Intel wants to lure home PC users to its new graphics chip with the promise of delivering richly textured games, highly detailed educational software, and DVD (digital video disc) support.
But you cannot plug the Intel740 into a sub-US$1,000 PC that uses non-Intel or older Pentium chips. Many computer users will need a hefty upgrade.
In order to reap the full 3-D capabilities of the chip, you need a fast Pentium II processor. The company recommends its 333 megahertz model, although the 740 also will work with models as slow as 233 MHz.
Your PC will need to be equipped with Intel's 440LX AGP (accelerated graphics port) chip-set and run either Windows NT 4.0 or Windows 95.
The Intel740 will work even better with the yet-to-be-released Windows 98, though you can use Intel's virtual device driver software to enhance 3-D graphics on the Windows 95 platform.
An official launch date for Windows 98 is not expected until the antitrust court case regarding Microsoft's Internet Explorer has wrapped up.
The 3-D system might not need a graphics card when used in certain multimedia PCs models. Otherwise, the card will probably be bundled with the computer.