Everything you wanted to know about the new Intel 740 graphics chip but didn't know whom to ask is right here. Read on:

　　Intel announced what consumers should expect as the curtain lifts on its attempt to take on the graphics chip market with its i740 chip, codeveloped with the propeller heads (pun intended) at Real3D. If you haven't been up to date on this venture, Real3D was born from a union of Intel's dancing bunny people and the 3D graphics know-how of Lockheed-Martin's (of aircraft manufacturing fame) team of 3D graphical government flight simulation developers. Currently, Lockheed-Martin owns 80 percent of the business unit and Intel holds the other 20 percent.

　　The chipset presses into both 2D and 3D markets and is optimized for the Pentium II processor with AGP chipsets. Intel is positioning the chip as a high-quality graphics solution at a price point that should make it an attractive alternative to mainstream consumers.

　　Some of the features that the company talks about in its new HyperPipelined 3D architecture include:

　　-Precise Pixel Interpolation (PPI) gives the i740 the ability to perform up to 32 bits of floating points of interpolation on each pixel and color value. Games should get a higher level of total image quality as well as a deeper level of MIP-mapping.

　　-Parallel Data Processing (PDP) allows the chip to execute several commands at one time instead of lining the functions up for a more sequential process.

　　-Direct Memory Execution (DME) is probably one of the biggest and most debated of the features. DME allows a graphics board to store textures in system memory instead of just the memory contained on the graphics board. Think of it like this, if your board has 8MB and your PC has 32MB, your board has the ability to use some of that 32MB to speed up operations.

　　Intel claims that this will give no performance degradation. And this is where the debate begins. As boards come to editors' hands, we'll know more.

　　"The Intel 740's HyperPipelined 3D architecture enables mainstream PC users to experience unique graphics quality and performance for a new generation of exciting applications such as arcade-style 3D games and movie-quality DVD titles," said Avtar Saini, vice president and general manager of Intel's Platform Components Division.

　　Applications set for the new chip include a high-quality DVD output, in/out TV, video capture, no-compromise 3D performance for gaming, and various performance boosts for consumer graphics and workstation titles.

　　"The Intel 740 3D accelerator provides no-compromise performance for Quake II players," said John Carmack, technical director and president of id software. "Intel has shown that it isn't necessary to cut features or sacrifice quality in consumer-level 3D."

　　Will gamers actually bite? Considering the massive 3D performance of chipsets like the 3Dfx Voodoo2, 3Dlabs' Permedia 2, nVidia's RIVA 128, and NEC's PowerVR, the camps are split on whether there is any room left in the 3D market. Announcements from hardware vendors like STB and Diamond definitely give the chip a leg up in the market, but will gamers respond? No one knows if Intel can capture the hearts of the 3D elite, but if anyone can do it, Intel has a track record that says it just might be able to do it.