Xref: utzoo comp.sys.mac:50957 comp.graphics:10490 comp.arch:14678 Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!uunet!samsung!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!dali!caesar.cs.montana.edu!ogicse!decwrl!amdcad!cayman!brett From: brett@cayman.amd.com (Brett Stewart) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac,comp.graphics,comp.arch Subject: New RISC Graphics for Macs Summary: Product Announcement Message-ID: <29560@amdcad.AMD.COM> Date: 19 Mar 90 22:31:27 GMT Sender: news@amdcad.AMD.COM Reply-To: brett@cayman.AMD.COM (Brett Stewart) Organization: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., Austin, Texas Lines: 120 References: The following information is the text of a product announcement concerning the use of a RISC processor, the Am29000, in new Mac graphic solutions from Apple. Many people feel such announcements are inappropriate for the net, while others feel that such announcements are emminently net-worthy. If you are among those who object to product-related postings, please type 'q' to exit the pager without viewing it. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Best Regards; Brett Stewart Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. 1-512-462-5321 FAX 5900 E. Ben White Blvd MS561 1-512-462-4336 Telephone Austin, Texas 78741 AMD's RISC PROCESSOR USED IN NEW GRAPHICS ACCELERATOR CARD FROM APPLE --- Am29000 helps make QuickDraw environment up to 30 times faster --- SUNNYVALE, CA -- MARCH 19, 1990 -- Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. today announced that its Am2000(tm) 32-BIT RISC microprocessor is integrated into Apple Computer Inc.'s new high-performance graphics display card being announced today. Apple's Macintosh Display Card 8*24 GC, which uses the Am29000, is the first significant use of a RISC (reduced instruction set computer) microprocessor in a high-volume personal computer application. The Macintosh Display Card 8*24 GC is a graphics coprocessor and 24-bit video card that accelerates the responsiveness of all Macintosh applications -- especially graphics-intensive ones. It is compatible with all modular Macintosh(r) computers (II, IIx, IIcx, IIci, IIfx). "Apple's use of the Am29000 in their new graphics card is evidence of the value RISC technology can bring to the personal computer market in a non-CPU application," said Subodh Toprani, director of marketing for AMD's embedded processor division. "It is an excellent example of how CISC (complex instruction set computer) and RISC can work together in today's office environment and strong confirmation of our embedded processor strategy." The Macintosh Display Card 8*24 GC increases graphics performance by implementing the fast coprocessing capabilities of a dedicated Am29000. It supports full 24-bit true color on the AppleColor High-Resolution RGB Monitor and full 256-level true gray scale on all Apple(r) displays. The new apple card takes advantage of the power of the high-performance Am29000 (29K(tm)) to work in conjunction with the system's central processing unit (CPU). This allows the CPU to work on other tasks while the 29K-based card executes graphics commands. Depending on the application, the card accelerates the Macintosh computer's QuickDraw-based graphics by five to 30 times over typical Macintosh drawing speeds. Additionally, the card will be able to incorporate new graphics innovations as they become available because the Am29000 processor is initialized through a QuickDraw(tm) software file. The GC card will be able to take advantage of future QuickDraw enhancements simply by replacing the file. "From the beginning, our objective for our new display cards has been to raise the standard of graphics on the Macintosh. The GC card's combination of graphics acceleration and 24-bit color enables Macintosh users to work as easily with photo-quality images as with black and white images in many different types of applications," said Mark Gonzales, graphics hardware product manager at Apple, "We chose to use the Am29000 because it can be programmed to do a great many different things and do them quickly. The general purpose processing capabilities of the Am29000 were key to achieving our goal of extending the capabilities of Macintosh users." "Apple has always been the leader and innovator in the world of graphics," said Toprani, "We are pleased that AMD and the 29k can play a part in thier continuing efforts to bring increased levels of performance to the Macintosh environment." AMD has targeted the 29k at the embedded systems market -- which includes applications such as graphics, networking, laser printers and scanners -- and has recorded more that 200 design wins to date. Embedded processors are used to augment the processing capabilities of central processors by providing shared processing power for specific applications. For example, a networked office environment could utilize three embedded processors -- one each as a network controller, graphics controller and laser printer controller -- to support the single CPU System. According to recent estimates from In-Stat, a market research firm based in Scottsdale, Arizona, the embedded systems market for 32-bit RISC microporcessors will comprise 80 percent of the entire 32-bit RISC market in 1992. The 29K family of products - 16, 20, 25, and 33MHz processors -- and the Am29005, a low-end version of the Am29000, give users the ability to develop systems that range in performance from six to 25 MIPS. The low price of the processor combined with its ability to interface to low-cost memory devices makes it attractive for cost-sensitive consumer electronic applications like graphics and laser printers. Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. one of the five largest U.S. - based manufacturers of integrated circuits, produces microprocessors and related peripherals, memories, programmble logic devices and circuits for telecommunications, office automation and networking applications. AMD has sales offices worldwide, and has manufacturing facilities in Sunnyvale and Santa Clara, California; Austin, Texas; Atsugi, Japan; Penang, Malaysia; Singaproe; Bangkok; Thailand; and Basingstoke, England. In its fiscal year ended December 31, 1989, AMD reported sales of more than $1.1 billion. ### Readers may call John Peskuric at (512)462-5226 for more information. Am29000 and 29K are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Apple and Macintosh are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. QuickDraw is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. Best Regards; Brett Stewart Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. 1-512-462-5321 FAX 5900 E. Ben White Blvd MS561 1-512-462-4336 Telephone Austin, Texas 78741