FREMONT, Calif. -- June 3, 1998 -- Cirrus Logic Inc. (NASDAQ:CRUS) today introduced a new PCI audio controller (CS4280) that addresses the requirements of price-sensitive PC designs while providing a scalable architecture that supports industry standards and legacy applications. Expanding the company's industry-leading Crystal• brand of precision mixed-signal audio solutions, the CS4280 provides a high-quality PCI audio solution at the affordable price of an ISA device. Moreover, since the CS4280 offers a pin-compatible upgrade path to future products, PC manufacturers can offer a range of price and performance audio systems simply through their choice of Crystal audio devices. By providing an audio architecture that can span a range of requirements from the sub-$1000 to desktop PCs, the Crystal audio product family offers PC manufacturers increased economy, reliability and convenience for PC audio solutions.
Conforming to industry quality standards such as Microsoft's PC98, the CS4280 provides the basic features required in a PC audio subsystem, whether built into a PC motherboard or add-in card. When combined with the Cirrus Logic CS4297 codec, the two devices provide a fully compliant and affordable PCI audio solution that meets both PC98 and Intel's AC'97 requirements, and provides compatibility for legacy games. Furthermore, because the CS4280 is optimized to meet the PC98 requirements, it can streamline system testing in Microsoft's Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL) certification program.
"With today's announcement, Cirrus Logic now offers OEMs a full range of PCI audio products that span the low- to high-end capabilities," said Art Swift, vice president and general manger of the PC Products Division. "When selecting audio solutions, customers now have a single point of contact for a full range of price/performance options to provide high-quality, competitively priced PC sound. Cirrus Logic's PCI audio family significantly lowers the OEM risk involved in creating PC products by providing an easy migration path for the future."
Industry-Leading PCI Audio Family
The CS4280 offers a pin-compatible upgrade path to its DSP-accelerated, PCI audio controller the CS4614, which harnesses Cirrus Logic's innovative and powerful 255 MIPs DSP engine to deliver a home theater-class audio experience to the desktop PC.
In addition to a scalable product line, Cirrus Logic's family of PCI audio controllers also provides a common suite of industry-leading driver support, providing exceptional interoperability and capability with today's PC hardware solutions.
By offering a seamless upgrade path and a suite of common drivers, Cirrus Logic allows PC manufacturers to easily change their audio system price and performance by populating the audio socket with either device.
CS4280 Features
CrystalClear Legacy Support (CCLS) -- The CS4280 delivers legacy support for both Windows DOS box and Real Mode applications through an advanced single-chip implementation. In addition, the CS4280 also supports industry standard PC/PCI and DDMA to provide OEMs and add-in card manufacturers several options to ensure legacy support.
Standards Compliance
The CS4280 audio accelerator is the only affordable PC audio controller that is also fully compliant with Microsoft's PC97, PC98 and preliminary PC99 requirements. This streamlines certification tests for PC OEMs and add-in card manufacturers, specifically meeting the following standards:
PCI Power Management (PPMI)
MPU-401 Interface, FM Synthesizier and Game Port -- All of the components needed for true legacy games compatibility and interface to existing peripherals such as joysticks and keyboards.
Full-Duplex Operation -- Enables voice input while audio is playing for applications such as voice control and voice recognition.
Hardware Volume Control -- OEM manufacturers can incorporate volume buttons on the front of the PC or monitor.
Digital Docking for Portables -- Multiple stereo audio codecs are supported to enable high-quality digital docking solutions for portable computers.
Availability
The CS4280 PCI audio controller will be sampling in June with production quantities set for August 1998. The device is available in a 100-MQFP package as well as a 128-TQFP package for portable applications. Pricing will start at $6.50 each in quantities of 10,000.
Cirrus Logic
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 CrystalClear, SoundFusion and CrystalClear Legacy Support are trademarks of Cirrus Logic, Inc. All other product names noted herein may be trademarks of their respective holders.
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