NEWS*********
BW)(SIGMA-DESIGNS)(SIGM) Fully Integrated Single Chip 3D/2D
Multimedia Accelerator Announced by Sigma Designs; 3D Offering is
Latest Move Along Sigma's Strategic Roadmap In the Booming Multimedia
Marketplace
Business Editors/Computer Writers
FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 7, 1996--Sigma Designs,
Inc. (NASDAQ:SIGM), today announced REALmagic3D, the latest in its
"planned progression" of integrated 3D/2D/Video accelerators for
multimedia applications from interactive gaming, animation and
virtual environments to business uses like enhancing internet user
interfaces.
The REALmagic3D multimedia accelerator (SD6430) is the first
single chip 3D and 2D 64-bit graphics accelerator designed from
scratch to meet the Microsoft Direct3D and DirectDraw APIs. The
chip integrates high performance 3D graphics, 2D acceleration, and
full screen real-time video playback with a 200 MHz true color
RAMDAC.
"This product is an example of the technical validity of refined
product roadmap planning," said Kevin Dallas, group product manager,
Direct X, Microsoft Corporation. "Incorporation of 'Direct' APIs
contributes to standards, which in turn demonstrates maturity in what
has been a confusing battleground for OEMs and end users."
Industry analyst Dr. Jon Peddie, president of Jon Peddie
Associates, Tiburon, Calif., said, "Sigma has been steadily building
their technology base for this introduction. Our research indicates
their entry is at an appropriate time as the market enters a period
of startling growth."
"The optimized architecture of this new design delivers
exceptionally fast 3D graphics throughput for interactive
applications along with uncompromised 2D performance for business
uses," said Prem Talreja, Sigma's vice president of marketing. "The
sweet spot in this market space is where blazing fast 3D and great 2D
graphics performance meet. It's the best of both worlds for the
desktop PC." (Other analyst quotes available on separate sheet or
via email.)
"The REALmagic3D is also pinout compatible with S3's ViRGE and
Sigma's REALmagic64/GX Video Graphics Accelerator, allowing
manufacturers to easily modernize existing designs," said Talreja.
"Its compact and efficient design results in industry-leading speed
and flexibility, including 3D rendering throughput in excess of one
million triangles per second using cost-effective EDO DRAMs."
REALmagic3D supports a full set of 3D graphics features such as:
-- Gouraud shading and flat shading;
-- MIP mapping and bi-linear filtering;
-- Z-Buffering (16- or 24-bit) to speed the removal
of hidden surfaces;
-- Full perspective correction providing higher-
quality texture mapping;
-- Alpha blending and translucent effects for
realistic rendering of glass, water or plastic; and
-- Fog and depth cueing for atmospheric effects used
to render realistic environments.
The chip also provides extraordinarily fast 2D graphics hardware
acceleration for bitBLT, pattern, area fill, and line drawings. Its
integrated video processor supports multi-media video acceleration,
including accelerated motion video playback, using horizontal and
vertical scaling with linear X-Y interpolation, color space
conversion, and smooth scaling, in hardware, to enable playback of 3D
interactive multimedia applications with MPEG video content.
With its integrated 24-bit RAMDAC dual clock synthesizer and
hardware cursor, the product is also fully VGA compatible with a
complete suite of software drivers and VGA BIOS support.
The REALmagic3D 64-bit graphics accelerator uses Sigma Designs'
existing MPEG product technology combined with Microsoft's
ActiveMovie, to provide high quality MPEG video playback. Sigma's CD
Station software allows Windows MPEG software titles and Video CD
movies to run at 30 frames per second with full screen SIF resolution
for MPEG, Indeo and Cinepak formats on Pentium 120 or better.
"This multi-media accelerator solution provides our customers
extremely high quality, smooth, flicker-free, live graphics and video
for leading-edge 2D and 3D applications, while being easy to adapt
for immediate performance upgrading," said Talreja.
Pricing and Availability: Samples of the REALmagic3D are
available now in 208-pin FQFP packages with production shipments
planned for the first quarter of 1997, according to Talreja. Pricing
starts at $25 each in OEM quantities (10,000 pieces).
About Sigma Designs: Sigma Designs, Inc. (NASDAQ:SIGM) is an
acknowledged leader in the fast-growing multimedia chipset market.
Sigma entered the multimedia field in 1993 with products based on the
MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) standard for compressing and
decompressing digital audio and video signals. Sigma is a driving
force in the advancement of MPEG technology used in most multimedia
PCs on the market today.
Sigma Designs' products now include high-performance low-cost
2D/3D graphics as well as MPEG decoding hardware with the industry's
most extensive line of MPEG software titles. Sigma sells to PC OEMs
and card manufacturers worldwide through a direct sales force and a
network of manufacturers' representatives. Sigma's products are
marketed under the REALmagic trade name.
To contact
sigmadesigns.com
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