video card tech demos
GPU and video card manufactures publish tech demos to demonstrate the features of their products. Some demos are really impressive for the time when they've been released.
Here you can download some of them and/or follow the Youtube links to watch them.
3dfx | ATI | Matrox | PowerVR | S3
3dfx tech demos
ATBRT (1.00 MiB, 1997/04/29) - Arcade Tool Box (ATB) Runtime Driver
Note: The Arcade Tool Box Runtime Driver is required by the Voodoo Graphics (Voodoo1) demos.
--- Voodoo Graphics (Voodoo1) demos ---
ATB-TV (5.53 MiB, 1997/04/29) (requires ATBRT)
This demo was designed to show off animated textures and simple lighting styles.
Demoroom Lighting Demo (2.09 MiB, 1997/04/29) (requires ATBRT)
This demo was designed to show off multi-pass projected textures. The projected textures themselves consisted on mono color images, true color images, and animated images. Also shown in this demo are very high frequency textures -- showing off the importance of mip mapping and bilinear filtering.
Note: Voodoo5 users have to set "single chip only" in 3dfx tools.
Flip Demos aka "ATSFLIP" (1.35 MiB, 1997/04/29) (requires ATBRT)
This program "flips" models of several different file formats.
Note: Appears to be for Voodoo1/2 only.
Grand Bleu (Flipper) (7.51 MiB, 1997/04/29) (requires ATBRT)
Underwater demo with Dolphins, sharks, turtles, fish. This demos demonstrates the use of textures multiplications (in one pass on 2TMUS boards, and 2 passes on 1TMU boards) to render water-reflections effects on the entire scene (terrain and objects).
Racing Demo (948 KiB, 1997/04/29) (requires ATBRT)
Note: Voodoo5 users have to set "single chip only" in 3dfx tools.
Valley of Ra (Fight) Demo (1.44 MiB, 1997/04/29) (requires ATBRT)
This is "Valley of Ra". This is an example Arcade Toolbox program.
Note: Voodoo5 users have to set "single chip only" in 3dfx tools.
Wizards Tower aka "Wizard of Tower" (2.16 MiB, 1997/04/29) (requires ATBRT)
WIZ demonstrates the use of lighting maps to produce high quality textured enviromnents.
Note: Voodoo5 users have to set "single chip only" in 3dfx tools.
--- Voodoo2 demos ---
60Hz-30Hz Demo (2.59 MiB, [1998/12/08])
The purpose of the demo is to illustrate the differences between 60 fps and lower frame rates like 30 fps or 15 fps.
Borg Demo (431 KiB, [1998/06/17])
A multi-texture demonstration using the Borg cube as a model.
Donut Demo (1.26 MiB, [1998/03/23])
This program demonstrates Bump Mapping and Environment Mapping on Voodoo 2.
Donut Demo - Linux (x.xx MiB, [xxxx/xx/xx])
Donut Demo for Linux.
Surf Demo (929 KiB, [1998/10/06])
Real-time dynamic LOD surface rendering.
Surf Demo - Linux (x.xx MiB, [xxxx/xx/xx])
Surf Demo for Linux.
ATI tech demos
--- Rage 128 demo ---
ATI Rage 128 Dawning Tech Demo (51.3 MiB, 1999/02/16)
ATI Rage 128 Dawning Tech Demo (HD) on YouTube
--- Radeon 7000 Series demo ---
ATI Radeon 7000 Series Radeon's Ark v1.3 (64,6 MiB)
Radeon's Ark was presented at the launch of the original Radeon graphics chip and showcased some of the new features that could be achieved with it.
