S3 Graphics Demos Forthcoming Chrome eH1 Card for Embedded Devices at ESC 2010

[btarunr]

S3 Graphics unveiled the latest addition to its power-efficient Chrome Series graphics product family, the Chrome 5000E-based S3 Graphics Chrome eH1. Demoed at ESC 2010 April 27-29, Booth No.1238, the S3 Graphics Chrome eH1 is designed for harsh environments and industrial grade systems, offering extreme reliability and longevity, transforming any embedded platform into a multimedia powerhouse.

The S3 Graphics Chrome eH1 brings together a compelling blend of features that meet the needs of next generation embedded systems; these include DX10.1 3D graphics, superb HD video decoding and a range of display connectivity options including DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort, and CRT. With the Chrome eH1, designers can bring the latest graphics and real HD video horsepower to existing platforms, without longevity and product sourcing issues.



"S3 Graphics continues to introduce new graphics technologies to the embedded market, adding a fanless, ultra low power, and feature-rich product to our growing portfolio of embedded solutions," said Dr. Ken Weng, GM for S3 Graphics. "Our new Chrome eH1 card makes PC grade product features accessible to the broader embedded arena, allowing our embedded partners to easily incorporate the very latest multimedia technologies in their product offerings."

Visitors to the VIA Technologies booth at ESC Silicon Valley 2010 will be able to see a live demonstration of the S3 Graphics Chrome eH1. Join VIA and S3 Graphics at Embedded System Conference 2010, April 27 - 29, San Jose, McEnery Convention Center, Booth No.1238.

Full Featured Hi-Def Multimedia for Embedded Devices
The S3 Graphics Chrome eH1 gives users the perfect balance of immersive graphics performance and high-quality HD Video, while only using a high-speed, high-throughput 64-bit DDR3 memory bus interface. Display connections come in a combination of the VESA compliant DisplayPort standard, HDMI, dual-link DVI, and CRT for versatile range of display attachment options.

DirectX 10.1 and OpenGL 3.1 applications on Microsoft Windows and Linux platforms can be implemented using the Chrome eH1 board to speed up 3D apps, non-gaming rendering software, and other visual processing functions. Additional graphics API support includes OpenGL ES 2.0 for embedded graphics and OpenVG 1.1 for 2D vector graphics, giving the eH1 board complete support of the latest graphics software stacks found in Windows, Linux, Android and other real-time operating systems.

The Chrome eH1 incorporates a high performance ChromotionHD 2.0 video processor unit (VPU), advanced filtering, and clear-image post-processing to perform ultra smooth decoding of MPEG-4/AVC (H.264), MPEG-2, and VC-1 for HD video. To further enhance operation for fanless applications that demand cool-and-quiet operation, the Chrome eH1 features PowerWise technology for Green Computing to "Reduce the Heat" without compromising performance, features, or quality.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Bl4ck]

Support for HD Decoding is good, but it only has the power to do decode + some simple 3d graphics and maybe Windows Aero , from the TDP point of view it bothers me why the ddr3 modules ? only one thing comes in mind ddr3= cheaper than ddr5 , the card looks very very cheap anyway.

 

[Phxprovost]

yet another S3 product that i dont understand why it exists

 

[mtosev]

I will get one if the price is: FREE

 

[altruist]

competition is a good thing for consumers, don't forget this.

 

[leonard_222003]

They adress the cheapest integrators , something like computers for third world countries or computers to give away to poor people ( happened in my country and the rule was go with the cheapest you can find ).
The shock would be a poor man to refuse it because it doesn't have CUDA or Physx.

 

[RejZoR]

Sounds like a deal for HTPC. However i don't understand why they stick these far fans on them. Are they really cheaper than a block of aluminum (slightly bigger heatsink)?

 

[Baum]

S3 is Via as far as i know and that's why i won't buy anything from them, their driver support is bad either......
I have some office Pc's whose GPU is an Via Chrome 9 HC IGP and it performs better than any thing else onboard we have.
Only Ion and ATI HD 3200 beat it, but intels don't.
it would be faster with better driver thus no S3 again..

 

[Icejon]

I used to own a S3 Savage card. I think it was a Diamond Stealth 2000, but it was the first card with texture compression, and hardware T&L (at the same time as original GeForce). The hardware was buggy, the drivers were terrible, and the performance was only so so. At least S3 was aiming high with that card, it proved to me that S3 can no longer go against the big green team or red.

 

[robn]

...Chrome eH1 is designed for harsh environments and industrial grade systems, offering extreme reliability and longevity, transforming any embedded platform into a multimedia powerhouse.
...API support includes OpenGL ES 2.0 for embedded graphics and OpenVG 1.1 for 2D vector graphics, giving the eH1 board complete support of the latest graphics software stacks found in Windows, Linux, Android and other real-time operating systems.

Well that's the "Why?" really. This thing will be in public video terminals, like animated touch screen ticket machines, information systems, etc. Or maybe quiz machines in bars i.e. "ItBox" things, or the mp3 jukeboxes you get in bars now days.

If S3 concentrate on supporting developers using less mainstream OSs for behind the scenes systems, they probably have quite a market.

Agreed that this thing should be passive cooled though!