Computer peripherals and components distributor Rectron says it has introduced one of the most comprehensive all-in-one graphics cards for consumers in the home entertainment and SOHO PC markets.
The Marvel G450 eTV has all the necessary tools for bringing high quality video and enhanced TV tuning to today`s PCs.
"It gives consumers the power to `do it all`, says Rectron`s Matrox product manager Mike Cassidy. "Today users want more control over the way they watch TV. They want the ability to create personalized video content for the Web. And, they want a strong all-around accelerator for their entertainment and SOHO applications," he says.
"From watching timeshifted TV on the PC to creating their own videos for the Web, the G450 eTV is able to power stereo TV tuning, MPEG-2 video capture and editing, TV on the PC, PC out to TV, DVD playback, 2D applications, 3D gaming, dual displays, and more."
Cassidy says the product`s AGP 2X/4X card, equipped with 32MB of Double Data Rate (DDR) memory and a 360MHz primary RAMDAC, harnesses the high-performance power of today`s PCs and giving users access to a wide variety of features.
Matrox`s DualHead technology allows Marvel G450 eTV users to pair their computer with a TV for simultaneous independent output to two display screens. Because the monitor`s refresh rate can be set independently of the TV, the monitor is always flicker-free for the highest quality viewing.
The Marvel G450 eTV`s software package includes Ulead VideoStudio 4.0, Matrox PC-VCR 2.0, Ligos GoMotion, the Matrox Software DVD Player, Ulead Photo Explorer 6.0, and teletext browser. In addition, the Marvel G450 eTV supports Microsoft NetMeeting video conferencing software, Microsoft WebTV, and Microsoft Movie Maker software included in Windows Millennium Edition.
Operating systems and system requirements
The Marvel G450 eTV supports Microsoft Windows 98, Windows 2000, or Windows Millennium Edition. Minimum system requirements for 2D/3D and TV tuning are a 300MHz system, 64MB of system memory, and 500MB of free hard disk space. A 400MHz system, as well as the above requirements, are needed for DVD playback. To enable timeshifting and for video capture, you must have a 600MHz system, 128MB of system memory, and 2GB of free hard disk space.
Matrox G450 chip
The 0.18-micron Matrox G450 2D, 3D, and DVD graphics chip leverages a die shrink of Matrox G400 chip technology to become the most highly integrated discrete graphics chip on the market. In addition to the components and capabilities that made the Matrox G400 such a successful productivity and entertainment accelerator, the new Matrox G450 integrates a Transmission-Minimized Differential Signaling (TMDS) digital flat panel transmitter, TV output encoder, second RAMDAC, and 64-bit DDR memory interface. The chip also hosts two CRTCs, which form the support base for Matrox`s DualHead feature.
DualHead allows a single chip to simultaneously support independent output to two physically separate displays, including a VGA monitor, analogue or DVI-based digital flat panel, or TV. Fully OpenGL and DirectX compliant, the Matrox G450 supports hardware-accelerated Environment-Mapped Bump Mapping for real-time special effects and stunning visual detail in 3D games. Furthering image quality, Matrox`s Vibrant Color Quality2 (VCQ2) rendering architecture preserves trademark true-to-life colour quality for cutting-edge, 32-bit colour in single- and multi-textured software applications.
The Marvel G450 eTV gives consumers the power to do it all, from watching timeshifted TV on the PC to creating their own videos for the Web. Equipped with 32MB of Double Data Rate (DDR) memory and a 360MHz primary RAMDAC, this feature-packed AGP 2X/4X card powers stereo TV tuning, MPEG-2 video capture and editing, TV on the PC, PC out to TV, DVD playback, 2D applications, 3D gaming, dual displays and more. The Marvel G450 eTV will be available in Q1 2001.
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Matrox Graphics Inc. is the only graphics chip designer and graphics card manufacturer who draws on over 24 years of industry experience to provide customers with state-of-the-art 2D, 3D and digital video acceleration, vibrant image quality and real-world functionality.
A quality and innovation leader, Matrox has been recognised with an unprecedented 975 international awards for the Millennium, Marvel, Productiva and Mystique product lines. Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, Matrox is a privately held company with international offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Hong Kong. Information about Matrox products, drivers, technical support and more can be found at www.matrox.com/mga.
TV like never before
As a personal video recorder (PVR), the Marvel G450 eTV frees PC users from the constraints of network television scheduling. Thanks to this all-in-one card`s timeshifting feature, consumers no longer need to miss favourite programmes or live news reports when interrupted by phone calls or unexpected business demands. Activating the Marvel G450 eTV`s timeshifting feature is as easy as pressing a button to pause a live broadcast for later viewing. What`s more, the Marvel G450 eTV captures and compresses timeshifted video in MPEG-2 format to minimize the amount of storage space occupied on the hard disk, while maintaining high quality video.
Setting itself apart from other cards in its category, the Marvel G450 eTV is the first graphics card and the only device currently on the market to offer timeshifting with picture-in-picture. Coupled with timeshifting and picture-in-picture, the Marvel G450 eTV`s DualHead Display gives people added control over their TV viewing experience.
Plus, the card comes complete with a new Matrox PC-VCR 2.0 software remote that features multi-channel preview, keyword search with the ability to generate transcripts, a timer for transforming the PC into a personal video recorder, video file preview, and a customisable look with five new skins.
Create your own Web video
The Marvel G450 eTV allows budding videographers to capture video from a VCR, TV, or video camera in MPEG-2 format. The bundled Ulead VideoStudio 4.0 software allows people to edit captured footage, and add titles, music, credits, and special effects to create professional-looking montages and original home movies. They can even use the bundled software to save their movies in a variety of Web-friendly formats, including Advanced Streaming Format (ASF), Quick Time, and Real Video.
Additionally, people can use the Marvel G450 eTV to save their video projects onto video tape or CD for later viewing, archiving, or to give to family and friends.
Use IT for entertainment
Designed to deliver the best PC-out-to-TV functionality on the market, the Marvel G450 eTV supports pristine quality DVD playback full-screen on TV in DualHead DVDMax mode. In addition to putting DualHead to work for head- to-head gaming, this card raises the stakes with Environment-Mapped Bump Mapping, accelerating real-time special effects and stunning visual detail in more than 55 currently and soon to be available specially-enhanced 3D games.
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