Cirrus Logic 3D Solution Selected By Creative Labs For Graphics Blaster Line Of Products; Laguna3D Accelerator Offers Superior 3D and Enhanced 2D/Video Performance for Creative's Top-of-the-Line Consumer Graphics Card.FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 7, 1996--Cirrus Logic Inc., (Nasdaq:CRUS crus (krus) pl. cru´ra [L.] 1. leg (1). 2. a leglike part. crus ce´rebri ) today announced that the first member of its Laguna3D family of multimedia accelerators has been selected for Creative Labs' Graphics Blaster line of add-in boards. Graphics Blaster MA334, announced today by Creative Labs, will incorporate the Laguna3D (CL-GD5464) accelerator, which delivers three times the performance of current mainstream 3D solutions. Creative's Graphics Blaster line demonstrates Cirrus Logic's strategy to enable value-added solutions that allow users to explore new 3D worlds on the Web, 3D games and powerful productivity and educational software titles. The CL-GD5464 Laguna3D chip is a 64-bit multimedia accelerator that offers arcade-action 3D graphics accompanied by fast 2D and motion video and is the first chip optimized to support the Microsoft(R) Direct3(TM) API for real-time 3D graphics. This product supports key 3D rendering functions in hardware, such as Gouraud shading In 3D graphics, a technique developed by Henri Gouraud in the early 1970s that computes a shaded surface based on the color and illumination at the corners of every triangle. Gouraud shading is the simplest rendering method and is computed faster than Phong shading. , perspective correction Perspective correction or perspective control is a procedure for composing or editing photographs to better conform with the commonly accepted distortions in constructed perspective. , Z-buffering, texture map A two-dimensional image of a surface that is used to cover 3D objects. See texture mapping.  Applying a Texture Map A 2D texture map is "draped" over a 3D object to create the required surface. filtering, alpha blending In computer graphics, the combining of the alpha channel with other layers in an image in order to show translucency. The alpha channel is an additional eight bits used with each pixel in a 32-bit graphics system that can represent 256 levels of translucency. , fogging and texture decompression. Additionally, Laguna3D delivers the highest sustained 3D performance of existing consumer market solutions, due to an innovative texture-mapping scheme and advanced memory technology. The Laguna3D family leverages the bandwidth advantages of 600MHz (MegaHertZ) One million cycles per second. It is used to measure the transmission speed of electronic devices, including channels, buses and the computer's internal clock. A one-megahertz clock (1 MHz) means some number of bits (16, 32, 64, etc. and 667MHz Rambus(TM) DRAM (RDRAM (Rambus DRAM) Pronounced "r-d-ram." A dynamic RAM chip technology from Rambus, Inc., Los Altos, CA (www.rambus.com). Rambus licensed its memory designs to semiconductor companies, which manufactured the chips. (R)) memory technologies, and features a powerful graphics engine that performs 3D rendering functions using Cirrus Logic's TextureJet(TM) architecture for high-speed texture mapping In computer graphics, the application of a type of surface to a 3D image. A texture can be uniform, such as a brick wall, or irregular, such as wood grain or marble. The common method is to create a 2D bitmapped image of the texture, called a "texture map," which is then "wrapped around" . To ensure full support for Direct3D applications, the new chip addresses all the key features of this API, including accelerated low-resolution modes, hardware arithmetic stretching and multiple display buffering. The Laguna3D family also supports the CGL See Carrier Grade Linux. interface from Creative Labs, as well as Open GL for workstation level applications. Graphics Blaster MA334 will be aggressively priced at $179 (estimated street price) with 4MB of memory. It will be available through Creative Labs' extensive channel of retailers and distributors in November. The Laguna3D family of accelerators, introduced on September 24, 1996 by Cirrus Logic, also includes a Laguna3D-AGP version, which is expected to ship in production volumes in Q1 `97. Cirrus Logic Inc. is a leading manufacturer of advanced integrated circuits for the desktop and portable computing, telecommunications and consumer electronics markets. The Company applies its system-level expertise in digital and analog design to innovate highly integrated, software-rich solutions. Additional information about Cirrus Logic and its subsidiaries can be accessed on the World Wide Web at http://www.cirrus.com or via fax-on-demand at 800-359-6414 (dial 510/249-4200 from outside the United States). -0- Note to Editors: (TM) All trademarks noted herein are registered to their respective owners. CONTACT: Cirrus Logic Connie Duncan, 510/226-2346 cduncan@corp.cirrus.com Saul Altabet, 510/252-6286 saula@corp.cirrus.com or Tsantes & Associates Mary Jane Reiter, 408/452-8700 maryjane@tsantes.com |
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