Matrox MGA Millennium
Dublin Core
Title
Matrox MGA Millennium
Subject
Historical Context
(by Z. Stachniak)
Matrox Electronic Systems was established in Montreal in 1976 at the peak of the North American computer hobby movement and the beginning of the rapid growth of the microcomputer market. Co-founders Lorne Trottier and Branko Matić identified an opportunity to expand the microcomputing market into video interfaces, providing microcomputers with graphic display capabilities. The company's first product, Video RAM (1976), was a specialized video-display device, which interfaced with a computer system to display computer-generated alphanumeric data stored in the device's RAM. The device's success generated the revenue necessary for the development of subsequent products. Among these were the MTX-1632 Video RAM and the ALT-series video graphics controllers. With the release of these devices, Matrox pioneered the graphics card add-on market for microcomputers.
By 1978, Matrox offered a diverse line of advanced CRT display controllers, which could be used in various combinations supported with a wide choice of display formats, character sets, TV standards, display resolutions, bus compatibility, etc. According to Matrox 1978
product catalogue, "Matrox displays have been used in more than 10,000 installations in every imaginable operation: from ground control displays for the Viking mission to Mars to hobby displays."
The following year, Matrox began to supply system integrators on Wall Street with a line of financial information display products. One of them, the Quad Video, powered four monitors becoming the first single-board hardware to provide multi-display support. This groundbreaking product established Matrox as the first graphics company to provide display solutions to the financial and business markets.
In the 1980s, the company embarked on designing and manufacturing a range of graphics products for a variety of computer bus standards. Matrox also expanded its operations to include the production of microcomputers, such as the CCB-7 MACS and the MAP-2000 Super Microcomputer. Throughout the 1990s, Matrox introduced several lines of high-quality graphics products, notably the Millennium and Mistique graphics cards, while gradually shifting its focus towards specialized markets.
In the early 1990s, the company split into three distinct divisions: Matrox Graphics, Matrox Video, and Matrox Imaging. Matrox Graphics was focused on delivering graphics solutions, Matrox Video specialized in markets for the broadcast industry and digital video editing solutions, while Matrox Imaging concentrated on component-level solutions for machine vision applications.
By the turn of the century, Matrox emerged as a leading global digital imaging company, offering a broad spectrum of hardware choices supported with leading-edge software solutions. Its hardware and software products found applications across an extensive range of industries, spanning broadcast and media, education, enterprise, government, houses of worship, medical, military and defence, process control and utilities, security, and transportation sectors.
In 2022, Matrox Graphics was absorbed into Matrox Video. Two years later, Matrox Imaging, was acquired by Zebra Technologies Corp. In 2024, Matrox provided this concise corporate profile:
For over 45 years, Matrox has been synonymous with technology and innovation. A market
leader in designing software and hardware solutions for Pro AV/IT, video, and imaging/machine
vision applications, Matrox combines engineering excellence with deep industry expertise to deliver
unique solutions that help our customers achieve their goals. Matrox has earned its reputation as
industry leader by consistently meeting customer requirements for innovative technology
and the highest manufacturing standards.
Co-founded by Lorne Trottier in 1976, Matrox has pioneered a number of innovative hardware
and software solutions for an array of high-tech industries. Today, we continue to be at the
forefront of cutting-edge technology, working closely with our global stakeholders to solve
specific real-world issues. [from https://www.matrox.com/en/about/matrox]
Matrox MTX 1632 Video RAM
Matrox MGA Millennium
In 1995, Matrox introduced the MGA Millennium graphics card, featuring the industry’s pioneering 64-bit graphics processor -- the Matrox MGA (Matrox Graphics Accelerator). At the time, it was one of the fastest PC graphics cards thanks to, amomg other solutions, its 64-bit graphics engine, unique architecture of Window RAM memory, and optimized PCI bus design.
The MGA Millennium was a professional, high performance 2D and 3D graphics card that delivered fast performance for applications in areas such as desktop publishing, 2D and 3D CAD, document imaging, computer based digital video and high-end business applications. Although it was originally designed to cater to the needs of professional high-end applications requiring high resolution and high color depth support, its robust set of features made it an excellent choice for computer gaming.
Matrox MGA Millennium technical specifications
(by Z. Stachniak)
Matrox Electronic Systems was established in Montreal in 1976 at the peak of the North American computer hobby movement and the beginning of the rapid growth of the microcomputer market. Co-founders Lorne Trottier and Branko Matić identified an opportunity to expand the microcomputing market into video interfaces, providing microcomputers with graphic display capabilities. The company's first product, Video RAM (1976), was a specialized video-display device, which interfaced with a computer system to display computer-generated alphanumeric data stored in the device's RAM. The device's success generated the revenue necessary for the development of subsequent products. Among these were the MTX-1632 Video RAM and the ALT-series video graphics controllers. With the release of these devices, Matrox pioneered the graphics card add-on market for microcomputers.
