More on Gateway/Mpact chip........................................
The Chromatics MPEG2 software runs partly on the Mpact processor (add-in hardware) and partly on the PC's 166 MHz Pentium.
www8.zdnet.com
Media chip to Mpact on Gateway
Destination
By Scott Berinato
ÿ
NEW YORK--The Mpact media processor will
make an impact in desktop computer systems this
month.
Gateway 2000 Inc. on Thursday will announce
here at PC Expo a Destination PC that incorporates Mpact,
which was co-developed by Toshiba America Electronic
Components Inc. and Chromatic Research Inc.
Mpact is a chip that drives multimedia functions such as audio,
video and modem connectivity. By putting all these functions
in one chip, precious PCI bus slots and system real estate are
freed up.
Mpact offloads some of the processing for multimedia to the
host, but Toshiba officials said a Pentium-class 166MHz
computer could handle Mpact. Mpact also promises to save
users money since they won't need to invest in sound, video
and modem cards, Toshiba officials said.
The Gateway offering, called the Desktop Big Screen PC/TV,
is a consumer device with a 31-inch monitor/television. The
Mpact iteration on this machine will offer digital videodisk
functions, including 30-frame-per-second MPEG-2 video
playback and digital stereo audio.
The Destination will ship this month for $3,199.
Toshiba, of San Jose, Calif., can be reached at
www.toshiba.com. Gateway, of North Sioux City, S.D., can
be reached at www.gateway.com. |
