998

 

Whilst the Millennium G200 was the higher-end version equipped with 8 MB SGRAM, the Mystique G200 used slower SDRAM but added a TV-out port. Sadly the G200s were released just shortly before a new generation of cards were launched by ATI and nVidia (RIVA TNT), which both completely outperformed the G200 range.

G100 & G200 User Manual

Mystique G200

Launched: 1998
Graphics Chip: MGA-G200
DAC: 230 MHz
Bus: AGP 1x
Memory: 8 MB SDRAM (upgradable to 16 MB)
Ports: 15-pin DSUB and RCA TV out port
Part #:
Price: ?

The G200 from Matrox (found in both the G200 Mystique and G200 Millennium) was developed as a pretty fast 3D chip that offered very good 3D image quality. It came with an excellent 2D core, something that Matrox were famous for. The 3D core was not as fast as Voodoo2, but in most cases it offered a significantly better image quality. 32-bit color rendering and a 32 bit Z-buffer are the ones responsible for that besides a lot of other nice features.

Whilst the Millennium G200 was the higher-end version equipped with 8 MB SGRAM, the Mystique G200 used slower SDRAM but added a TV out port. Sadly the G200s were released just shortly before a new generation of cards were launched by ATI and nVidia, which both completely outperformed the G200 range.

The G200's potential was severely hurt by Matrox's inability to release a high performing OpenGL driver upon the launch of the chip - something that nVidia already had with their TNT card. This shortcoming was eliminated when they brought out the G400 in 1999.

Key Features:

  • MGA-G200 128-bit DualBus graphics chip
  • Most powerful all-around video card with full AGP 2X support featuring Symmetrical Rendering Architecture
  • Advanced 2D, 3D and software DVD video acceleration (Software DVD player not included)
  • Vibrant Color Quality 3D rendering engine for stunning image quality
  • High speed 250 MHz RAMDAC for fast refresh rates
  • Support for high resolutions and colors
  • Games to TV output at 1024 x 768 resolution blows the competition away
  • 8 MB of SDRAM memory upgradeable to 16 MB
  • Most comprehensive family of multimedia upgrades
  • Includes three free software titles: Motorhead, Incoming, and Tonic Trouble ...plus 3D game demos

The Mystique G200 had a number of optional upgrades, including:

  • 8 MB SDRAM memory module for a total of 16 MB of memory
  • Rainbow Runner G-Series, the award-winning product featuring video editing, TV on the PC, PC-VCR and more
  • Hardware DVD module for the highest quality MPEG-2 video playback

G100 & G200 User Manual

Millennium G200 Quad

Launched: 1998
Graphics Chip: MGA-G200
Bus: PCI
Memory: 8 MB SGRAM per channel (max 32 MB per board)
Ports: DVI Out
Part #:
Price: ?

This card is a "dual-head" card but using the provided cables you can display on four separate monitors. The MGA-G200 graphics chip can support 2 or 4 analog or digital outputs per single PCI board. With several of these cards, you can display up to 16 monitors from a single system!

Maximum resolution per channel is 1920 x 1200 @ 16bpp @ 70 Hz, 1600 x 1200 @ 24bpp @ 85 Hz or 1280 x 1024 with digital flat panel monitors.

For Windows, this uses G200 MMS drivers supported under Windows® XP, Windows® 2000, Windows® Me, Windows® NT®4.0, and Windows® 98. Minimum system requirements are PCI bus motherboard, Pentium 133+ with 32 MB RAM, Windows 98, XP, 2000 or NT 4.0.

G100 & G200 User Manual

Millennium G250

Launched: 1998
Bus: AGP 1x
Memory: 16 MB
Part #: 5064-9191
Ports: 15-pin DSUB
Price: ?

Onboard memory can be expanded using the SODIMM slot.
This card was OEM'd to Compaq (part #358231-005) - the memory expansion slot was removed and it came with 8 MB onboard memory only.