Technology: DirectX 7
--- Radeon 8500 demos ---
ATI Radeon 8500 Dolphin Demo v1.1 (4.79 MiB)
Technology: TruForm
Requirements: Radeon 8500 product, DirectX 8.1 runtime
ATI Radeon 8500 Island-1 Demo v1.1 (23.9 MiB)
Technology: SmartShader
Requirements: Radeon 8500 product, DirectX 8.1 runtime
ATI Radeon 8500 Island-2 Demo v1.1 (26.9 MiB)
Technology: SmartShader
Requirements: Radeon 8500 product, DirectX 8.1 runtime
ATI Radeon 8500 Island-3 Demo v1.1 (22.2 MiB)
Technology: SmartShader
Requirements: Radeon 8500 product, DirectX 8.1 runtime
ATI Radeon 8500 Nature Demo v1.1 (13.2 MiB)
Technology: SmartShader
Requirements: Radeon 8500 product, DirectX 8.1 runtime
ATI Radeon 8500 Rachel Demo v1.1 (28.3 MiB)
Technology: SmartShader
Requirements: Radeon 8500 product, DirectX 8.1 runtime
ATI Radeon 8500 Treasure Chest Demo v1.1 (10.6 MiB)
Technology: SmartShader
Requirements: Radeon 8500 product, DirectX 8.1 runtime
Rendering Outdoor Light Scattering in Real Time (1.30 MiB)
Technology: SmartShader
Requirements: Radeon 8500 product, DirectX 8.1 runtime
--- Radeon 9700 demos ---
These demos all require Microsoft DirectX 9.0 and CATALYST 3.x Display Drivers in order to run.
ATI Radeon 9700 Bear Demo v1.1 (24.4 MiB)
A realistic demonstration of fur-rendering in a typical application. This demo shows a number of techniques for rendering fur not seen before - including combing, natural curling per-strand coloring and per-pixel anisotropic lighting.
Technology: DirectX 9
ATI Radeon 9700 Car Paint Demo v1.1 (27.4 MiB)
DirectX 9 pixel shaders are used to simulate the light reflection and refraction of 2 tone car paint. In addition, this demo showcases the high precision rendering of the Radeon 9700 - using high detailed normal maps to provide a high level of detail from a low polygon model. On the Radeon 9700, multiple models at this level of detail can be rendered simultaneously making these techniques ideal for implementation in racing games.
Technology: DirectX 9
ATI Radeon 9700 Debevec RNL Demo v1.1 (16.0 MiB)
A real-time implementation of Paul Debevec's 1998 Siggraph paper. This shows the use of light captured from the real world to illuminate synthetic objects. Extensive use is made of the high internal floating point precision of the Radeon 9700 to reproduce the high dynamic range images necessary for this technique.
Technology: DirectX 9
ATI Radeon 9700 Pipe Dream Demo v1.1 (44.5 MiB)
A real-time version of "Pipe Dream" from Animusic's DVD entited ANIMUSIC: A Computer Animation Video Album (www.animusic.com). This was shown in offline-rendered form in the Electronic Theatre at Siggraph 2001. Now rendered in real-time on the Radeon 9700.
Technology: DirectX 9
ATI Radeon 9700 NPR Hatching Demo v1.1 (5.59 MiB)
This demo showcases Non Photorealistic Rendering using DX9 pixel shader techniques which simulate the effect of a hand drawn image. The techniques used in this demo were the subject of a technical sketch at Siggraph 2002.
Technology: DirectX 9
--- Radeon 9800 demo ---
These demos all require Microsoft DirectX 9.0 and CATALYST 3.1 or higher Display Drivers in order to run.
ATI Radeon 9800 Chimp Demo v1.1 (52.2 MiB)
This demo showcases the use of 3D fur rendering technology in a complex environment. Extensive use of DirectX 9 pixel and vertex shaders is used throughout this demo to render fur, water, shadows and iridescent lighting effects.
Technology: DirectX 9
--- Radeon X800 demos ---
The following demos require Windows XP or Windows 2000 and Radeon X800 graphics technology in order to run.
ATI Demo - Crowd v1.4 (145 MiB)
The rendering of large crowd sequences using Artificial Intelligence (AI) software is a technique that has been used very effectively in a number of recent movies and is starting to appear in games.
This demonstration shows the vertex shader processing power of the X800 being used to render a large crowd of soldiers (1400 in total) running across a rocky terrain. All of the models feature weighted skinned vertices and are independently animated. The behavior of the crowd is simulated using AI.implant www.ai-implant.com (via archive.org).
Additional techniques used in this demo are ambient occlusion (used for shadowing) and fluid simulation on the GPU (for the smoke).
Crowd Demo requires a 128mb card.
ATI Demo - Double Cross v1.4 (130 MiB)
"Doublecross" introduces the near future world of ATI's "Ruby" and her arch enemy "Optico". In an action packed 1 minute and 40 seconds, Ruby has to outwit the cunning "Optico" as he attempts to cheat on an exchange. Ruby not only has to use her wits but battle Optico's Ninja henchmen. Culminating in an explosive ending, Ruby escapes, leaving Optico vowing revenge.
