Cirrus Logic introduces two graphics controllers that bring desktop-equivalent performance to mobile computing.FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 20, 1995--Cirrus Logic today added two members to its Nordic CL-GD754X family of accelerated, single chip SGVA SGVA San Gorgonio Volunteer Association (Mentone, CA USA) SGVA San Gabriel Valley Academy (Los Angeles, CA) LCD graphics controllers. The new CL-GD7543 brings desktop-equivalent graphics and multimedia video features along with 32-bit graphics performance to Pentium- and DX4-based notebooks. The new CL-GD7541 focuses on more value oriented notebooks by providing graphics-only acceleration. The Nordic family of graphics controllers, including the CL-GD7542 that was announced in September of 1994, are pin-compatible to facilitate migration from one product to another. "With the explosion of mobile computing Using a computing device while in transit. Mobile computing implies wireless transmission, but wireless transmission does not necessarily imply mobile computing. Fixed wireless applications use satellites, radio systems and lasers to transmit between permanent objects such as buildings capabilities, notebook computers are now becoming a replacement for a desktop PC, not just a second PC," said Douglas J. Bartek, president of Cirrus Logic's Visual & Systems Interface Company. "Desktop-equivalent graphics and video features must be achieved within the portable design constraints of bill-of-materials cost, power consumption and board space. Achieving these features, while operating at 3.3V and using only 1 Mbyte of display memory, offers an ideal balance of performance and power consumption for portables." CL-GD7543/7541 Desktop-equivalent Performance The CL-GD 7543/7541 features include a BitBLT graphics acceleration engine, RAMDAC (Random Access Memory Digital to Analog Converter) The VGA controller chip that maintains the color palette and converts data from memory into analog signals for the monitor. RAMDAC - Random Access Memory Digital-to-Analog Converter , clock synthesizer synthesizer Machine that electronically generates and modifies sounds, frequently with the use of a digital computer, for use in the composition of electronic music and in live performance. , VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association, Milpitas, CA, www.vesa.org) A membership organization founded in 1989 that sets interface standards for the PC, workstation and computing environments. Note the following VESA standards following this entry. and PCI (1) (Payment Card Industry) See PCI DSS. (2) (Peripheral Component Interconnect) The most widely used I/O bus (peripheral bus). local bus interface, 3.3V or 5V operation, and support for new 800x600 LCDs with vertical and horizontal expansion of standard VGA (Video Graphics Array) The display standard for the PC. All PC display adapters support VGA, and Windows machines boot up in "VGA mode" before switching to higher resolutions. resolution modes. The CL-GD7543/7541 products are the first mobile graphics controllers to fully support desktop capabilities by also providing the following features: -PCI burst mode support -high resolutions, color depths and refresh rates -1024x768, 256 colors non-interlaced CRTs at 75Hz -800x600, 64K colors TFT (Thin Film Transistor) The term typically refers to active matrix screens on laptop computers. Active matrix LCD provides a sharper screen display and broader viewing angle than does passive matrix. See LCD and thin film. TFT - Thin Film transistor LCD/CRT SimulSCAN at 75Hz -640x480, 16.8M colors TFT LCD/CRT SimulSCAN -dynamic VGA core voltage switching that allows users to select more performance or more power conservation for any particular mode -TV-output for games and presentations -feature connector for live video overlay options -comprehensive driver support and end-user utilities including: -on-the-fly resolution switching under Windows 3.1 -foreign language support -BRender API support for 3D games -Display Control Interface (DCI (Display Control Interface) An Intel/Microsoft programming interface for full-motion video and games in Windows. It allowed applications to take advantage of video accelerator features built into the display adapter. ) for video playback MotionVideo Acceleration (MVA MVA abbr. motor vehicle accident MVA Motor vehicular/vehicle accident, see there ) In addition, the CL-GD7543 includes MotionVideo Acceleration which improves the performance of DCI-compatible video codecs, including Indeo, CinePak, Duck's TrueMotion, and the new software MPEG decoders from CompCore and Mediamatics. MVA provides mixed color depths through a multi-format frame buffer, enabling the simultaneous display of video clips with up to 16.8M colors while Windows is still configured and operating at 256 colors. Other features of MVA include a YUV-to-RGB color space converter and 2x hardware zoom that allows small sized video clips to be enlarged without decreasing frame rates. Pricing and Availability The CL-GD7543 and CL-GD7541 are manufactured with a 0.6 micron CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) Pronounced "c-moss." The most widely used integrated circuit design. It is found in almost every electronic product from handheld devices to mainframes. process and packaged in a 208-PQFP. The CL-GD7543 is in production now and is priced at $39.50 in quantities of 1,000. The CL-GD7541 is sampling now with production planned for April at $33.50 in quantities of 1,000. Cirrus Logic Inc. is a leading supplier of advanced integrated circuits for desktop and portable computing, telecommunications and consumer electronics markets. The Company applies its system-level expertise in analog and digital design to innovate highly integrated software-rich solutions. Cirrus Logic has developed a broad portfolio of products and technologies for applications spanning multimedia, graphics, communications, mass storage, and data acquisition. CONTACT: Cirrus Logic Inc. Janet Freeman (editor contact), 510/226-2227 Dennis Jow (reader contact), 510/226-2143 |
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