Doesn't look like anything "patriotic here"
Michael Kanellos and Jim Davis
Staff Writers, CNET NEWS.COM
April 5, 1998, 11:40 a.m. PT
National Semiconductor's Cyrix subsidiary is
developing a complete system on a chip for
sub-$500 computers as part of its effort to become
the king of low-budget computing, National is
announcing tomorrow.
The chip, to be released next year, will be similar in
concept to the MediaGX processor already made
by Cyrix. The new product will essentially consist
of a microprocessor with a number of even smaller
processors with discrete functions, such as 3D
graphics acceleration, grafted onto the same piece
of silicon. This process of integration drives down
the overall system cost.
"National Semiconductor will put an entire PC on a
chip by 1999," said Steve Tobak, vice president of
corporate marketing at National. "Virtually
everything but the memory [chip]...will be
integrated on the chip."
When the new chip arrives next year, it will be
targeted at television set-top boxes, computers
costing less than $500, and notebooks selling under
$1,000. The existing MediaGX processor will be
aimed at computers above $500.
Its features will also differ. The new processor will
integrate the entire chipset onto the single piece of
silicon. Now, much of the chipset--related chips
that work in tandem with the main processor--is
separate on the MediaGX.
The new processor will integrate functions that will
likely be of use in the consumer entertainment
market. Mini-processors that may be included on
the chip include silicon to playback full-motion
video or for DVD playback.
The first versions of the new chip will use the core
technology now used in the MediaGX. Later
versions will adopt the forthcoming "Cayenne"
processor core with enhanced 3D capability.
Cayenne is due toward the beginning of next year
and will first appear in MediaGX processors.
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