By 1978, Matrox offered a diverse line of advanced CRT display controllers, which could be used in various combinations supported with a wide choice of display formats, character sets, TV standards, display resolutions, bus compatibility, etc. According to Matrox 1978
product catalogue, "Matrox displays have been used in more than 10,000 installations in every imaginable operation: from ground control displays for the Viking mission to Mars to hobby displays."
The following year, Matrox began to supply system integrators on Wall Street with a line of financial information display products. One of them, the Quad Video, powered four monitors becoming the first single-board hardware to provide multi-display support. This groundbreaking product established Matrox as the first graphics company to provide display solutions to the financial and business markets.
In the 1980s, the company embarked on designing and manufacturing a range of graphics products for a variety of computer bus standards. Matrox also expanded its operations to include the production of microcomputers, such as the CCB-7 MACS and the MAP-2000 Super Microcomputer. Throughout the 1990s, Matrox introduced several lines of high-quality graphics products, notably the Millennium and Mistique graphics cards, while gradually shifting its focus towards specialized markets.
In the early 1990s, the company split into three distinct divisions: Matrox Graphics, Matrox Video, and Matrox Imaging. Matrox Graphics was focused on delivering graphics solutions, Matrox Video specialized in markets for the broadcast industry and digital video editing solutions, while Matrox Imaging concentrated on component-level solutions for machine vision applications.
By the turn of the century, Matrox emerged as a leading global digital imaging company, offering a broad spectrum of hardware choices supported with leading-edge software solutions. Its hardware and software products found applications across an extensive range of industries, spanning broadcast and media, education, enterprise, government, houses of worship, medical, military and defence, process control and utilities, security, and transportation sectors.
In 2022, Matrox Graphics was absorbed into Matrox Video. Two years later, Matrox Imaging, was acquired by Zebra Technologies Corp. In 2024, Matrox provided this concise corporate profile:
For over 45 years, Matrox has been synonymous with technology and innovation. A market
leader in designing software and hardware solutions for Pro AV/IT, video, and imaging/machine
vision applications, Matrox combines engineering excellence with deep industry expertise to deliver
unique solutions that help our customers achieve their goals. Matrox has earned its reputation as
industry leader by consistently meeting customer requirements for innovative technology
and the highest manufacturing standards.
Co-founded by Lorne Trottier in 1976, Matrox has pioneered a number of innovative hardware
and software solutions for an array of high-tech industries. Today, we continue to be at the
forefront of cutting-edge technology, working closely with our global stakeholders to solve
specific real-world issues. [from https://www.matrox.com/en/about/matrox]
Matrox MTX 1632 Video RAM
Matrox MGA Millennium
In 1995, Matrox introduced the MGA Millennium graphics card, featuring the industry’s pioneering 64-bit graphics processor -- the Matrox MGA (Matrox Graphics Accelerator). At the time, it was one of the fastest PC graphics cards thanks to, amomg other solutions, its 64-bit graphics engine, unique architecture of Window RAM memory, and optimized PCI bus design.
The MGA Millennium was a professional, high performance 2D and 3D graphics card that delivered fast performance for applications in areas such as desktop publishing, 2D and 3D CAD, document imaging, computer based digital video and high-end business applications. Although it was originally designed to cater to the needs of professional high-end applications requiring high resolution and high color depth support, its robust set of features made it an excellent choice for computer gaming.
Matrox MGA Millennium technical specifications
- chipset: IS-STORM (MGA2064W),
- Window RAM: 2 and 4MB, expandible to 4 and 8MB,
- ports: analog VGA out and Media XL connector (audio and composite video in/out),
- display modes: up to 1600x1200 pixel resolution, 2D and 3D,
- color support: 24-bit,
- video playback: AVI and MPEG,
- platforms: Microsoft Windows 95, later available for PCI Power Mac,
- upgrades: live video, frame capture, hardware MPEG decoding, TV viewing on a PC.
- MPEG player,
- 3DFX 3D image and animation creator, Asymetrix,
- Nascar Racing, Papyrus Design Group, Inc.,
- RenderWare graphics rendering engine, Criterion Software Ltd.
- Matrox MGA Millennium package,
- all Matrox items in the museum's collection are listed in the Matrox Collection.
Description
Historical context
Creator
Matrox
Date
1995
Files
Citation
Matrox, “Matrox MGA Millennium,” York University Computer Museum Canada, accessed December 18, 2024, https://museum.eecs.yorku.ca/items/show/299.