Millennium G400

Launched: 1999
Bus: AGP 1x, 2x or 4x
Memory: 16 MB or 32 MB SGRAM
Core Clock Speed: 125 MHz
Memory Speed: 166 MHz DRAM (128-bit)
RAMDAC Speed: 300 MHz (main display), 135 MHz (secondary display)
Part #: 5064-9194 Dual Head MDHA/16/0E5, G4+ MDH4A16G, G4+ MDH4A32G
Price: $149 (16 MB), $199 (32 MB)
Board Revisions: 202C, 204A, 304, 401, 401A, 402B, 403.

The Millennium G400, codenamed "Toucan", was considered very competitive for its time, especially with DirectX games. As per previous Matrox cards, it had an incredibly crisp image quality. It also supported the now common single-pass multi-texture rendering, meaning 2 textures in a single clock cycle. The base G400 could achieve a peak fill rate of 250 Mtexel/sec (calculated by taking the core clock and multiplying it by 2).

The 32 MB version has four additional memory chips on the rear side of the board. Cards that have part numbers containing SH or DH indicate single head or dual head. Part numbers with OE indicate they were for the OEM market.

The G400's AGP connector provides both the older 3.3V and newer 1.5V keys, meaning it will work happily in an AGP version 1.0 (3.3V) or version 2.0 (1.5V) motherboard slot. If used in an AGP v1.0 slot it will run at either 1x or 2x speed. If used in an AGP v2.0 slot it can run at up to 4x speed.

It supports the following SVGA and up graphics modes:

Resolution Max. Refresh Rate (Hz) Max. Colour Depth
2048 x 1536 70 ?
1920 x 1440 75 ?
1920 x 1200 90 ?
1920 x 1080 100 ?
1800 x 1440 80 ?
1600 x 1200 100 ?
1600 x 1024 120 ?
1280 x 1024 120 ?
1280 x 720 160 ?
1152 x 864 140 ?
1024 x 768 160 ?
856 x 480 200 ?
800 x 600 200 ?

This card shown is a "dual-head" card (2 x 15-pin DSUB connectors) to operate dual monitors for Windows in extended desktop mode or to duplicate the same image on each monitor. The G400 was also available in single output form, which no doubt was slightly cheaper to buy.

Here's what a review at the time had to say:

"The G400 is finally here, and it is definitely not a Voodoo3 or TNT2 killer.  The hard core gamer that simply wants performance will probably want to stay away from the G400, however if you don't mind not having the absolute best in 3D performance then the G400 quickly becomes a viable option.

Owners of slower computers will want to stay away from the G400, instead you'll probably want to explore 3dfx's solutions, or maybe NVIDIA's TNT2 depending on how "slow" your computer happens to be (in terms of CPU speed).   Mid range systems should be fine with the G400, however don't expect eyebrow raising performance out of the card, even the MAX version.  Higher end systems will prove to close the gap between the G400 and the more performance oriented alternatives; the G400 has some room to grow, so the faster your CPU, the better your G400 will perform, that's a given.

Matrox definitely has a winner on their hands. The G400 is much more than everything the G200 should have been, and it's no surprise that such a combination of features, performance, and outstanding image quality will be making its way into the hands of quite a few anxious users that have renewed faith in Matrox, myself included ;)  Let's just hope that Matrox can iron out the last few bugs with their OpenGL driver, and work on improving performance.  Although the G400 will probably never reach TNT2 Ultra levels of performance".

Tip: Matrox released the Matrox Tweak Utility in late 1999. This allows you to toggle V-Sync and also overclock the card. The core and memory are always locked together, so the overclock which is specified in %, will impact both by the same percent. The tool will store each overclock setting for each resolution.

Similar performance to ATI's Rage 128 Pro, nVidia's Riva TNT2 and 3dfx Voodoo 3 2000.

Millennium G400 Max

Launched: 1999
Bus: AGP 1x, 2x, or 4x
Core Clock Speed: 166 MHz
Memory: 32 MB only
Memory Speed: 200 MHz SGRAM (128-bit)
RAMDAC Speed: 360 MHz (main display),135 MHz (secondary display)
Price: $249, £145 ex.VAT (Dec 1999)
Known Board Revisions: A, B

The souped-up Millennium G400 Max, with faster core clock speed, faster memory and a faster RAMDAC. It supports resolutions up to 1600 x 1200 at 24-bit colour depth, but fails to better the faster 3dfx Voodoo 3 3000 or nVidia Riva TNT2. It is fully compatible with DirectX 6.0 and OpenGL. Due to the faster speed, the G400 Max comes with a fan on top of the heatsink whereas the original G400 was passively cooled (heatsink only).

