Articles
Microsoft taps Conexant for Xbox HDTV capability
March 28, 2001
Conexant Systems, Inc., a worldwide leader in semiconductor system solutions for communications applications, today announced that its CX25871 video encoder solution has been chosen by Microsoft Corporation to connect the Xbox(TM) video game system to both digital and traditional analog television sets worldwide.
With the added benefit of high-definition television (HDTV) display capability, Xbox gamers will be able to experience the latest software gaming titles with more visual clarity than ever before.
Introduced in August 2000, Conexant's CX25871 is the first video encoding solution to provide ATSC HDTV output capability, true international support and adaptive flicker-filtering in a single chip.
"The Xbox video game system will be a mind-blowing experience for gamers of all abilities," said Todd Holmdahl, hardware general manager, Microsoft Games Division. "The superior image quality that Conexant's video encoder provides is one of the most critical elements for the success of Xbox. Features like HDTV output and adaptive flicker filtering, as well as the overall video quality of the CX25871, are unmatched in the industry, making it an ideal fit for the Xbox video game system."
"High-quality television display capability is at the epicenter of the gaming experience," said Gregory Fischer, vice president of marketing for Conexant's Digital Infotainment Division. "Microsoft's selection of the CX25871 for their flagship video console further defines our unique leadership role in video products. We are delighted to work closely with Microsoft on Xbox, transforming the average living room gaming experience into the ultimate in video realism."
The CX25871 video encoder complements NVIDIA's two key processors for the Xbox video game system, the Xbox Graphics Processing Unit (XGPU) and Xbox Media Communications Processor (MCPX). The NVIDIA solution along with Conexant's CX25871, has been incorporated into the first Xbox game developer kits, which were shipped to more than 40 qualified Xbox video game manufacturers in the fall of 2000.
"Together, NVIDIA and Conexant are taking the gaming experience to new levels," said Dan Vivoli, senior vice president of marketing for NVIDIA. "By combining two of the world's most advanced semiconductors, the MCPX and the XGPU, with Conexant's world-class video encoder, the unmatched synergy and industry-leading technologies will help deliver the world's most advanced gaming platform this fall."
Conexant is a leader in video-encoder chips, and has an 11-year track record in delivering video-encoding solutions. Conexant's solutions have helped popularize PC TV-out in systems offered by Compaq, Dell, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard, Sun and many others, as well as PC cards offered by manufacturers such as 3DFX and Creative Labs.
About Xbox
Xbox (http://www.xbox.com/) is Microsoft's future-generation video game system that delivers new and unforeseen gameplay experiences. With more than three times the graphics performance of the newest generation of game systems, Xbox unleashes game designers' creativity to produce games that are challenging, exhilarating, surprising and fun.
About Conexant Systems, Inc.
Conexant Systems, Inc. is a worldwide leader in semiconductor system solutions for communications applications. Conexant leverages its expertise in mixed signal processing to deliver integrated systems and semiconductor products through two separate businesses: Conexant and Mindspeed Technologies.
Conexant's personal networking business is focused on digital infotainment, personal imaging, wireless communications and personal computing products that are used in mobile communications and the broadband digital home. Mindspeed Technologies is focused on Internet infrastructure products including WAN transport, multiservice access and broadband access for applications that extend from the edge of the Internet all the way to its optical core.
Conexant has headquarters in Newport Beach, and delivered revenues of $2.1 billion for fiscal 2000. The company is a member of the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 indices. To learn more, visit the company at www.conexant.com.
Source: Conexant
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