E4 Unveils First Integrated 2D/3D Graphics and DVD Solution; Cool3DVD Features Single-Chip Mpact 2 Media Processor.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 22, 1997--E4 (Elecede Technologies Inc.) today announced Cool3DVD, the industry's first integrated solution to offer high performance 2D/3D graphics and theater-quality DVD on a single, low-cost add-in card.

Cool3DVD features the next-generation Mpact 2 media processor with Mpact Mediaware for 3DVD from Chromatic Research. E4 intends to leverage Chromatic's Mediaware product roadmap to ultimately offer additional multimedia capabilities such as 3D surround and wavetable audio, video editing, and videoconferencing. Cool3DVD from E4 will sample to OEMs in October and ship to customers in November. Pricing will be announced at a later date.

"When E4 won Micron's business with an Mpact-based DVD solution, E4 publicly signaled its intent to leverage the Mpact technology into new areas, including graphics," said John Monti, vice president, marketing at Chromatic Research. "With Mpact 2 3DVD technology and E4's expertise in video and graphics, E4 is well positioned to make fast inroads into the highly strategic mainstream graphics market for PCs, in addition to expanding its role as a leader in DVD solutions."

3D Graphics

Cool3DVD offers leading-edge 3D graphics performance. The Mpact 2 chip provides 10-20 times the performance of first-generation 3D graphics processors, resulting in faster and more realistic 3D games. In addition, because the graphics and video are processed on the same chip, Cool3DVD is capable of providing MPEG video as textures on 3D graphics objects. This capability will enable an unprecedented level of realism in 3D environments.

Current generation 2D/3D accelerators perform in the 50-80 range on Ziff Davis' comprehensive 3D Winbench tests. Cool3DVD zooms well beyond 200 on these same benchmark tests, providing the ultimate platform for gaming enthusiasts.

In addition to its performance features, Cool3DVD is one of the only solutions that is capable of accelerating all of the features offered in the Microsoft Direct 3D API. Cool3DVD will be implemented on both PCI-bus and the new Intel AGP-bus, which provides increased bandwidth for large textures.

2D Graphics

2D acceleration, typically used in applications like digital photography and video games, but also crucial for day-to-day business application acceleration, is another powerful feature of Cool3DVD. The Mpact 2 3DVD chip achieves more than 120 Winmarks, delivering fastest-in-class, flicker-free 2D acceleration for both Windows and DOS VGA at resolutions up to 1600 x 1200 x 18-bit x 85Hz and 1280 x 1024 x 24-bit x 85Hz.

DVD Features

Cool3DVD provides support for the full DVD specification including MPEG II video and Dolby Digital audio playback. It also features multiple language capability (8-track multilingual support), 32-track subtitle support, support for Pan & Scan and wide screen formats, multiple angle support, built-in copy protection decryption, and support for full VGA/DVD integration, including high-quality, scaleable DVD video in a window.

The Mpact 2 chip offers a number of technology advances in PC DVD. For example, because the graphics and DVD are controlled by the same chip, it is able to adjust the PC's graphics mode to the DVD's native 740 x 480 resolution, eliminating artifacts and distortions found in competing solutions. DVD video quality is further enhanced by Mpact's de-interlacing capability. Prior to displaying the DVD video on the PC screen, Mpact de-interlaces, or synchronizes, the video from its made-for-TV "interlaced display" to the PC's "progressive scan" display. This function prevents additional motion artifacts and quality degradation. Finally, Mpact 2 enables high-quality scaling of screen size, adjustable video brightness, color and contrast, SRS TruSurround, and advanced video and audio synchronization.

"Cool3DVD raises the multimedia price/performance bar to an entirely new level," said James Hwang, president and chief executive officer of E4. "The Mpact 2 solution enables E4 to combine best-in-class 2D/3D graphics and DVD functions onto a single add-in card for essentially the same cost as a graphics-only solution. What's more, there are absolutely no trade-offs in performance. We think that Cool3DVD and it's follow-on products will be the Holy Grail for multimedia enthusiasts."

The Future of Multimedia Computing

The extensible M2 media processor architecture provides for incredible new product additions to Cool3DVD in the near future, including highest quality wavetable and 3D audio, additional superb video functionality (video capture for home editing and videoconferencing), and TV input and output. The platform will become the first true, one-stop, low-cost multimedia accelerator for the PC.

For more information about the Mpact 2 media processor or Chromatic Research, visit the company's Web site at www.chromatic.com or www.mpact.com .

About E4

E4 (Elecede Technologies Inc.) is a developer of state-of-the-art DVD, video and graphics products for the PC and Macintosh markets. The Company markets the widest selection of DVD offerings in the industry. E4 is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dooin Electronics, Korea's leading manufacturer of PC cards. For more information, please contact E4 at: 1731 Technology Drive, Suite 800, San Jose, Calif., 95110. Telephone: [phone]. Fax: [phone]. E-mail: [e-mail] . Internet: www.e4.com .

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