"Matrox has taken its G400 chipset to a new level with the Millennium G400 Max. Although it shares much of the architecture with the standard Millennium G400, its performance scores shows that it's a much faster card. It's hard to tell what's been improved on the Max, since Matrox won't disclose the speed of the processor or the on-board memory. However, the fact that the Max has a fan to cool the heatsink and the standard G400 doesn't, indicates that the processor is running significantly faster. The other improvement is a faster RAMDAC, running at 360 MHz instead of 300 MHz. This allows the Max to maintain a steady 85Hz refresh rate at the ludicrously high resolution of 2,048 x 1,536. The Max also shares the dual head technology of the standard G400, making it very versatile. In performance terms, the Max produced excellent results, topping the chart in the 2D SYSmark test, 3D performance was also first rate, especially at high colour depths. But it's not just about raw power, the G400 Max also has a great feature set and a strong pedigree."     Personal Computer World, December 1999

 

Note the two VGA outputs, which were almost a trademark of many Matrox cards of the era - this allowed you to run Windows in split screen/extended desktop mode. The topmost DSUB header is for the "main" monitor. I don't believe the G440 Max also got a single output version, like the original G400 had.

The G400 Max's AGP connector provides both the older 3.3V and newer 1.5V keys, meaning it will work happily in an AGP version 1.0 (3.3V) or version 2.0 (1.5V) motherboard slot. If used in an AGP v1.0 slot it will run at either 1x or 2x speed. If used in an AGP v2.0 slot it can run at up to 4x speed.

It supports the following SVGA and up graphics modes:

Resolution Max. Refresh Rate (Hz) Max. Colour Depth
2048 x 1536 85 ?
1920 x 1440 85 ?
1920 x 1200 100 ?
1920 x 1080 110 ?
1800 x 1440 85 ?
1600 x 1200 100 24-bit
1600 x 1024 120 ?
1280 x 1024 120 ?
1280 x 720 160 ?
1152 x 864 140 ?
1024 x 768 160 ?
856 x 480 200 ?
800 x 600 200 ?

More images: Box, Rear

Millennium G450 AGP

Launched: 2000
Codename: Condor
Bus: AGP 1x, 2x or 4x
Memory: 16 MB, 32 MB DDR
Memory Speed: 166 MHz
Core Clock Speed: 124 MHz
RAMDAC Speed: 360 MHz
Part #: G45+MDHA16D, G45+MHDA16LXB, G45+MHDA16DLXB, G45+MDHA32DCPQF

"Powered by the highly integrated Matrox G450 chip, the Millennium G450 is a feature-rich, future-proof business accelerator. Built to blaze trails in the worlds of productivity and multitasking, it offers the corporate market a host of features, such as third-generation DualHead® display technology, including eDualHead(TM), and Matrox's trademark ultra-crisp image quality. The Millennium G450 also doubles as a well-rounded home entertainment solution. In addition to 2D, 3D, and DVD acceleration, it comes equipped for DualHead gaming, 3D Environment-Mapped Bump Mapping, and TV output."

The image above shows the 16 MB variant, with two large memory chips above and to the right of the main graphics core. The 32 MB variant has four memory chips, two in each of these locations.

Key features:

  • 0.18-micron technology
  • AGP 1X, 2X, 4X (tolerant with older mobos)
  • 360 MHz RAMDAC
  • 16MB or 32MB DDR memory
  • Support for OpenGL and DirectX
  • 256-bit DualBus
  • DualHead display technology
  • Vibrant Color Quality² rendering
  • Environment-Mapped Bump Mapping
  • UltraSharp DAC
  • Integrated TV encoder
  • High-quality DVD playbacks

The G450 AGP connector is "Universal", meaning it is able to also work with older motherboards that only have AGP version 1.0 (1x or 2x). When fitted to such an AGP slot, the card will run its core clock at ~60 MHz and its memory at ~150 MHz. If fitted to a motherboard with an AGP version 2.0 slot, it can run at its full 4x speed.

