Diamond's Value Kit 4400 Features Windows 95 Plug-and-Play Sound Card with 3D Sound Support; Includes Fast Quad-Speed Drive, Amplified Speakers and 20 Titles

Business Wire, Sept 5, 1995

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 5, 1995--Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: DIMD) has announced the Diamond Value Kit 4400 quad-speed multimedia kit with 3D sound.

This affordable kit combines superior hardware components including a Windows 95 plug-and-play wavetable upgradeable Diamond sound card with 3D sound support, a quad-speed CD-ROM drive and stereo speakers with a variety of popular software titles. The Value Kit 4400 has an estimated retail price of $299 and is available now through distributors, computer retailers and mass merchants.

"The Value Kit 4400 is the first Diamond multimedia kit to offer Windows 95 plug-and-play hardware with 3D sound. We have incorporated this new technology into the kit without compromising the price point," said Paul Nahi, director of product marketing for Diamond Multimedia. "Now it is possible to obtain the latest in multimedia hardware for an affordable, value-point price."

Full-Featured Hardware

The Value Kit 4400 includes hardware that is fully MPC2 and MPC3 compliant. The 16-bit jumperless, wavetable upgradeable Diamond sound card is plug-and-play ready and has 3D sound support. Using the ESS 1688 for 20 voice, 72 operator FM synthesis, the Diamond sound card works with all Sound Blaster compatible games, and has Sound Blaster ADPCM supported in hardware. It has an enhanced IDE CD-ROM interface (ATAPI support), a stereo audio interface. The Diamond sound card has MIDI and joystick ports as well as stereo line-out and stereo line-in.

Six additional software utilities are provided for sound recording, editing and playback capabilities. This kit includes a fast quad-speed internal IDE CD-ROM drive that is plug-and-play ready. The quad-speed drive is capable of transferring data at 600 KB/second with an access time of 240 ms and a buffer size of 256 KB. It is both Photo CD and Multisession XA-compatible. Also included is a pair of amplified stereo speakers.

Popular Software Titles

The Value Kit 4400 boasts 20 best-selling CD-ROM titles that appeal to all members of the family. This kit offers the challenge of games such as Magic Carpet and Descent -- Destination Saturn (Special Edition), the opportunity to sharpen your knowledge with Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia 1995, and hours of fun with Chinese Cooking for the Family and Gus Goes to Cybertown. The bundled game, reference and edutainment software has an estimated retail value of more than $300.

Simple Installation

As with all of Diamond's quad-speed multimedia kits, the Value Kit 4400 is easy to install and operate. The Windows 95 plug-and-play feature of the kit simplifies the installation process further with the automatic configuration of hardware. Additional installation tools include the award-winning comprehensive installation and user guide, an instructional VHS video tape, and automatic setup/system configuration software. Diamond offers technical assistance six days per week by telephone as well as 24-hour Bulletin Board, CompuServe and America Online electronic services.

Diamond Multimedia

Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc. designs, manufactures and markets high-performance multimedia solutions for the PC, PowerPC and PCI Power Macintosh markets. Products include graphics and multimedia accelerators, which incorporate graphics, video and MPEG acceleration in a single subsystem. Diamond also manufactures sound cards, audio/telephony subsystems and multimedia upgrade kits for the personal computer market.

Headquartered in San Jose, Calif., Diamond has marketing and technical support facilities in Tokyo, Munich and Slough (U.K.). The company's products are sold through regional, national and international distributors as well as to major computer retailers, mass merchants and OEMs worldwide. Diamond's common stock is traded on the Nasdaq exchange under the symbol DIMD.

How to Contact Diamond Multimedia

There are many ways to reach Diamond for sales support, technical assistance, driver updates and general information:

The Main Phone Number is 408/325-7000; Fax: 408/325-7070 Product Support Voice: 408/325-7100; Product Support Fax: 408/325-7171 24-Hour Fax On Demand Service: 1-800/380-0030 America OnLine (Keyword: DIAMOND) CompuServe (GO DMNDONLINE or GO GRAPHBVEN) [75300,3673] Microsoft Network: GOTO DIAMONDONLINE Internet Web Site: http://www.diamondmm.com FTP Site: ftp.diamondmm.com For information on Diamond products: 1-800/468-5846 BBS numbers at 408/325-7080 (to 14.4K baud)

or 408/325-7175 (to 28.8K baud) -0-

Note to Editors: All tradenames referenced are the service mark, trademark, or registered trademark of their respective manufacturers.

CONTACT: Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc.

Joan Huang, 408/325-7236

Internet: joan@diamondmm.com