Sub-$800 PCs With Fast 3D, DVD Uniquely Enabled by New Mpact 2-Powered Stingray Reference System
SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 8, 1998--
Ready-To-Manufacture Consumer PC Design Will Speed Time-To-Market
For Latest Mpact(TM) 2 Media Processor Technology
To accelerate the adoption of the latest Mpact 2 media processor technology into sub-$1,000 PCs, Chromatic Research, Inc. today unveiled Stingray, a complete system reference design for PC manufacturers who can now build advanced multimedia PCs priced as low as $799.
The Stingray reference system uses the highly integrated, multitasking, low-cost Mpact 2 3DVA media processor solution to power a wide range of high-performance multimedia functions: arcade-quality 3D graphics, home theater-quality DVD video, Dolby(R) Digital(TM) DVD surround sound with SRS(R) TruSurround(TM), display to monitor or TV, 64-voice wavetable audio, 56K Motorola(R) modem, and more.
Only Mpact 2 has the integration of hardware-accelerated multimedia functions to provide this level of multimedia functionality in sub-$1,000 PCs. With total costs ranging from less than $550 (Socket 7 CPU) to $650 (Slot 1 CPU), the Stingray reference design enables a new generation of multimedia-rich consumer PCs that can retail at $799 (Socket 7) or $899 (Slot 1).
Stingray is the first publicly disclosed sub-$1,000 PC reference design to use the Intel(R) Celeron(TM) processor, as well as the first sub-$1,000 PC reference design to offer 3D and DVD specifying components available today. A Socket 7 version of Stingray will also be available. Both the Slot 1 and Socket 7 versions use a four-layer, single-sided mini-ATX motherboard with standard form factor, layout and placement.
PCs have dipped below $1,000 in part by foregoing multimedia features such as arcade-level 3D graphics, DVD-ROM and high-quality. Due to the unique ability of Mpact 2 media processors to enable a wide range of high-performance multimedia functions on low-cost CPUs, PC OEMs can now offer mainstream sub-$900 or even sub-$800 PCs that use advanced multimedia features to differentiate from "stripped-down" competitors. Stingray-based products can also help PC makers tap new market opportunities, including second or third PCs for households who already own PCs, education, a PC for the living room, and more.
"Early sub-$1,000 PCs were crippled in performance and features, resulting in a customer experiences which were disappointing at best," said Rob Enderle, Director of Desktop and Mobile Technology for the GIGA Information Group. "The long-term opportunity in the consumer market is for appliance-like, multimedia-rich personal computers in this price category. The Stingray reference platform using the Mpact 2 media processor represents the current state-of-art in this soon-to-be-predominant category."
To create the Stingray multimedia PC design, which includes the mini-ATX motherboard with Mpact 2 and optional consumer electronics-style case, Chromatic Research teamed with Bytelink (Fremont, CA), a motherboard and system design and manufacturing firm founded by former executives of leading motherboard manufacturer Micronics, Inc.
Chromatic Research architects Mpact media processors and develops and sells Mpact Mediaware. LG Semicon, STMicroelectronics and Toshiba co-develop, manufacture and sell Mpact media processors.
Stingray is ready to manufacture today and can be built in time for the Fall PC selling season. PC makers may license the design from Bytelink or take advantage of Bytelink's design services to customize the design. PC vendors of all sizes can also contract with Bytelink for complete manufacture of Stingray systems, utilizing Bytelink's worldwide network of manufacturing.
"Our goal is to make it easy and fast for PC makers of all sizes to use the latest Mpact 2 media processor solutions in their Fall product lines," said John Monti, Vice President of Marketing, Chromatic Research. "Stingray demonstrates the potential of the Mpact 2 media processor to drive a new generation of high-volume, low-cost, multimedia-rich PCs. And, it's ready to manufacture now using a standard mini-ATX form factor."
Cost Savings
The single-chip Mpact 2 3DVA media processor solution is highly integrated, eliminating the separate chips and add-in cards traditionally needed to power graphics, video, audio and modem. The Mpact 2 media processor is integrated onto the motherboard, so no add-in cards are required.
Second, the Mpact 2 3DVA media processor solution enables high-performance multimedia with affordable CPUs, such as the Intel(R) Celeron(TM) or AMD K6. This is made possible by providing inexpensive Mpact 2 hardware acceleration for a full range of multimedia features, thus reducing the burden on CPUs.
Anyroom PC
A Stingray multimedia PC can be used in the home office connected to a standard PC monitor, or in the living room connected to the TV.
When connected to a TV, an Mpact 2-powered Stingray PC can function as a 3D game box, DVD movie and game player, web-surfing box and PC-TV.
The optional black Stingray case is fashioned to look like a consumer electronics device with roughly the same profile as a VCR: 4" high x 16.5" wide x 14" deep. Features include an easy to read front LCD panel and an optional infrared receiver for wireless keyboard and mouse.
Stingray Specifications
The Stingray motherboard is a standard ATX form factor that uses industry-standard components including:
-- Mpact 2 media processor on AGP bus with 4 MB Rambus RDRAM memory
-- Slot I for Intel Celeron or comparable X86 CPU (Socket 7 design
available) -- 440EX core logic chipset
-- 32 MB RAM
-- 2X DVD-ROM drive
-- 2.1 GB hard drive
-- Floppy drive
-- 2 USB ports, 1 joystick port, 1 parallel port, 2 serial ports
Mpact Media Processor Technology
Mpact media processors are low-cost, supercomputer-like chips that work in conjunction with an X86/MMX CPU to provide virtually any combination of high-performance multimedia functions. Functionality is determined by specialized software, called Mpact Mediaware, which run simultaneously on the Mpact media processor and CPU.
Chromatic Research
Chromatic Research is the leader in media processor technology and the world's first "chipless" semiconductor company. Based on a unique business model, the company's semiconductor partners LG Semicon, STMicroelectronics and Toshiba co-develop, manufacture and sell Chromatic-architected Mpact media processors while Chromatic Research develops and sells the enabling Mpact Mediaware software. Customers include Gateway 2000, Fountain/Quantex, STB, Leadtek and Proside. Founded in 1993, the company is privately held. For more information on Chromatic Research or Mpact, please visit www.chromatic.com or www.mpact.com.
Bytelink
Bytelink can be reached at (510) 252-0876 or at www.bytelink.com.
LG Semicon
LG Semicon can be reached at www.lgsemicon.co.kr/company.
STMicroelectronics
STMicroelectronics can be reached at www.st.com.
Toshiba
Toshiba America Electronic Components can be reached at www.toshiba.com/taec.
Chromatic Research is a registered trademark of Chromatic Research, Inc. The Chromatic Research logo and Mpact are trademarks or registered trademarks of Chromatic Research, Inc. Other marks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners.
CONTACT:
Chromatic Research
Dave Wilt, 408/752-9217
wilt@chromatic.com
or
Technology Solutions for Chromatic Research
Cindy Morgan-Olson, 212/696-2000
colson@tsipr.com
|
