S3 Graphics Delivers Ultra Power Efficient Mobile GPUs for Mini-Notes and Notebooks

(Auszug aus der Pressemitteilung)

Fremont, California, Sept 24 2008 – S3 Graphics today announced its Chrome 400 Ultra Low Power (ULP) graphics processor series, based on the most power-efficient GPU architecture on the market. Today’s users will now be able to enjoy the latest HD media playback and DirectX™ 10.1 gaming experience on mini-notes as well as notebook PCs.

Ultra mobile PCs, like the increasingly popular mini-note PC category, are designed to be thin and light so manufacturers could not integrate largely due to the required cooling apparatus. Using less than 7 watts, the S3 Graphics Chrome 400 ULP series graphics processors produce significantly less heat than competitor offerings, enabling the addition of dedicated graphics to mini-note PCs for the first time.

Today’s mobile PCs users are demanding more graphics processing power than ever before. Innovations like the Aero user interface in Windows Vista™ offer a fluid, visually attractive desktop experience that requires a dedicated graphics processor. Hi-Def™ media content, including the latest Blu-ray™ optical disk technology, is continuing to gain momentum while DirectX® 10.1 compatible gaming is also becoming important in the mobile space as notebooks replace desktop PCs in the home. The S3 Graphics Chrome 400 ULP series delivers a compelling blend of features and performance with minimal impact on battery life.

“S3 Graphics can now deliver a superior mobile visual experience that users will soon demand on all mini-note and mobile products,” said Dr. Ken Weng, GM for S3 Graphics. “Our latest Chrome 400 ULP series processors offer manufacturers a mobile graphics component that’s long overdue; a truly power-efficient mobile GPU that really performs.”

The S3 Graphics Chrome 400 ULP series is already shipping, and notebook OEM customers include Fujitsu.

S3 Graphics Chrome 400 ULP Series: Ultra Mobile Performance
The S3 Graphics Chrome 400 ULP Series is available in three SKUs:

Chrome 430 ULP: The S3 Graphics Chrome 430 ULP is the first dedicated graphics processor developed especially for ultra thin and light notebooks. With a remarkable industry-leading TDP of less than 7 watts, the Chrome 430 ULP is by far the most energy-efficient GPU on the market, bringing HD video and DirectX 10.1™ gaming to extreme mobile devices including mini-note PCs.

Chrome 435 ULP: Perfect for thin-and-light notebooks, the S3 Graphics Chrome 435 ULP offers superb performance-per-watt metrics, out performing competitor products by over 40% in benchmarks while using consistently less energy. The Chrome 435 ULP offers users a superior visual experience without sacrificing battery life.

Chrome 440 ULP: The S3 Graphics Chrome 440 ULP takes mobile graphics performance to new heights. With up to 60% better performance than its competitor equivalent, the Chrome 440 ULP delivers true HD 1080p media playback, including dual-stream Blu-ray or Blu-ray Picture-in-Picture (PiP) support which coupled with DirectX 10.1 gaming performance, makes it ideal for desktop replacement systems.

S3 Graphics Chrome 400 ULP Series – Product Highlights

• Microsoft® DirectX® 10.1 Support: An S3 proprietary unified shader architecture supports the latest additions to DirectX® 10.1 allowing realistic 3D rendering and increased visual acuity through improved Anti-aliasing (AA), Image/Texture improvements, higher precision formats, and programmable lighting effects. These improvements will allow users to experience life-like rendering and image quality in supported DirectX® 10.1 applications.
• ChromotionHD™ Video Technology: All Chrome 400 ULP Series GPUs feature the latest ChromotionHD Video Engine enabling acceleration for all leading video standards including H.264, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, VC-1, WMV-HD, AVS, and AVC, for a stunning HD movie experience from the comfort of your notebook at home or on the road. As a leader in providing HD video quality and clarity, Chrome 400 ULP components enable Blu-ray™ content playback on all mobile platforms.
• S3 Graphics PowerWise™ Technology: Sophisticated algorithms and power control mechanisms will allow Chrome 400 ULP Series GPUs to deliver the optimal balance between performance and power on-the-fly, to meet performance and application requirements for power efficient graphics computing on thin and light notebook PCs. Additional benefits allow users to increase time-between-charges by extending battery life and superior performance-per-watt operation, giving users a true mobile graphics platform for the latest 3D and HD video technologies.