piix

Piix is a brand of integrated graphics processing units (GPUs) developed by Silicon Integrated Systems (SiS). The Piix series was introduced in the late 1990s and early 2000s, primarily for use in motherboards and laptops. The Piix GPUs were designed to provide basic 2D and 3D graphics capabilities, making them suitable for entry-level and budget systems. They supported various display technologies, including VGA, SVGA, and later, LCD panels.

The Piix series includes several models, each with different specifications and features. For example, the Piix 3 was one of the earliest models, offering support for up to 16 MB of video memory and resolutions up to 1024x768. Later models, such as the Piix 4 and Piix 5, introduced support for higher resolutions and improved performance. The Piix 5, in particular, was notable for its support for DirectX 7.0 and OpenGL 1.2, which were advanced features for its time.

Despite their limitations compared to modern GPUs, Piix chips played a significant role in the early development of personal computing. They helped to popularize the use of integrated graphics solutions, which are now common in most computers. The Piix series also contributed to the advancement of display technologies, paving the way for the widespread adoption of LCD screens in laptops and desktop monitors.