G450 vs G400 Product Comparison Chart

Products Millennium G450 Series Millennium G400 Series
 
Technical specifications
Graphics chip Matrox G450
based on Matrox G400 technology		 Matrox G400
256-bit DualBus
Built-in memory 16 MB SDR*, 16 MB DDR, or 32 MB DDR 16 MB SDR or 32 MB SDR
Memory upgrade Fixed memory Fixed memory
Bus type AGP 1X/2X/4X or PCI** AGP 1X/2X/4X
RAMDAC Up to 360 MHz primary and 230 MHz secondary Up to 360 MHz
* 16MB SDR available on G450 LE
** G450 PCI is recommended for systems based on Intel chipsets. Feature and performance support for systems based on non-Intel chipsets is limited.
 
2D/3D Resolutions
Max. 2D resolutions 2048 x 1536 2048 x 1536
Max. 3D resolutions 2048 x 1536 2048 x 1536
 
3D support
3D engine New 3D rendering array processor New 3D rendering array processor
Hardware accelerated 3D features Same features as G400 Vibrant color quality2,Environment mapped bump mapping, and trilinear filtering
 
Video features
Supports software MPEG-2 video MPEG-1 video
Supports software DVD video
Motion Video Rendering (MVR) architecture
 
Versatility
Multiple monitor support Same features as G400 DualHead Display supports a second RGB, TV or Flat Panel monitor with one card
 
Drivers
Supported operating systems Windows 95, 98, NT 4.0, 2000, Me, OS/2 Warp,
and Linux		 Windows 3.1x, 95, 98, 2000, Me, NT 3.51, 4.0, OS/2 Warp, and Linux

G450 Chip Specification sheet
User Manual

Millennium G450 PCI

Launched: 2000
Codename: Condor
Graphics Chip: MGA-G450
Bus: PCI
Memory: 16 MB or 32 MB DDR RAM
Core Clock Speed: 124 MHz
RAMDAC Speed: 360 MHz

"Powered by the highly integrated Matrox G450 chip, the Millennium G450 is a feature-rich, future-proof business accelerator. Built to blaze trails in the worlds of productivity and multitasking, it offers the corporate market a host of features, such as third-generation DualHead® display technology, including eDualHeadTM, and Matrox's trademark ultra-crisp image quality. The Millennium G450 also doubles as a well-rounded home entertainment solution. In addition to 2D, 3D, and DVD acceleration, it comes equipped for DualHead gaming, 3D Environment-Mapped Bump Mapping, and TV output."

Key features:

  • 0.18-micron technology
  • PCI bus
  • 360 MHz RAMDAC
  • 32MB DDR memory
  • Support for OpenGL 1.1 and DirectX 6
  • 256-bit DualBus
  • DualHead display technology
  • Vibrant Color Quality² rendering
  • Environment-Mapped Bump Mapping
  • UltraSharp DAC
  • Integrated TV encoder
  • High-quality DVD playbacks

Millennium G550

Launched: 2001
Codename: G550
Bus: AGP 4x/8x
Memory: 32 MB 64-bit DDR SDRAM
Part #: G55MDDAP32DB
Ports: DVI out
Core Clock Speed: 132 MHz
Memory Clock Speed: 330 MHz (166 MHz each)
Product ID: MGIG55MDDLP32DRF, MGI-G55MDDLP32DR
RAMDAC Speed: 360 MHz
Price: $125

The G550 is a low profile card suitable for shallow desktop or micro-tower units.

With 32 MB of Double Data Rate (DDR) memory, a 360 MHz primary RAMDAC, and a unique HeadCasting™ Engine accelerating 3D online communication, the Millennium G550 is a titan among graphics cards with trendsetting appeal for the business and home entertainment markets. Comprising an extensive feature set including third-generation DualHead® display capabilities, outstanding 2D performance, and DVI-I support, the Millennium G550 delivers exceptional graphics performance and product stability and ignites a new trend in online communication.

