VLSI Introduces New GraphiCore Products; First Graphics Accelerators Available Based On New RISC Graphics Architecture.SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 6, 1995--VLSI Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on :VLSI VLSI: see integrated circuit. (1) (Very Large Scale Integration) Between 100,000 and one million transistors on a chip. See SSI, MSI, LSI and ULSI. (2) (VLSI Technology, Inc., Tempe, AZ, www.semiconductors. ) announced today the first products in a family of graphics accelerators for mobile and desktop computing, based on VLSI's new GraphiCore architecture which uses a RISC RISC in full Reduced Instruction Set Computing Computer architecture that uses a limited number of instructions. RISC became popular in microprocessors in the 1980s. graphics engine. (See accompanying release for details on the GraphiCore architecture.) The VL82C925 Graphics Controller is designed for maximum price/performance acceleration of graphics on flat-panel displays and simultaneous displays on CRTs used with notebook and sub-notebook mobile computers, as well as with standard TV displays. Advanced memory technology (SDRAM/SGRAM) improves the frame buffer bandwidth and graphics performance. The VL82C950 Graphics Controller is designed for entry-level price/performance acceleration of graphics in desktop computing. Support for Extended Data Out (EDO Edo: see Tokyo, Japan. ) DRAM provides improved graphics performance while delivering a low-cost graphics solution. Like the other members of the family, it incorporates full RISC graphics acceleration. The VL82C975 Graphics Controller is designed for premium price/performance of graphics in desktop computing. It supports advanced memory technology (EDO/SDRAM/SGRAM/VRAM) to improve memory bandwidth and graphics performance. At the heart of the three devices is a RISC graphics engine, the GraphiCore architecture, which integrates advanced memory support with such features as configurable geometry pipeline and variable-width data path. All these features allow workstation-quality, high-display resolution with single-state execution on mobile and desktop PCs. According to Conrad Maxwell, strategic marketing manager of VLSI's Personal Computer Division, "VLSI is entering the graphics market with a product family that tightly couples to our core logic expertise. As an experienced vendor in the competitive PC market, VLSI understands that delivering total system performance is increasingly dependent on graphics/multimedia implementation. We're able to provide a more complete system solution, delivering higher price/performance than is available elsewhere. This secures our leadership position in system integration and sets the stage for even further integration in the future." Acceleration and Speed The architecture used in these devices was designed with total system graphics performance in mind. A configurable geometry pipeline provides accelerated functions such as BitBLT, line draw, rectangle fill, Window ROPs and clipping. GraphiCore architecture also enables 3D graphics functionality. Color compression allows the display of true color needing only one-third the normal storage requirement. An enhanced graphics text acceleration allows optimum text performance in Windows mode. This RISC graphics accelerator is designed for single-state execution. By matching any one of these devices with the single-state access of synchronous DRAM, exceptional levels of performance are achieved. Integrated Functionality With the ongoing push for smaller board space and lower power consumption in mobile computers, the 925 has a 24-bit true-color 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 and a dual programmable clock synthesizer unit. A complete graphics subsystem can be created using the 925 and one memory component (SGRAM (Synchronous Graphics RAM) A type of dynamic RAM chip that is similar to the SDRAM technology, but includes enhanced graphics features for use with display adapters. ). System Design The 925, the 950 and the 975 each supports full PCI (1) (Payment Card Industry) See PCI DSS. (2) (Peripheral Component Interconnect) The most widely used I/O bus (peripheral bus). compliance. They fully utilize PCI memory burst-cycle capabilities for improved data flow through the GraphiCore accelerator to and from the frame buffer. Coupling VLSI Technology core logic with any of these graphics controllers enables higher-performance systems. The 925 supports multi-endian data structures for support of Intel, as well as RISC, processor system. Multimedia Support The 925 supports an 8-bit VGA Feature Connector A point-to-point channel used to transfer video signals between two video controllers, typically between the display adapter and a video capture or TV board. Using an 8-bit data path, it provides 40 Mbytes/sec bandwidth. (VFC VFC Vaccines for Children (program) VFC VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association) Feature Connector VFC Voltage to Frequency Converter VFC Vice Flotilla Commander VFC Flotilla Vice Commander VFC V. ) configuration which in turn supports external multimedia devices. For output of multimedia video, NTSC (National TV Standards Committee) The committee that developed the television standards for the U.S, which are also used in Canada, Japan, South Korea and several Central and South American countries. Both the committee and the standard are called "NTSC. and PAL television standards are supported through the addition of an external video format encoder. The 950 and 975 provide support for a 16-bit VESA Advanced Feature Connector A VESA standard point-to-point channel used to transfer video signals between two video controllers, typically between the display adapter and a video capture or TV board. The Advanced Feature Connector (VAFC) increases the original feature connector from 8 to 32 bits and from 40 to 150 (VAFC See VESA Advanced Feature Connector. ) configuration which in turn supports external multimedia devices for overlay of video data. The device also offers a flexible 8- or 16-bit DAC See D/A converter and discretionary access control. DAC - Digital to Analog Converter port allowing selection of DAC features and functionality at desired price/performance levels. This choice enables the graphics system designer the freedom to select DACs with customer features for even the most unique applications. Progressive Power Management Full hardware and BIOS support is provided to minimize power consumption. The 925, 950 and 975 can not only power-down the graphics subsystem, they can also perform a unique multi-level shutdown of the subsystem itself based on graphics activity. Included are such features as DPMS See VESA DPMS. (hardware) DPMS - Display Power Management Signaling. , clock management, RAM self-refresh, panel power sequencing (for the 925) and a dynamic power management unit which can automatically power-down some sections of the devices transparently. Software Support VLSI provides complete customer support using dedicated applications engineers, a bulletin board for on-line help and an Internet ftp node for file exchange of the latest drivers: Microsoft Windows, IBM (International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, www.ibm.com) The world's largest computer company. IBM's product lines include the S/390 mainframes (zSeries), AS/400 midrange business systems (iSeries), RS/6000 workstations and servers (pSeries), Intel-based servers (xSeries) OS/2, SCO UNIX and AutoCAD. In addition, complete VGA/VESA-compatible BIOS support is also provided in-house for quick and reliable answers to customer questions. Price and Availability The VL82C925 graphics controller for mobile applications is $30 in volume quantities. The VL82C950 for desktop applications is $15 in volume quantities. And the VL82C975 for high-performance desktop systems with more advanced memory requirements is $20 in volume quantities. All three products will be available for sampling in the second quarter. VLSI Technology, Inc. designs and manufactures application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and application-specific standard products (ASSPs) based on its library of functional system blocks (FSB). Targeting its offerings towards the computing, communications and entertainment marketplaces, the Company offers its customers advanced system-level integration capabilities. The Company is based in San Jose, California San Jose (IPA: /ˌsænhoʊˈzeɪ/) is the third-largest city in California, and the tenth-largest in the United States. It is the county seat of Santa Clara County. , with 1994 revenues of $587 million, and has approximately 2,700 employees worldwide. -0- Note to Editors: GraphiCore is a trademark of VLSI Technology, Inc. Microsoft and Windows are trademarks of Microsoft Corp. CONTACT: VLSI Technology Inc., San Jose Tom Mahon, 510/937-4921 (Editorial) Conrad Maxwell, 602/752-6189 (Reader) |
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