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Contact: Dan Snyders (x231)
GD&A Public Relations
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 11, 2000

3D Linux Graphics Drivers Announced For Voodoo3 Graphics Cards
Xi Graphics' $29 drivers are downloadable, Open GL compliant, easy to install

       DENVER - Xi Graphics Inc. (www.xig.com) has released two new drivers supporting the Voodoo3 3D graphics cards from 3dfx. The drivers for the cards - the Voodoo3-3000 and Voodoo3-3500 - are downloadable from Xi Graphics' Web site for $29 each and can be installed in 15 minutes.

       The 3D Linux graphics drivers - or LGDs - are OpenGL 1.1.1 compliant. Both driver packages include one of Xi Graphics' famous Accelerated-X servers, Xi Graphics' libGL 3D rendering library, and the standard libGLU library.

       "When it comes to Linux drivers for the latest PC hardware, Xi Graphics leads the pack," said Lee Roder, Xi Graphics national sales manager. "We produce higher quality drivers more efficiently than anyone else in the business."

       Roder said the LGDs are billed as 3D graphics drivers, but they are also exceptionally fast 2D Drivers.

       "The X server that underlies the graphics drivers in this product line was redesigned from the ground up," commented Roder. "This allowed the designers full reign to make use of the company's eight years of experience in designing X servers for the 2D hardware."

       Roder said that a recent Linux Magazine article detailed a two-day process to install XFree 86 and Mesa freeware to the Voodoo3-3X00 cards on Linux. Xi Graphics, however, takes pride in the fact that users can normally download, install and operate their software in a matter of minutes without any assistance other than the README files that come with the software.

       Xi Graphics Engineering Manager Jon Trulson said that all Linux distributions have freeware graphics software because it's free, not because it's good.

       "Unfortunately, users new to Linux are often not aware that the graphics software that comes with their Linux operating system is not part of Linux, but is usually XFree86 freeware," noted Trulson. "When problems are encountered because of the graphics freeware, users often blame Linux, which is quite unfortunate. We recommend that users replace the graphics freeware with our Accelerated-X high performance commercial software and experience the full graphics capabilities of their hardware."

       Xi Graphics' 3D Linux graphics driver products are sold only over the Web and are available as freely downloadable, limited-run-time demos. The demos can be run on the customers' hardware to confirm compatibility and performance before purchasing. Customers use a registration system to purchase a key through Xi Graphics' Web site. The key, which is e-mailed back to the customer, unlocks the demo product and converts it into standard product.

       Xi Graphics was the first company to deliver Linux support for OpenGL 3D applications when it announced and began shipping support for about 30 graphics cards in December 1999. Since then, it has developed the downloadable LGD product line, allowing drivers for a specific piece of hardware to be purchased. Previously, the Company had offered only boxed products, which included support for some 600 graphics cards in the AX desktop version, and some 100 laptops in the LX version.

       About Xi Graphics Inc. Xi Graphics Inc., developers of the Accelerated-XT Display Server product line, provides premier graphics system software for Linux and UNIX operating systems. Founded in 1994, Xi Graphics is a privately held corporation located in Denver, Colo. Xi Graphics provides retail products sold direct and through resellers and OEM's worldwide. Products include free customer support via phone and e-mail. For more information, contact Xi Graphics at 800-946-7433 or visit their Web site at www.xig.com.

       Xi Graphics is a member of the Video Electronics Standards Association, The Open Group's X Project Team and a member of the Board of Linux International. Xi Graphics' innovative systems software enables Linux and UNIX to run on desktops, laptops and multi-head configurations with 2D and 3D hardware acceleration.

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