S3, Compaq bet on MPEG surge with PC chipset

Electronic News, June 19, 1995 by Anthony Cataldo

Both MPEG engines output 4:2:2 video data, decompress MPEG-1 level one or two audio, offer 30 frames/sec video playback and provide audio and video synchronization.

"Our strategy is to put a lot of functionality in the (Trio64V-plus) core and add the more advanced features outside," said Scott Tandy, S3's marketing manager for the home product line. S3 will later this year introduce a 3D rendering device that will interface to the Trio64V-plus, a spokesman said.

Motherboard and end-user daughter card upgrades are expected to add $100 to the system cost. A complete add-in card solution is estimated to be priced at $250, compared to $500 for a current solution using discrete components, according to S3.

The 208-pin PQFP Trio64V-plus is priced at $32, based on 10,000-unit quantities. Prices for the Scenic/MX1 and MX2, both housed in a 128-pin PQFP, are priced at $35. The 28-PLCC Sonic/AD is listed at $3.85. Production quantities for all devices will start in 3Q95.

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