Diamond Multimedia Updates Networking and DisplayLink Products Portfolio
by Ganesh T S on January 13, 2015 3:30 AM EST- Posted in
- CES 2015
- Networking
- DisplayLink
- Trade Shows
- Diamond
We made the annual customary visit to Diamond Multimedia's suite at CES. Last year, they had products on display marking their first foray into the networking market. Primarily known in the channel for their graphics cards based on AMD GPUs, their DisplayLink products (USB 3.0-based video adapters and docking stations) are also selling quite well.
At CES 2015, Diamond Multimedia demonstrated a Microsoft Surface Pro driving a 4K display using a DisplayLink-based USB 3.0 to 4K Display Port adapter. This adapter allows any PC / tablet with a USB 3.0 port to drive a 4K monitor (even if the internal GPU is not capable of 4K video output). The DisplayLink docking solution also got an upgrade with the DS3900 Ultra Dock with Dual Video Display.
On the networking side, Diamond Multimedia is testing the 802.11ac market with a 2x2 AC1200 router and a AC750 range extender. There is also a USB 2.0 AC600 USB adapter as well as a USB 3.0 AC1200 USB adapter. 500 Mbps powerline kits as well as an IP camera with in-built PLC (power line communication capabilities) - HP500CK - round up the wireless / networking product stack.
On the TV / game capture side, the WPCTV3000 connects to a HDTV / display and allows screen mirroring from PCs or Macs from multiple users. The GC2000 1080p HD capture box is for console gamers wanting to record their gameplay and either stream it over the network / Internet or store it in a SD card in the box.
The BVU5500 4K display adapter (USB 3.0 to Display Port) was the most interesting product on display. The advent of USB 3.1 should make for some interesting DisplayLink products, not only due to the increased available bandwidth, but also the power delivery aspect. It will take a couple of more generations for DisplayLink to get there, but, in the meanwhile, manufacturers such as Diamond Multimedia continue to bring out business-focused products using their current chipsets.
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evilspoons - Tuesday, January 13, 2015 - link
The dock product seems interesting, assuming it works as advertised. Is it essentially a crappy GPU in a box or does it still rely on the internal GPU for some stuff?Second - hasn't DIamond had that log since FOREVER? I seem to remember it on my Diamond Stealth 3D video card (S3 Virge chipset PCI, ughhhh) and on their Voodoo 1 boards.
evilspoons - Tuesday, January 13, 2015 - link
Argh. LOGO. Not log. *facepalm*ganeshts - Tuesday, January 13, 2015 - link
It is indeed a 'crappy' GPU in a box - the 'GPU' is the DisplayLink driver which creates the frame buffer and sends it over the USB 3.0 link. Think of it as a 'software' GPU. If you have a low-power computer with an Atom-type or Jaguar-type CPU, I would expect really bad performance.Penti - Tuesday, January 13, 2015 - link
Unless the CPU (via QS or DXVA) can decode 4K video that product wouldn't really work as advertised. Software decoding of course works to a point, the drivers better be awesome for DisplayLink products to be usable. I guess most systems supporting that would have a DisplayPort or (24-30Hz limited) HDMI-connector.royalcrown - Tuesday, January 13, 2015 - link
Diamond Stealth 3D with FOUR megs, had one myself, crazy speed for Quake, horrible drivers/support.royalcrown - Tuesday, January 13, 2015 - link
Ah, Diamond Multimedia....producers of outrageously priced mediocre hardware, which they drop support for like a hot potatoE. How are they still around, seriously. All you old timers know what I'm talking about.usernametaken76 - Wednesday, January 14, 2015 - link
You must have missed the story 15 years ago when Diamond / S3 left the business, formed SONICblue, and Best Data purchased their old name and assets. It's not the same company at all, it's just another tech company doing business as Diamond Multimedia.