Trident Videographics Chip Chosen by NEC for New Home Entertainment PC Line; TV-Based Living Room PC Models Offer Recordable CD-ROM, Television Editing, Internet Access, Interactive Gaming, Stereo Audio and Karaoke Features

Business Wire, Jan 8, 1997

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 8, 1997--Nippon Electric Company (NEC), with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, has adopted the ProVidia9685 graphics controller from Trident Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ:TRID), for use in a recently announced consumer PC product line.

NEC chose Trident's ProVidia9685 chip, announced Sept. 18, 1996, for its new "CanBe" PC-9821Ct20 with television, video and recording CD capabilities.

The ProVidia9685 is the first single-chip DirectX high-performance graphics controller solution delivering Trident's third-generation ClearTV TV-Out technology, graphics acceleration, videoconferencing, PCI Bus mastering, over and under scan control and 3-line flicker filter reduction. These features are essential for success in the entertainment graphics and video markets.

The chip is differentiated by being the first combining in a single chip all the features previously requiring three separate competitive devices.

Large-screen TV projection was seen by NEC as a critical function for its line of CanBe models geared specifically to Japanese home entertainment requirements. The new NEC PC also features enhanced stereo audio and single-button control of web browser and telephone applications. It also provides voice-activated telephone auto dialing and TV control.

"Our design objective included a leading-edge TV-Out feature for large-screen display of PC-originated video for games and web browsing as well as digitized video recordings," said an NEC spokesman. "Trident's Providia9685 delivers best-in-class capabilities for high-quality TV display."

"A major factor in the adoption of digital infotainment devices is leveraging the TV display," said Richard Silverman, Trident's vice president of graphics marketing. "Our customers are choosing Trident technology as the best bridge between their computer and the display everybody already has."

Background

Nippon Electric Company (NEC) is a leading international electronics manufacturer supplying communications systems and equipment, computers and industrial electronic systems, and electronic devices worldwide.

Trident Microsystems, Inc., headquartered in Mountain View, CA, the choice of leaders for videographics innovation, designs, develops and markets integrated circuit graphics controllers and multimedia video processing chipsets for IBM-compatible PCs. Its products are sold through a network of OEMs, original design manufacturers and system integrators worldwide. -0-

Note to Editors: Trident is a registered trademark of Trident Microsystems, Inc. ProVidia, ProVidia9685 and ClearTV are trademarks of Trident Microsystems, Inc. Other trademarks used herein are the property of their respective owners.

CONTACT: Trident Microsystems, Inc.

Richard F. Haas, 415/943-3757

rhaas@tridmicr.com

or

Marketing/PR Savvy

Ford Kanzler, 415/726-1055

ford@prsavvy.com