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Computer peripherals industry

S3 Incorporated Announces Breakthrough Multimedia Chipset

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

S3 Incorporated, a leading provider of acceleration technology, has announced a new multimedia chipset based on its Cooperative Accelerator Architecture solution. This breakthrough in quality and price aims to provide a new norm for multimedia quality on the PC, making TV-quality video and CD-quality audio a reality for desktop applications. The S3 solution has been selected by Compaq Computer Corporation for its consumer PC products, available for the holiday buying season. S3's three-chip offering is the first hardware-integrated graphics, audio, and MPEG solution designed for the PC motherboard.

Key Takeaways:

  • S3 Incorporated has announced a new multimedia chipset based on its Cooperative Accelerator Architecture solution, breaking through the "affordability barrier" while providing TV-quality video and CD-quality audio.
  • The S3 solution has been selected by Compaq Computer Corporation for its consumer PC products, available for the holiday buying season.
  • S3's three-chip offering is the first hardware-integrated graphics, audio, and MPEG solution designed for the PC motherboard.
  • MPEG is a broad-based standard for video compression, making it easier for software and hardware companies to commit to making video products.
  • The S3 solution includes hardware MPEG decoding, enabling high-quality playback of MPEG titles, and can achieve a price point of $250 or below.
  • S3's Cooperative Accelerator Architecture divides the work between dedicated S3 hardware and software executing on the PC CPU, providing enhanced graphics and MPEG-based video and audio performance.
  • PC owners with a graphics accelerator installed on the motherboard can purchase an MPEG upgrade on a daughterboard for less than $100.
  • The projected add-in board price for full-featured graphics, video, and audio support is expected to be around $250, less than half that of most current hardware solutions.

Statistics:

  • $10.9 billion: Compaq Computer Corporation 1994 worldwide sales.
  • $140.3 million: S3 Incorporated 1994 net sales.
  • $250 or below: Price point for the S3 solution.
  • $100: Price for MPEG upgrade on a daughterboard for PC owners with a graphics accelerator.
  • 30 frames-per-second (FPS) live video or MPEG video: TV-quality video offered by the S3 solution.
  • 1992: Year S3 introduced the first graphics acceleration solution for the motherboard.
  • 1994: Year Compaq Computer Corporation reported its world-wide sales.
  • 1995: Year S3 Incorporated announced its breakthrough multimedia chipset.

Sources:

  • Compaq Computer Corporation press release, June 13, 1995.
  • S3 Incorporated press release, June 13, 1995.
  • IDC analyst quote, Louise Biggs, June 13, 1995.
  • Microsoft Corporation press release, June 13, 1995.
  • Creative Multimedia, IVI Publishing, Inc., Knowledge Adventure, Inc., and Microsoft Corporation press release, June 13, 1995.
  • Activision, Inc., and Starpress Multimedia, Inc. press release, June 13, 1995.

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