VideoLogic and NEC to sample new PowerVR 250

London, 03 December 98 London based VideoLogic and NEC have started sampling the new PowerVR 250, a high-performance 3D graphics processor for the PC. Evaluation of early PowerVR 250 engineering samples began in November this year. The optimized version of the device is planned to be available in volume for the first quarter of 1999.

PowerVR 250 is the latest in the PowerVR Series2 family of products and is the first in a series of 2D/3D PC parts. Also in the PowerVR Series2 are PowerVR 2DC for the Sega Dreamcast game console and the PowerVR Series2 arcade chip. Both PowerVR 2DC and the PowerVR Series2 arcade chip are currently in mass production.

The two companies believe a cross-platform strategy addressing the broad gaming market reduces the overall cost of developing and manufacturing product through higher volume sales. The annual volume of game consoles, PCs and arcades with 3D graphics processors will exceed 154 million units in 1999 and 182 million units in 2000, according to the analyst firm Dataquest.

PowerVR Series2 is API-neutral with support for Microsoft, Direct X, native PowerVR, API and Open GL.

Sandra Wermer