Trident Launches First True 3D Graphics/DVD Playback Chip; New Product Line Delivers Unrivalled 3D Performance Levels, Slashes DVD Costs.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 14, 1996--Trident Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: TRID) today introduces two new true 3D desktop graphics controllers offering breakthrough performance in each of the six critical areas required for a true 3D experience.

Trident's new 3DImage(TM) product line provides excellence in 3D graphics acceleration, leading-edge DVD playback functionality, third-generation TV-output technology, high-quality video and 2D graphics acceleration.

"We anticipate these two innovative devices will assist our OEM customers in offering exciting 3D products, with TV-Out, DVD and compelling games capabilities," said Frank Lin, President and CEO. "Without compromise in any single area, consumers will be able to fully appreciate leading-edge technology as never before."

3D Requirements

3D: The 3DImage 975(TM) and 3DImage 975DVD(TM) break the 3D speed bottleneck with Trident's new rCADE3D(TM) technology. Until now, "Free-D" and mid-range 3D graphics products in the PC market rendered only 100-150K polygons/second, not providing true 3D capability. The rCADE3D technology is designed to achieve a peak 1.2M polygon/second (60M pixel/second) 3D rendering rate, a ten times improvement in terms of 3D performance.

This arcade-quality performance is introduced at PC prices for the first time through design innovation. Trident's rCADE3D technology features an on-chip setup engine which balances the 3D pipe, relieving the CPU from over 50 percent of the 3D computing task.

DVD: The 3DImage 975DVD includes support of full-motion DVD video at 30FPS with AC-3 Surround Sound(TM). The product works collaboratively with an MMX-enabled Pentium 166MHz CPU or higher to offload the CPU up to 50 percent of the DVD playback task, reduce costs by as much as a factor of ten and offer complete Microsoft(R) Windows(R) and ActiveX(TM) compatibility.

"The single-chip 3DImage 975DVD delivers nearly cost-free DVD-ROM playback, reducing the DVD-associated incremental cost by up to a factor of ten," said Dr. Gerry Liu, acting vice president, multimedia marketing.

TV Output: On-chip, ClearTV technology scales the image designed for a computer monitor to fit into an NTSC/PAL TV set without loss of edge and corner data, and without flicker.

Video: Sophisticated hardware for collaborative acceleration of software MPEG-1 and -2 decompression is included, as well as Trident's unique TrueVideo(R) image enhancement hardware. The 3DImage 975 and 975DVD will realize 30 frames-per-second display rates in P55C and Pentium Pro(TM) systems. Two hardware video windows reduce CPU loading and increase frame rate by as much as 30 percent when processing the local and remote dual videoconferencing data streams.

2D: The fast 2D graphics user interface (GUI) acceleration of the 3DImage products exceeds performance benchmarks of any 2D accelerators in the industry today. Fast 2D operation is essential as refresh rates, resolution and pixel depths increase.

VGA: 3DImage products contain one of the fastest and most reliable VGA cores in the industry. Even as Direct3D begins to attract 3D games developers, many still continue supporting legacy DOS modes for performance and downward compatibility to the large installed base of DOS users. Trident VGA innovations include single-cycle PCI bus transfers, single-cycle frame buffer read/writes and 64-bit operation for highest-quality video.

DVD Jointly Developed in Close Partnership with Mediamatics, Inc.

"By integrating Mediamatics' Collaborative Compression Architecture (CCA) in their THAMA architecture, Trident has achieved the optimum cost/performance for PC DVD solutions," said Pier Del Frate, vice president of marketing at Mediamatics, Santa Clara, CA. "We feel the combined design resources of both companies, together with our MPEG expertise and Trident's technology strength in graphic controllers, have created a product that sets new price and integration standards."

Price and Availability:

3DImage 975: $25 in quantities of 10,000. 3DImage 975DVD: $32.50 in quantities of 10,000. Samples: Q4 1996. Production: Q1 1997.

Background

Trident Microsystems, Inc., headquartered in Mountain View, CA, designs, develops and markets integrated circuit graphics controllers and multimedia video processing chipsets for IBM-compatible PCs. Its products are sold through a network of OEMs, original design manufacturers and system integrators worldwide.

Forward-Looking Information

The statements made herein regarding the introduction of the 3DImage 975 and 3DImage 975DVD are forward-looking statements. The actual availability and sales of such products could vary substantially as a result of a variety of factors, including the Company's ability to supply and support its customers, the Company's ability to produce such products in a timely manner, the ability of the Company's customers to manufacture and ship products incorporating the Company's products, as well as the availability of other products and resources.

Trident's performance depends upon the overall markets' reaction to its technology, feature sets, pricing and delivery schedules. Further information regarding these and other risks is described from time to time in the Company's SEC reports. -0-

Note to Editors: Photography, block diagram, product backgrounder, competitive comparison and electronic files are available on request.

Trident and TrueVideo are registered trademarks of Trident Microsytems, Inc. 3DImage, 3DImage 975 and 3DImage 975DVD, rCADE3D and ClearTV are trademarks of Trident Microsystems, Inc. Other trademarks used herein are the property of their respective owners.

CONTACT: Trident Microsystems

Richard F. Haas, 415/943-3757

[e-mail]

web: www.trid.com

or

Marketing/PR Savvy

Ford Kanzler, 415/726-1055

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