FREMONT, Calif. -- July 6, 1998 -- Cirrus Logic Inc. (NASDAQ:CRUS)today announced the industry's most powerful DSP-based Computer Audio solutions with two new chips (CS4622 and CS4624), each of which delivers a complete PCI audio feature set, including legacy games support. Additionally, the CS4622 provides Dolby Digital (AC-3) and a digital audio interface for top-of-the-line consumer entertainment systems.

Based on the company's innovative DSP SoundFusion™ technology, the two new processors provide an unmatched PC audio experience via desktop and portable PCs as well as add-in cards. As an example, this advanced DSP technology is currently implemented on Intel's popular SE 440BX motherboard system, which is designed into NEC Direction SPB 400, Micron Millennia XI and Dell Dimension XPS R systems. Moreover, because the devices use the same pinout and software stack as the recently announced CS4280 low-cost PCI audio controller, PC manufacturers can simplify their system designs by using Cirrus Logic's scalable audio family to meet the full range of customer requirements.

The new CS4622/24 solutions provide maximum audio processing capabilities (with 300 and 255 MIPS performance respectively) while off-loading the CPU from the demands of real-time audio signal processing. The powerful DSP engine in each device delivers the advanced features that will be the hallmark of tomorrow's PCs, including industry leading application programming interfaces (APIs) for 3D-positional sound technologies; Dolby Digital (AC-3) for home theater class sound quality, acoustic echo cancellation for the ultimate in speakerphone and conferencing quality, wavetable synthesis for delivery of interactive audio soundtracks, and the Sony/Philips Digital Interface (S/PDIF) for linking PCs to consumer entertainment systems. The CS4622/24 also cost-effectively implements a full-featured PCI solution when teamed with the CS4297 AC' 97 audio codec.

"With each new addition to our Crystal(TM) Computer Audio family, we expand our offering across application areas and price/performance points that meet the requirements of an ever changing PC industry," said Art Swift, vice president and general manager for the PC Products Division of Cirrus Logic. Swift continued, "By leveraging our mixed-signal expertise, state of the art production capability and relationships with key industry players, Cirrus Logic provides audio that truly enhances a multimedia experience on the PC."

Dolby Digital and DVD Acceleration

A defining feature of Crystal multimedia PCI audio accelerators is the ability to implement Dolby Digital (AC-3) acceleration. Dolby Digital 5.1 channel surround sound is the digital audio standard for movies, broadcast, digital cable, digital satellite, DVD video and now for computers. It produces six independent channels of audio for six speaker playback: front-left, front-right, center, rear-left, rear-right and subwoofer. Since most PC systems come with only two speakers, and possibly a subwoofer, OEMs can elect to use 3D virtualization of the six channels to give the effect of a multi-speaker playback system over two speakers. As a result of this integrated Dolby Digital decoding and the ability to convert the six channels for two-speaker operation, the CS4622 provides PC users with the best possible playback quality and 3D sound.

Moreover, Dolby Digital is a requirement for audio on DVD. With a DVD-ROM equipped computer, desktop and mobile PC users can enjoy a growing list of DVD movies, as well as first-rate interactive software that exploits the full potential of the DVD format with ultimate Dolby Digital surround sound.

"Dolby Laboratories closely monitors the level of quality and the overall experience provided by products that offer Dolby Digital audio, especially in the emerging PC DVD industry," said Ed Schummer, vice president, Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corp. "Cirrus Logic has worked closely with Dolby throughout the development of its audio accelerators and has consistently shown the ability to deliver an exciting, involving and immersive audio experience."

Complete Mobile Computing Support

In addition to providing advanced desktop PCI audio capabilities, the CS4622/24 solutions are also ideally suited to support the portable PC market. Both devices are fully compliant with the portable PC98 and AC '97 2.0 standards. The new devices also incorporate PCI Power Management and Advanced Power Management capabilities as well as a zoomed video port (ZVPort) interface. These portable-specific features reduce power consumption and increase flexibility, two key elements of the portable PC market.

Product Highlights

AC '97 2.0 Support - The CS4622/24 audio accelerators support the multi-vendor dual AC '97 audio codec specification. AC '97 is designed to significantly raise the quality of digital-to-analog signal conversion in PCs by separating the codec from the digital controller IC. AC '97 2.0 support also enables the use of the next generation of high-performance mixed-signal codecs from Cirrus Logic.

Standards Compliance - The CS4622/24 audio devices fully comply with industry standards, allowing PC and add-in card OEMs to meet all of Microsoft's PC97 and PC98 requirements, as well as the upcoming PC99 requirements. Specific standards include, PCI Power Management (PPMI), Advanced Power Management (APM), Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI), as well as Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows NT driver support.

