Chips and Technologies' HIQVideo Accelerator Provides Full-Motion Video in New Hitachi MX-Series Notebook Computers; 64-bit Graphics Processor Provides Fast Windows Performance and Full-Screen Video.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 23, 1997--Chips and Technologies, Inc., a leading supplier of video graphics controllers and accelerators for flat panel displays, today announced that its HiQVideo(TM) multimedia accelerator chip is a key component in the new MX-Series notebook computers from Hitachi PC Corporation.

Based on Intel Pentium(R) Processors with MMX(TM) technology, the MX-Series notebooks are targeted at business professionals who demand maximum portable computing performance. A Chips and Technologies' HiQV32(TM) accelerator forms the core of the multimedia display subsystem, which includes 2MB video RAM, hardware-accelerated MPEG for full-screen, full-motion video display, and built-in support for Zoomed Video port technology. A bright, clear 12.1-inch active-matrix TFT flat panel displays 64,000 colors at 800 x 600 resolution.

According to a recent product review of the Hitachi MX-133T in Boot magazine, "Full-screen MPEG video playback is excellent, with only slight fuzziness around the edges. These successes are attributable mainly to the Zoomed Video and VESA 2.0-compliant Chips and Technologies 65550 video chipset and 2MB of integrated EDO DRAM..."

"The HiQV32 (65550) accelerator has proven to be a highly versatile device that enables notebook manufacturers to take advantage of 64-bit video graphics processing power at a reasonable cost," said Tim Erjavec, Director of Marketing at Chips and Technologies. "Hitachi's MX-Series notebooks utilize the HiQV32 to provide very high-end display features such as Zoomed Video and full-screen, full-motion MPEG video playback."

The Hitachi MX-Series notebook computers are loaded with such high performance features as 16MB EDO DRAM with 80MB maximum, a 2GB hard drive, a removable 8X CD-ROM (Optional 10X), stereo speakers, and Windows 95. The MX-Series notebooks also include built-in remote and network connectivity so professionals can send and receive e-mail, access the Internet, connect to corporate Intranets, transfer files, and more -- seamlessly, and right out of the box.

Full-Motion Video Driven by Chips and Technologies' HiQVideo

The Hitachi MX-Series notebook computers offer a powerful graphics display subsystem based on Chips and Technologies' HiQV32 (65550) video graphics accelerator. This 64-bit PCI device combines video acceleration with a high-performance graphics engine to deliver full-screen video at 30 frames/sec (fps). Separate video and graphics pipelines further reduce system processor overhead and minimize memory requirements for video and graphics color depth. The hardware-assisted MPEG is optimized to accelerate software titles to allow smooth, full-motion, full-screen video playback.

The HiQV32 accelerator delivers all the fundamental capabilities needed to run Windows-based multimedia applications. The video capture system accepts video data from either the systems bus or the video capture port that supports the Zoomed Video (ZV) Port technology option. This allows users to simultaneously display video streams from multiple sources and to open multiple video windows. These features are critical for advanced multimedia applications such as current MPEG-1 and future MPEG-2 video playback, video teleconferencing, and on-screen television through industry standard PC Cards.

About Chips and Technologies

Chips and Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHPS) develops semiconductor and software solutions for leading manufacturers of personal computers. These unique, highly integrated solutions provide enhanced graphics, full-motion video, and other advanced display capabilities for both notebook and desktop computers. Chips and Technologies is widely recognized as a leading supplier of flat panel video graphics controllers and accelerators to the portable computer market. Chips and Technologies can be reached on the World Wide Web at http://www.chips.com .

About Hitachi PC Corp.

Hitachi PC Corp. is the leading manufacturer of Mobilized Computing tools that provide global reach and universal access to information and resources anytime, anyplace. Hitachi PC designs, manufactures and markets personal computers with advanced, integrated communication solutions that connect "out-of-the-box" to the Internet, intranets and other sources of mission-critical information. Backed by Hitachi quality, Hitachi PC provides 24x7, state-of-the-art customer support, and industry leading notebook product warranties. Headquartered in San Jose, Calif., Hitachi PC Corp. is a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE: HIT), and Hitachi America, Ltd. Hitachi, Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, is a leading global electronics company with fiscal 1995 consolidated sales over $76.6 billion. The company markets and manufactures a wide range of products, including computers, semiconductors, consumer products, as well as power and industrial equipment.

This press release contains forward looking statements, which are generally preceded by words such as "expects," "anticipates," or "intends." Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including competitive conditions, the timing of product development, conditions in the personal computer marketplace, and other risks described in detail in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. -0-

NOTE TO EDITORS: HiQVideo and HiQV32 are trademarks of Chips and Technologies, Inc. Pentium is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation. Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. All other trademarks and brand names are the property of their respective owners.

CONTACT: Chips and Technologies, Inc.

Lisa J. Lawrence, 408/434-0600

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MQPR 

Matthew Quint, 510/548-8985

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