Intel740
Intel's first discrete GPU, designed to popularize AGP.
The Intel740 (i740, codenamed Auburn) was a 350 nm graphics processing unit released by Intel on February 12, 1998. It used the Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) interface, which Intel hoped to popularize at a time when most graphics vendors still relied on PCI. Despite enormous fanfare at launch, the i740 delivered disappointing real-world performance and vanished from the market within months. Some of its technology later appeared in Intel Extreme Graphics, and the idea of an Intel-made graphics processor continued with Intel Graphics Technology and Intel Arc.
The i740’s origins trace back to GE Aerospace, which built flight simulation systems—including the Project Apollo Visual Docking Simulator used to train astronauts. In 1992, as part of Jack Welch’s downsizing, GE sold its aerospace interests to Martin Marietta, which merged with Lockheed in 1995 to form Lockheed Martin. That same year, Lockheed Martin reorganized and created Real3D to bring its 3D expertise to the civilian market. Real3D found early success supplying chipsets and designs to Sega for arcade boards like the Model 2 and Model 3. It also partnered with Intel and Chips and Technologies (later bought by Intel) on a project codenamed "Auburn."
Auburn was designed to promote AGP at a time when competitors like 3dfx Voodoo Graphics still used PCI. Its key feature was using on-board memory only for the frame buffer, while textures were stored in the system’s main RAM. Most accelerators at the time handled triangle setup and geometry on the CPU, then sent the data to the card for texture mapping and bilinear filtering. By keeping textures in main memory and giving the card a fast channel to access them, Intel aimed to improve performance and reduce total system memory.
Before the i740’s release, the press widely predicted it would drive smaller vendors out of the market. Rumors of poor performance circulated, but pundits still expected it to have a huge impact. Peter Glaskowsky noted that few manufacturers had Intel’s access to fabrication plants, and that S3 could lose out because it didn’t target the performance market. The i740 launched in February 1998 at US$34.75 in 10,000-unit quantities, with several companies releasing cards the same day.
The chip ran at 66 MHz and came with 2–8 MB of VRAM—far less than competitors’ 8–32 MB.
Quick Facts
- Codename
- Auburn
- Predecessor
- Intel i750
- Successor
- Intel 810, Intel Extreme Graphics (Integrated graphics) / Arc Alchemist series (Discrete graphics)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The i740's history begins at GE Aerospace, part of their flight simulation systems, including the Project Apollo 'Visual Docking Simulator' used to train Apollo astronauts. GE sold its aerospace interests to Martin Marietta in 1992, which merged with Lockheed in 1995 to form Lockheed Martin. In January 1995, Lockheed Martin formed Real3D to bring 3D experience to the civilian market. Real3D provided chipsets to Sega for arcade boards Model 2 and Model 3, and formed a joint project with Intel and Chips and Technologies (later purchased by Intel) to produce 3D accelerators for the PC market under the code name 'Auburn'.
Auburn was designed specifically to take advantage of and promote the AGP interface, at a time when many competing accelerators (notably 3dfx Voodoo Graphics) still used PCI. Its unique characteristic was using on-board memory exclusively for the display frame buffer, with all textures kept in the system's main RAM. This was intended to improve performance by giving the graphics card a high-speed channel to data in main memory, while reducing total system memory. However, the AGP texture concept proved to be a design error because the card had to access textures over a channel up to eight times slower than RAM on the graphics card itself. In real-world use, the i740 was much slower than existing solutions like the Voodoo2 and only held its own with slower 2D/3D cards like the Nvidia RIVA 128; the release of the Nvidia RIVA TNT removed even that advantage.
Reader's Guide
The i740 was released to enormous fanfare, with press widely commenting it would drive smaller vendors from the market. Despite rumors of poor performance, pundits agreed its release would have enormous effects. Peter Glaskowsky noted that few manufacturers had Intel's access to manufacturing plants, and that S3 could be the big loser. The i740 was clocked at 66 MHz with 2-8 MB of VRAM, significantly less than competitors' 8-32 MB, allowing a low price. The small VRAM meant it was only used as a frame buffer, using AGP to access system memory for textures—a fatal flaw that took memory bandwidth from the CPU and made the card slower. Some PCI versions, using an AGP-to-PCI bridge chip with more on-board memory, were actually faster than AGP counterparts in some tests.
In August 1999, after less than 18 months on the market, Intel withdrew the i740. Lockheed closed Real3D on October 1, 1999; Intel purchased the company's intellectual property but laid off remaining staff. Some staff became Intel contractors; a majority were hired by ATI. The i740's technology lived on in Intel Extreme Graphics, and the concept of an Intel-produced graphics processor continues in Intel Graphics Technology and Intel Arc. Successors included the i752 (Portola) and i754 (Coloma), announced in April 1999, but the i754 was cancelled and the i752 was released in limited quantities before withdrawal. Their cores were later used in integrated graphics for the Intel 810 and 815 chipsets. Another successor, Capitola, was cancelled in September 2000. Intel would not revisit discrete graphics until Larrabee (cancelled 2010) and finally Intel Arc in March 2022.
Did You Know?
- The i740's design used on-board memory only for the frame buffer, storing all textures in the system's main RAM via the AGP interface.
- The i740 was withdrawn from the market in August 1999, less than 18 months after its release.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Intel i740?
The Intel i740, developed under the codename Auburn, was a discrete graphics processing unit that Intel shipped on February 12, 1998. It was built on a 350 nm process and connected to the motherboard through the Accelerated Graphics Port.
Why did Intel create the i740?
Intel designed the i740 to push the AGP bus standard into mainstream adoption, since most competing graphics vendors at the time still depended on the older PCI interface. It marked Intel's first attempt at producing a standalone graphics chip.
How did the i740 perform in real-world use?
Despite a major marketing push at launch, the i740's actual rendering speed fell well short of what enthusiasts expected, and the card was pulled from shelves within a few months of its release.
What were the i740's key specifications?
The chip ran at a 66 MHz clock, offered between 2 and 8 MB of video memory, and was fabricated using a 350 nm manufacturing process. It was the first Intel GPU built around the AGP interface.
Did the i740's technology go to waste?
Portions of the i740's architecture were later recycled into Intel Extreme Graphics, and the broader ambition of building Intel-made graphics processors eventually resurfaced through Intel Graphics Technology and the modern Intel Arc line.
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