Adaptec's New 12X SCSI CD Controller Improves Performance, Enables Multitasking.MILPITAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 25, 1996--Adaptec, Inc. announced the AIC-9520 today, a high performance automated CD controller for SCSI-2/SCSI-3 applications. This new integrated circuit reduces microprocessor involvement and SCSI command overhead, yielding improved performance and multitasking multitasking Mode of computer operation in which the computer works on multiple tasks at the same time. A task is a computer program (or part of a program) that can be run as a separate entity. capability. "As Windows NT continues to expand market share, multitasking capabilities are becoming critical," said Danial Faizullabhoy, director of marketing for Adaptec's Mass Storage Electronics business unit. "With the AIC-9520, Adaptec leverages its expertise in I/O (Input/Output) The transfer of data between the CPU and a peripheral device. Every transfer is an output from one device and an input to another. See PC input/output. I/O - Input/Output and high-performance ICs to provide drive designers with a high-performance solution to meet their customers' demands for multitasking." How the AIC-9520 Achieves High-Performance Adaptec's AIC-9520 improves the drive's performance by automating CD-ROM CD-ROM: see compact disc. CD-ROM in full compact disc read-only memory Type of computer storage medium that is read optically (e.g., by a laser). read accesses, detection and correction of ECC (1) (Error-Correcting Code) A type of memory that corrects errors on the fly. See ECC memory. (2) (Elliptic Curve Cryptography) A public key cryptography method that provides fast decryption and digital signature processing. errors, data flow buffer RAM management and SCSI SCSI in full Small Computer System Interface Once common standard for connecting peripheral devices (disks, modems, printers, etc.) to small and medium-sized computers. SCSI has given way to faster standards, such as Firewire and USB. bus operations. By addressing these operations itself, the AIC-9520 allows the local microprocessor to focus on other commands. Providing a high level of SCSI automation, the AIC-9520 improves system performance and creates a multitasking environment. The AIC-9520 also achieves high performance through its efficient I/O processing and fast data transfer rates. The controller minimizes I/O processing overhead and improves SCSI bus bandwidth through its 63 word programmable SCSI sequencer See MIDI sequencer. (music) sequencer - Any system for recording and/or playback of music via a programmable memory which stores music not as audio data, but as some representation of notes. , which contains a 64 x 16 bit RAM and supports SCSI command parsing, caching and command queuing. AIC-9520 supports fast data rates with high CD-ROM, at speeds up to 12X, and fast/wide SCSI, with burst data rates up to 20 MB/s. Compatibility of the AIC-9520 The AIC-9520 supports CD drive devices from major vendors. CD formats supported include CD-ROM Mode 1, CD-ROM XA Mode 2 Form 1/Form 2 and CD-DA (Compact Disc-Digital Audio) The original compact disc format developed by Sony and Philips in the 1980s, which was designed for audio only. Since "CD" is used loosely for all Compact Disc formats, the CD-DA designation differentiates a music disc or player and the controller supports DSP (1) (Digital Signal Processor) A special-purpose CPU used for digital signal processing applications (see definition #2 below). It provides ultra-fast instruction sequences, such as shift and add, and multiply and add, which are commonly used in math-intensive interfaces from Toshiba, Matsushita, Sanyo and Philips. Direct support for Intel, Motorola and other multiplexed interfaces is also included. Pricing and Availability Production quantities of the AIC-9520 are available now at a manufacturer's suggested retail price of approximately $10 each. About Adaptec Adaptec provides bandwidth management technologies for organizations building the global information infrastructure. Its high performance I/O, connectivity, and network products are incorporated into the systems and products of major computer and peripheral manufacturers. Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Milpitas, Calif., Adaptec employs 2500 people worldwide in design manufacturing, sales, service and distribution. Adaptecs home page is http://www.adaptec.com. CONTACT: Adaptec Inc., Milpitas Sheila Paul, 408/957-4595 (editorial contact) sheilap@corp.adaptec.com 800/934-2766 (literature) 800/442-7274 (presales) |
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