DirectSound Hardware Acceleration - New interactive PC games use Microsoft's DirectSound3D API to provide a fully immersive audio experience. The CS4622/24 solutions accelerate this industry leading API to deliver high-quality 3D positional audio.

Digital Input and Output - The CS4622/24 solutions permit PC and add-in card OEMs to provide S/PDIF (Sony Philips Digital Interface) input and output jacks. These jacks allow high-quality wires or optical cables to connect directly to an external Dolby Digital ready home stereo receiver, an internal DVD-ROM drive and/or a CD-ROM drive This lets the end user hook-up their PC directly to their Dolby Digital ready home audio system for the ultimate in audio realism.

Digital Docking and ZV Port - The CS4622/24 solutions support both digital docking and ZV port requirements, providing a PCI-based audio solutions that is portable PC98 compliant. The digital docking feature of the CS4622/24 chips enable a seamless transition from the stand-alone notebook PC applications (such as multimedia presentations) to the additional peripherals (such as external speakers, DVD-ROM drives, etc.) provided in a docking station. The zoomed video port (ZV port) supports PCMCIA (PC card) audio connections and is designed to receive audio from an MPEG-1 video decoder card. ZV port audio capability enables notebook solutions to download audio directly from an external source, such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive.

CrystalClear Legacy Support (CCLS) - The CS4622/24 solutions deliver CrystalClear legacy support (CCLS) for both Windows DOS box and Real Mode applications through an advanced single-chip implementation. In addition, the CS4622/24 chips also support industry standard PC/PCI and DDMA offering OEMs and add-in card manufacturers several options to ensure DOS legacy support, including SoundBlaster and SoundBlaster Pro compatibility. Other legacy functions, such as joystick and MPU-401 interface, are also supported for backward compatibility. When teamed with the CS4297 codec the CS4622 or CS4624 completes a fully-featured PCI audio solution.

64 Voice Wavetable Synthesis - The CS4622/24 audio accelerators feature a Fat Labs Approved wavetable synthesis engine for delivery of interactive audio soundtracks. The CS4622/24 chips deliver crystal-clear musical reproductions that satisfy even the most discriminating audiophile.

Acoustic Echo Cancellation - DSP processing power on the CS4622/24 greatly improves speakerphone and videoconferencing applications by eliminating echo.

SoundFusion Technology

Cirrus Logic's SoundFusion DSP technology is based on the company's innovative SLIMD (Somewhat Long Instruction Multiple Data) architecture that allows add-in card manufacturers and PC OEMs to provide specific features and scalability not found in fixed-function solutions. The concurrency capability of the SoundFusion DSP core allows functions typically found in costly, multiple-device designs to be provided by a single chip. This differs from many fixed-function solutions, which heavily rely on host signal processing for one or more key functions. Cirrus Logic's SoundFusion DSP core is a powerful platform that will play a key role in the company's strategy to develop highly integrated products for the PC and convergence marketplace.

At the heart of the SoundFusion technology is a powerful 300 MIPS DSP engine and highly-efficient PCI interface that provides add-in card manufacturers, OEMs and consumers with a home-theater class audio experience on the PC. Specifically, SoundFusion's SLIMD architecture, programmable DSP engine and DMA interface reduce the amount of host CPU overhead required to manage the concurrent processing of multiple audio streams required by today's multimedia applications. Accordingly, desktop and portable PC manufacturers as well as add-in card makers, integrating advanced audio capabilities into their next-generation products, can optimize audio system performance in support of emerging PC games and multimedia applications.

Pricing/Availability

The 300 MIPS SoundFusion CS4622 PCI audio accelerator with integrated Dolby Digital (AC-3) support is sampling now with production quantities set for August 1998. The device is available in a 128-pin TQFP package and is priced at $14.00 in 10K quantities. Its silicon twin, the 255 MIPS CS4624 PCI audio accelerator is also sampling now and will begin full production in August 1998. The device is available in a 128-pin TQFP package and is priced at $11.00 in 10K quantities.

Cirrus Logic is a premier supplier of system-level integrated circuits that demand high-performance mixed-signal processing. The company applies its system expertise to enable high-volume applications in data storage, networking, and multimedia for both computing and consumer electronics markets as well as ultra-precision data acquisition applications for industrial automation and instrumentation markets.

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Cirrus Logic news releases may be obtained by fax by dialing 1-800/359-6414, or by dialing 510/249-4200 from outside the United States, or via the Internet on the world wide web at www.cirrus.com

Cirrus Logic is a registered trademark and Crystal, SoundFusion, SLIMD and CrystalClear Legacy Support are trademarks of Cirrus Logic, Inc. All other product names noted herein may be trademarks of their respective holders.