NeoMagic Announces Industry's First 256-bit Multimedia Accelerator; Catapults Notebook PCs Past Desktop Bandwidth Limitations
The design uses embedded DRAM for high speed/low power. It is targeted for notebook applications.
Pioneer of Integrated Memory and Logic "Raises the Bar" With First
Single-Chip Graphics, Audio, Video, and DVD Playback Solution
SANTA CLARA, Calif., June 8 /PRNewswire/ -- NeoMagic Corporation (Nasdaq: NMGC) today announced initial deliveries of the first 256-bit multimedia accelerator that integrates high-performance graphics, audio, video, and DVD playback capabilities on a single chip.
The MagicMedia(TM)256AV is the first of a new family of multimedia accelerators from NeoMagic, specifically built for the new generation of multimedia notebook PCs. Multimedia applications such as DVD with high quality audio and video, coupled with high-speed processors like the Pentium(R) II with MMX(TM) technology, generate massive amounts of data for the accelerator subsystem. The MagicMedia256AV accelerator, with a 256-bit wide internal synchronous graphics RAM memory architecture and over 21 million transistors on a single piece of silicon, provides the internal bandwidth to handle and convert this data into high-performance audio and high-resolution video. This solution "mobilizes multimedia" for corporate users requiring high-performance presentation capabilities from their portable computers.
Notebook market needs multimedia
Mobile professionals need the same functionality that is available in today's desktop computers, including the power and performance, applications software, and Internet compatibility. Corporations have a growing need for high-performance multimedia applications and for high-quality presentations for sales, education, and training audiences.
"Overwhelmingly, the purchasers of notebook computers are corporate buyers who are purchasing notebook PCs for professionals who need to give job-related presentations outside of the office. The attach rate of audio into new notebook PCs is already greater than 90%. With the emergence of new slim DVD drives, video with integrated audio is right at the top of the needs list of corporate notebook users, according to our OEM notebook partners," said Ron Jankov, Senior Vice President and General Manager of NeoMagic's Multimedia Products Division. "There's more to multimedia than graphics. Multimedia also includes video and audio, MPEG2 and AC-3 decoding, and 3D. The MagicMedia256 family provides the hardware platform for all of these capabilities in a single-chip form factor that delivers the bandwidth for high-performance truecolor DVD."
256-bit delivers performance
According to Mike Feibus, a principal at Mercury Research Inc., a PC components market research firm in Scottsdale, Arizona, "Increasing bandwidth is a key variable to improving performance. Anything that improves bandwidth is good for the end user."
In contrast to current discrete memory solutions - ranging from 64-bit EDO DRAM that provides less than 200 MB/s of bandwidth to dual-channel Rambus solutions that provide upwards of 1.5 GB/s - the MagicGraph256AV provides 3.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth. Current discrete memory solutions just can't deliver, in terms of sheer bandwidth.
"Great video needs lots of bandwidth. So does good quality audio. Adding progressive levels of 3D processing just increases the bandwidth requirements more. And notebooks need to achieve all this with low power usage. Delivering more bandwidth is a driving force in our industry. NeoMagic's delivery of the 256-bit architecture cracks the bandwidth bottleneck wide open," stated Jankov.
DVD needs video and audio
In addition to being the first 256-bit multimedia accelerator, the MagicMedia256AV is also the first single-chip multimedia DVD solution with integrated AGP/PCI audio. As such, it eliminates a separate audio component, saving power, space and cost for notebooks. Furthermore, a high-speed AGP interface for audio accelerates the audio data transfers to free up CPU processing power and makes high-quality playback and recording possible.
The technology of choice for notebooks
According to Scott Hudson, senior analyst-PC Technology, The In-Stat Group, "Embedded DRAM is the new technology of choice for notebook multimedia solutions. It will grow from 39% of total units in 1998 to 83% in 2002, while standalone memory will shrink to 17% over that same time period."
NeoMagic has shipped over five million units of the MagicGraph128 family of single-chip multimedia accelerators. Top notebook PC manufacturers using NeoMagic products include the following: Acer, Compaq/Digital, Dell, Fujitsu, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard, Hitachi, IBM, Micron, Mitsubishi, NEC, Panasonic, Sharp, Siemens, Sony, Toshiba, and others. Notebooks that incorporate NeoMagic accelerators have won high benchmarks for graphics, longer battery life, and overall performance at major PC publication laboratory test facilities. The NeoMagic web site at www.neomagic.com has direct links to notebook reviews in major publications. Additional product features of the MagicMedia256AV can also be found at www.neomagic.com.
About NeoMagic
NeoMagic Corporation, based in Santa Clara, Calif., is the first company to design and deliver integrated DRAM, complex logic, and analog circuits in a single chip. The company's proprietary MagicWare(TM) technology takes systems integration to a new level by building DRAM into "systems-on-a-chip" solutions. NeoMagic is dedicated to bringing leading-edge performance to mobile computers, without compromising power consumption or space. NeoMagic Corporation has been awarded honors by the Fabless Semiconductor Association for the past two years: In 1996, as the industry's "Most Respected Private Fabless Company;" In November 1997, as the "Best Financially Managed Public Fabless Company." NeoMagic may be contacted at 408-988-7020 or on the World Wide Web at www.neomagic.com.
NeoMagic, MagicGraph, and the NeoMagic circle logo are registered trademarks of NeoMagic Corporation.
MagicWare and MagicMedia are trademarks of NeoMagic Corporation. Pentium II and MMX are trademarks of Intel Corporation.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
NeoMagic disclaims any proprietary interest in the marks and names of others.
SOURCE NeoMagic Corporation
CO: NeoMagic Corporation
ST: California
IN: MLM CPR
SU: PDT
06/08/98 07:07 EDT prnewswire.com
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