Through the use of motion captured animation, depth-of-field, realistic image based lighting and dynamic shadows; "DoubleCross" borrows heavily from both gaming and movie genres to create a compelling demo that further raises the expectations for real-time graphics.
Ruby: The DoubleCross demo requires a 256mb card.
ATI Demo - Subsurface Scattering v1.4 (99.6 MiB)
Subsurface Scattering is the term used to describe the behavior of light interacting with semi-translucent materials such as marble and jade. Incoming light rays penetrate the material surface, are scattered and then exit at various points on the surface.
In this demonstration, Precomputed Radiance Transfer (PRT) along with Spherical Harmonic (SH) lighting techniques are used to model complex global illumination including direct and indirect illumination (bounced lighting) as well as soft shadows and subsurface scattering.
Subsurface Scattering Demo requires a 256mb card.
--- Radeon X850 demo ---
The following demos require Windows XP or Windows 2000 and Radeon X800 or Radeon X850 series graphics technology in order to run.
ATI Demo - Dangerous Curves v1.3 (176 MiB)
"Dangerous Curves" continues the adventures of ATI's heroine, Ruby. During this 45 second sequence, Ruby has to avoid Optico's automated drones intent on her demise. A high speed motorcycle chase ensues through a gritty tunnel, punctuated by yet another explosive conclusion.
Dangerous Curves continues ATI's tradition of blending movie and gaming genres to create a compelling demo. The use of real-time motion-blur, glows and precomputed radiance transfer (PRT) technology delivers realistic lighting and is a compelling demonstration of the cinematic experience that is possible on today’s 3D graphics hardware.
--- Radeon X1800 demos ---
Radeon X1800 is exceptional not just for how it works, but what it can produce. See demos and action-packed samples of what the Radeon X1800 can achieve.
ATI Demo - The Assassin v1.0 (127 MiB)
Ruby's latest adventure places our heroine in a large complex environment and uses high dynamic range lighting and dynamic soft shadows to set the mood. The villain of the piece, a cyborg called Cyn, is our most complex character to date, consisting of over 120,000 polygons – all lit, transformed, rendered and shaded using the power of the Radeon X1800.
ATI Demo - Toy Shop v1.2 (112 MiB)
Toyshop demonstrates what is possible through the power of Radeon X1800 graphics. This detailed environment includes complex rain and water effects, physical simulation on the GPU, detailed brickwork and cobblestones and a realistic dynamic lighting environment – all of which are designed to showcase the power of ATI’s SM3.0 graphics.
Matrox tech demos
--- MGA-200 demo ---
Matrox MGA-G200 Tech Demo Version F5P1 (12.7 MiB, 1998/08/27)
This is a cool technology demo for any MGA-G200 based card. It also doubles as a screen-saver.
Matrox G200 Tech Demo on YouTube
--- G400 demo ---
Matrox G400 TechDemo (31.2 MiB, 1999/08/23)
The Matrox G400 TechDemo illustrates how the Millennium G400 Series takes graphics acceleration to new heights.
Note: On other GPUs add i_promise_i_will_go_buy_a_matrox_g400 at the end of matrox.cfg.
Matrox G400 Tech Demo EMBM (720p) on YouTube
--- Parhelia demo ---
Matrox Parhelia Reef Demo (version 1.1) (107 MiB)
This demo accompanies our driver CD, bundled in with each retail Parhelia board. It's a real looker! The demo exploits HEAVY use of quad-texturing, pixel shader 1.3 and vertex shader 1.1. NOTE: *This demo will ONLY run on Parhelia*.
Matrox Parhelia Reef Demo (HD) on YouTube
PowerVR tech demos
The PowerVR/STMicroelectronics tech demos should work on any video card with ST KYRO (STG4000-X), ST KYRO II (STG4500-X) or ST KYRO II SE (STG4800-X).
Kyro Energy v1.0.1 (4.19 MiB)
KyroToon v1.0 (2.61 MiB)
Still Life v1.0 (5.28 MiB)
S3 tech demos
ELSA Victory 3DX S3D VICTORY Demo (389 KiB, 1997/10/23)