Cirrus Logic Samples Industry's First AGP 3D Graphics Controller; Laguna3D-AGP Assures Smooth Transition from PCI to AGP Graphics Systems.FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 3, 1997--Cirrus Logic Inc. (Nasdaq: CRUS crus (krus) pl. cru´ra [L.] 1. leg (1). 2. a leglike part. crus ce´rebri ) today announced that it has sampled the industry's first graphics accelerator A display adapter that performs a specialized set of graphics functions to render an image on screen. Today, all display adapters provide basic rendering functions in hardware, but many have graphics processing units (GPUs) that are sophisticated computers. for Intel's Accelerated Graphics Port See AGP. (hardware, graphics) Accelerated Graphics Port - (AGP) A bus specification by Intel which gives low-cost 3D graphics cards faster access to main memory on personal computers than the usual PCI bus. (AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) A high-speed 32-bit port from Intel for attaching a display adapter to a PC. It provides a direct connection between the card and memory, and only one AGP slot is on the motherboard. ). Sample quantities have been provided to key industry partners, including Microsoft and Intel. The 64-bit accelerator (CL-GD5465) is the first entry in the Laguna3D family of AGP-enabled 2D/3D graphics accelerators. The AGP interface, the next generation high-speed port for PC graphics, will further enhance 3D graphics capabilities for users of volume-priced mainstream PCs as well as users of high-performance platforms. "AGP-based systems will be the next big thing for both system vendors and consumers alike," said Mike Feibus of Mercury Research. "The top OEMs will have systems on the shelves by the second half of this year and within two years AGP will become the dominant port for graphics." Cirrus Logic (company) Cirrus Logic - A manufacturer of integrated circuits including the Advanced RISC Machine and display interface processors and cards for use as Windows accelerators (requiring dedicated driver software). http://cirrus.com/. is able to deliver the first AGP-compliant product ahead of competing solutions, because the internal architecture of the Laguna3D family is built around the AGP programming model. This model, a fundamental element of AGP, enables the efficient use of system memory for graphics data -- attaining higher performance while reducing system cost. "The new device allows our customers to get the benefits of AGP on PCI-based systems today as they make the transition to AGP," said Art Swift, vice president of product marketing for Cirrus Logic's Graphics Company. "Just as Cirrus Logic took the lead in bringing out PCI (1) (Payment Card Industry) See PCI DSS. (2) (Peripheral Component Interconnect) The most widely used I/O bus (peripheral bus). and VL-bus graphics controllers, we are also taking the lead in moving the market to AGP-based solutions." About Laguna3D-AGP and TextureJet(TM) Architecture Based on Cirrus Logic's TextureJet(TM) technology, first unveiled in September 1996 in the Laguna3D (CL-GD5464) product, the CL-GD5465 offers highly-efficient hardware texture-map management. The TextureJet(TM) architecture is a powerful texture-management scheme that addresses the need to make 3D experiences more realistic through higher resolutions and faster action. By implementing a hardware texture manager and a sophisticated PCI/AGP bus mastering A bus design that allows the peripheral controllers (plug-in boards) to access the computer's memory independently of the CPU. It allows data transfers to take place between the peripheral device and memory while the CPU is performing other tasks. bus mastering - bus master scheme, TextureJet architecture enables the Laguna 3D Family to display more complex textures with fluid 30fps (frames per second) motion. While the bus master maximizes bus throughput, the hardware texture manager significantly reduces overhead involved in moving textures between system memory and the 3D graphics subsystem. With this built-in hardware texture manager, the Laguna3D architecture inherently supports Intel's AGP model. Enhanced 3D Performance with 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. The Laguna3D Family leverages the bandwidth advantages of the Rambus(TM) DRAM (RDRAM) technology. Rambus memories deliver over 600Mbytes-per-second memory bandwidth, yet they are as affordable as conventional DRAMs, making them ideal for high-bandwidth 3D personal computer applications. RDRAMs use a high-speed, 8-bit-wide interface, which minimizes the number of controller pins required for the memory interface and allows the continued and cost-effective use of popular 208-pin packages. Pricing and Availability The CL-GD5465 is packaged in a 208-pin plastic quad pack quad pack Quadruple pack Transfusion medicine A plastic blood collection bag with 3 attached 'peripheral' bags, allowing the sterile collection and separation of a unit–circa 500 mL–of whole blood into 4 sterile 125 ml aliquots which have a normal shelf (PQFP (Plastic Quad Flat Package) Refers to many varieties of QFP chip packages, which are molded in plastic. See QFP. ) and is now available in sample quantities. Production units, priced at $29.50 each in quantities of 10,000, are expected to ship in Q2 97. Cirrus Logic 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: Tsantes & Associates Dean Fisk Fisk , James 1834-1872. American railroad financier and speculator who attempted in 1869 to corner the gold market with Jay Gould, leading to Black Friday, a day of nationwide financial panic. , 408/452-8700 (Media Contact) dfisk@tsantes.com or Cirrus Logic, Inc. Art Swift, 510/625-7286 aswift@corp.cirrus.com |
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