ouse all its future CPUs in such modules, whi
ch system vendors like for the flexibility in system design that they allow.
Intergraph's TD-225 PC comes with up to two 233- or 266-MHz Pentium II CPUs. For 3-D acceleration, you can choose either Intergraph's workstation-class Intense 3D Pro 1000 ($1999) or the Intense 3D 100 ($135), a slower card geared more toward 2-D applications. At 512 MB, the TD-225's memory capacity is huge (our test system came with 128 MB). Also included is a universal serial bus (USB), a fast bus based on an emerging standard for hot-pluggable peripherals. The system also has five PCI slots, one of which holds the graphics board.
Our lab tester found the TD-225 to be well-designed inside. A single quiet fan provides all the cooling requirements for the PCI slots. A DC power plug on the back of the tower case provides power for the keyboard speakers, and a lockable hinged door closes access to the CD-ROM and floppy drives -- both nice touches.
We ran two benchmark tests to judge the Intergraph's o
verall
graphics performance
and that of the spanking-new Intel Pentium II. We ran the CDRS Viewset test (based on Parametric Technology's modeling and rendering software) and the DX Viewset, which is based on IBM's Visualization Data Explorer. Both are part of Viewperf, an industry-standard OpenGL benchmark.
The TD-225's CDRS score of 26.64 easily beat that of Intergraph's own, higher-priced TD-410 workstation, which we reviewed in the December 1996 BYTE (see the graph); its DX score of 4.61 also beats other workstation-class machines we've tested by 42 percent or more. Our BYTEmark CPU benchmark came in at 3.8 for the integer index and 4.5 for the floating-point index. These scores easily beat those of a 200-MHz Pentium Pro and matched those of a 266-MHz Digital Equipment Alpha-based machine (see "Pentium Pro Makes NT Fly," February 1996 BYTE).
Our loaded test system (with dual 266-MHz Pentium IIs, 128 MB of RAM, a 3.5-GB hard drive, and a high-end Intense 3D board) cost jus
t $7741. Less expensive configurations are available in the $3000-to-$5000 range. That makes the Intergraph TD-225 PC the most capable, professional-level 3-D machine we've seen at such an affordable price.
Product Information
TD-225 PC............................................$7741
(as tested, with dual 266-MHz Pentium IIs, 128 MB of RAM,
3.5-GB EIDE hard drive, 17-inch monitor, and Intense 3D
Pro 1000 graphics board)
Intergraph Computer Systems
Huntsville, AL
Phone: 205-730-5441
Phone: 800-692-8069
Fax: 800-367-2777
Internet:
http://www.intergraph.com/ics
Circle 1116 on Inquiry Card.
3-D Price Breakthr
ough
