S3 Graphics was a prominent American manufacturer of graphics processing units (GPUs), well-known in the 1990s and early 2000s for its popular ViRGE, Trio, Savage, and later Chrome series of graphics chips. Founded in 1989, S3 was a key player in the competitive PC graphics market, offering affordable and capable solutions for both 2D and 3D acceleration. The company's core graphics division was acquired by VIA Technologies in 2001. VIA continued to develop and market graphics chips under the S3 Graphics brand, focusing on integrated and discrete solutions. In 2011, VIA announced the sale of its stake in S3 Graphics Co., Ltd. (a joint venture) to HTC, primarily for its valuable graphics patents and mobile graphics IP.
Historically, the headquarters housed executive leadership, core research and development for graphics chip design, marketing, and global operations.
Typical of Silicon Valley tech campuses of its era, likely part of a larger office park with facilities geared towards engineering and administration.
During its peak, S3 Graphics fostered an innovative and fast-paced work environment, driven by the competitive demands of the rapidly evolving PC graphics industry. Engineers and designers focused on delivering cutting-edge graphics performance at accessible price points.
The Santa Clara headquarters was central to S3's rise as a major graphics chip supplier, serving as the hub for the design and strategy behind iconic products like the ViRGE and Savage series.
Historically, S3 Graphics had a significant global presence, with its chips integrated into PCs sold worldwide. Its operations were supported by R&D centers in the US, and sales and support offices in North America, Europe, and Asia (often through partnerships and distributors). Their products reached end-users globally through major OEMs and add-in-board partners.
2801 Mission College Boulevard (historical S3 Incorporated HQ)
Santa Clara
California
USA
Address: Specific street address not readily available for historical R&D center.
To leverage specialized engineering expertise in chip design and strengthen R&D capabilities outside of the main California headquarters.
Address: Historical address: S3 Graphics Ltd., Winnersh Triangle, Berkshire, UK (Specific unit may vary).
To establish a strong market presence in Europe, provide regional support, and cater to the needs of European customers and partners.
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As of April 2025, S3 Graphics' leadership includes:
S3 Graphics has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:
S3 Graphics was acquired by VIA Technologies in 2001, and its assets were later partially sold. It does not operate as an independent entity making such announcements. Therefore, no executive hires or exits specifically for 'S3 Graphics' have been reported in the last 12 months.
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While S3 Graphics is no longer an independent operating entity, companies of its era commonly used email formats based on employee names and initials. The domain would likely have been 's3.com' or 's3graphics.com'.
[first_initial][last]@s3graphics.com or [first].[last]@s3graphics.com
Format
jdoe@s3graphics.com
Example
0 (The original company email domains are inactive. Contact would now be through VIA Technologies or HTC for IP matters).%
Success rate
EE Times • April 6, 2000 (Announced, closed later)
VIA Technologies announced its agreement to acquire S3 Incorporated's graphics business, a move aimed at strengthening VIA's integrated chipset offerings and expanding into the discrete graphics market....more
Reuters • July 6, 2011
HTC Corp announced it would buy S3 Graphics Co Ltd from VIA Technologies Inc and WTI Investment International Ltd for $300 million, gaining access to S3's graphics technology patents, which was seen as a strategic move in the smartphone patent wars....more
Various tech publications (e.g., AnandTech, Tom's Hardware archives) • Circa 1998
S3 Graphics released its Savage3D chip, aiming to compete in the burgeoning 3D graphics market. It featured S3TC texture compression technology, which became a widely adopted standard (later licensed to Microsoft for DirectX)....more
Various tech publications • Circa 2004
Under VIA Technologies, S3 Graphics launched the Chrome series of GPUs, targeting mainstream and value segments with DirectX 9 capable hardware and features like Chromotion video engine for enhanced media playback....more
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