Enhanced IDT Processor Tapped for New WebTV Plus Receiver
biz.yahoo.com
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 16, 1997--Integrated Device Technology, Inc. (IDT), one of the world's leading suppliers of MIPS(R) RISC microprocessors, today announced that the enhanced version of the company's IDT R4640(TM) processor has been selected to be the functional heart of WebTV Networks' new WebTV(R) Plus internet receiver. The new higher speed R4640 establishes a new price/performance benchmark for 64-bit embedded RISC processors.
``High performance is integral to delivering an enhanced and visually compelling television experience,'' said Tim Bucher, vice president for platform engineering and operations, WebTV Networks, Inc. ``IDT's new higher speed processor enables WebTV Networks to bring even higher performance and capabilities to our customers at the same affordable price point.''
The new WebTV Plus Receiver and WebTV Plus Network Service announced by WebTV Networks today brings entertaining new experiences and information to consumers through the integration of television programming and the internet. New platform features supported by the R4640 include hard disk drive and printer control, real-time video decoding (MPEG, Quicktime(R)) and real-time audio decoding (MPEG, AC-3, RealAudio(R)). All decoding operations enabled by the IDT R4640 processor are compliant with emerging multimedia standards -- MPEG, QuickTime, AC-3, RealAudio -- and are achieved by the processor's integrated DSP and floating point operation capabilities.
``We are very pleased to continue making an important contribution to WebTV Networks'' said Nick Kucharewski, vice president of IDT's Microprocessor Division. ``One of our more important corporate goals is to enable an ever-broadening spectrum of data communications, internetworking and multimedia applications with high-performance MIPS-based architecture processors for both consumers and businesses.
``The new WebTV Plus Receiver truly takes advantage of the capabilities our high performance processor provides. Of particular note, many of the platform's functions -- audio and video decoding, for example -- are handled in software rather than hardware. This results in much lower system cost plus greater flexibility and versatility for WebTV Plus,'' Kucharewski said.
Device Specifics
The enhanced performance of the R4640 is realized through a combination of process and design improvements. The true 64-bit processor is now available at higher operating speeds: 150 and 180 MHz. These yield dhrystone mips ratings of 195 and 235, respectively. The 35 mm2 CMOS device is manufactured with a 0.3-micron L(eff) process, and it operates at 3.3-volts. The WebTV Plus Receiver utilizes the processor operating at 167MHz, based on system requirements.
IDT's World Class MIPS RISC Family
The R4640 is an important member of IDT's popular 32/64-bit RISC microprocessor family based on the MIPS instruction set. Offering a wide range of software compatible, price/performance choices, IDT has optimized the designs of its high performance microprocessors for use in a assortment of embedded applications including internetworking, multimedia, data communications and telecommunications products.
Superior price/performance, low power consumption and small form factor have made the IDT MIPS RISC family of microprocessors the standard for a number of digital consumer products for leading companies. These include two generations of WebTV receivers; EchoStar's digital broadcast satellite receiver; Hughes Network System DirecPC(R) receiver; and home connectivity equipment provided by leading cable modem companies. This consumer market penetration shows the strength of IDT MIPS processor families to power applications related to home appliances, particularly those that are benefited by their multimedia extensions.
About IDT
Integrated Device Technology, Inc. (IDT) designs, manufactures and markets high-performance integrated circuits and modules for products in three market segments: data and telecommunications equipment, including routers, hubs, switches, cellular base stations and other devices; personal computers and multimedia appliances; and shared network devices including workstations, servers, printers and copiers. IDT's product mix consists of advanced communications products and specialty memories, high-speed SRAMs and Fusion Memory(TM), high-performance logic and RISC microprocessors. Headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., IDT employs approximately 4,600 people worldwide. The company's stock is traded on the NASDAQ stock market under the symbol ``IDTI.''
Electronic Media Program
Information about IDT and its products is easily accessible through IDT's comprehensive electronic media program, which includes free CD-ROMs by calling 800/345-7015, a Home Page on the World Wide Web (http://www.idt.com), and fax-on-demand services by calling 800/9-IDT-FAX. For more information about these services, call 800/345-7015.
Editors Notes:
1. Trademark data
``WebTV'' is a registered trademarks of WebTV Networks, Inc.
``R4640'' and ``Fusion Memory'' are trademarks of Integrated Device
Technology, Inc.
``MIPS'' is a registered trademark of MIPS Technologies, Inc.
``DirecPC'' is a registered trademark of Hughes Network Systems.
``RealAudio'' is a registered trademark of Progressive Networks,
Inc.
``QuickTime'' is a registered trademark of Apple Computer.
2. Glossary: Acronyms/Abbreviations
AC-3 Dolby Laboratories audio compression coding
technique standard used in digital video
disk (DVD) and U.S. cable systems.
CMOS Complimentary Metal-Oxide Silicon.
DSP Digital Signal Processing.
Fusion Memory An IDT-developed memory technology enabling
SRAM speed with the economy of
dynamic random access memory (DRAM).
L(eff) Effective drawn line width of an integrated circuit
used to express the fineness of the diffusion
technology employed.
mips Millions of instructions per second.
MPEG Motion Picture Experts Group standard for digital
TV.
QuickTime Computer movie application format standard developed
by Apple Computer.
RealAudio Internet audio compression standard developed by
Progressive Networks, Inc.
RISC Reduced Instruction Set Computing, a class of
microprocessor.
SRAM Static Random Access Memory. |