Key features:
 Matrox G550 chip
 32 MB high-speed Double Data Rate (DDR) memory
 UltraSharp 360 MHz RAMDAC
 World's best 2D graphics solutions
 World's best image output quality
 Third-generation DualHead® technology including eDualHead™ browser enhancements
 DVI and Dual DVI* support
 True multi-display support under the Microsoft® Windows® 2000 operating system
 Explosive Windows desktop acceleration
 High Quality DVD-Playback
 HeadCasting™ Engine for hardware-accelerated 3D facial animation
 Bundled HeadCasting™ software for 3D communication
 Unified and WHQL-certified drivers
 Extensive OS support including Windows® 2000, Windows XP, and Linux
 Optimized for latest Intel Pentium III, Pentium 4, AMD Athlon, and AMD Duron platforms

G550 vs competition
 
  Matrox G550 GeForce2 MX Radeon VE

HeadCasting Engine1
  • 256 constant registers
  • Extended matrix palette skinning with 32 matrices2
  • Acceleration for visual online communication



X
X
X
X		 X
X
X
X
Integrated DVI Dual3 Single Single
Explosive 2D acceleration 4  (416) X (356) X (356)
DualHead® display (or equivalent)


  • True multi-monitor support under Windows 2000
  • Dual integrated RAMDACs
  • Integrated TV-Out
 3rd Generation




 1st Generation


X
X
X		 1st Generation
(No WHQL)

X
eDualHeadTM browser enhancements X X
Best DVD playback on a TV 5  (inc. DVDMax) X X
Pixel pipelines 2 (dual textured) 2 (dual textured) 1 (triple textured)
Environment-Mapped Bump Mapping X
Best analog output quality X X

It was OEM'd by Compaq as part #313435-001.

G550 Chip Specification sheet

Millennium G550 Dual Monitor

Launched: 2001
Codename: G550
Bus: AGP 4x/8x
Memory: 32 MB
Part #: ?
Ports: Proprietary with breakout cable into 2 x 15-pin DSUB.
Price: ?

This card is a low profile card suitable for shallow desktop or micro-tower units.

Millennium G550 PCI

Launched: 2001
Codename: G550
Bus: PCI
Memory: 32 MB
Part #: G55MDDAP32DBF (low profile) or
Ports: 1 x DMS-59 (DVI) output and adaptor cable with 2 VGA/DSUB connectors
Price: ?

 

The low profile card is suitable for shallow desktop or micro-tower units.
Max digital resolution 1280 x 1024 in two-monitor operation ideal for professional digital 2-monitor operation

Millennium P650 Dual Head

Launched: 2002
Graphics Chip: P650
Bus: AGP 4x/8x
Memory: 64 MB
Part #: P65-MDDA8X64 (dual head)
Ports: 2 x DVI out
Price: ?

Full "DualHead" support for using 2 digital or analog monitors at a time.

Millennium P650 Low Profile

Launched: 2002
Graphics Chip: P650
Bus: AGP 4x/8x
Memory: 64 MB
Part #: P65-MDDAP64F (dual head), P65-MDDAP64 (single head)
Ports: 1 x DVI out to 2 DVI out cable + DVI-to-VGA converter.
Price: ?

The P65-MDDAP64F has full "DualHead" support for using 2 digital or analog monitors at a time.

Parhelia Triple Monitor / Parhelia 512

Launched: 2003
Chipset: Matrox Parhelia PH-A128R
Bus: AGP 4x/8x
Memory: 128 MB
Part #: ?
Ports: 2 x DVI out.
Max. Resolutions: 1-2 digital monitors: 1920 x 1200, 1-2 analog monitors: 2048 x 1536, 3 analog monitors: 1280 x 1024.
Price: ?

Matrox TripleHead could use three* analog monitors at a time (in "independent" or "stretched" mode).
Matrox DualHead could use two digital or analog monitors at a time (in "independent" or "stretched" mode).

The Joined graphics card mode enables an additional Matrox DualHead** or TripleHead† graphics solution to work in tandem in one system to drive up to four displays.

More Images