New Multimedia Standard for Personal Computers Delivers Full-Screen,
Full-Motion Video and Wavetable Sound

MPC3 Specification Released; Compliance Testing Required

June 12, 1995 (Washington, DC)--The Multimedia PC Working Group, an
independent special interest group of the Software Publishers Association,
today released the Multimedia PC Level 3 Specification, a new and enhanced
standard for Multimedia PCs. The new standard includes improved sound and
video performance requirements that will provide a richer multimedia
experience for users.

Minimum requirements for MPC3 include support for MPEG1 as well as
software-implemented video codecs, 75 MHz Pentium or similar processor,
quadruple speed CDROM drive, and wavetable sound. The new requirements
will provide end-users with hardware that provides full-screen,
full-motion video and enhanced CD-quality sound while playing demanding
multimedia programs.

Dozens of leading industry companies and organizations contributed to the
development of MPC3. Following three months of discussion and debate, the
final MPC3 specification was overwhelmingly approved during a recent
meeting of the Multimedia PC Working Group Executive Board, whose members
include AT&T, Creative Labs, Dell, Disney Interactive, Fujitsu Personal
Systems, Gateway 2000, Horizons Technology, IBM, Jazz Multimedia, NEC
Technologies, Philips Consumer Electronics, Quicksilver, Sigma Designs,
Software Publishers Association, Turner Interactive and Zenith Data
Systems.

The original MPC Specification, published in 1991, was adopted around the
world as the basic multimedia extension of the PC standard. The
specification encouraged multimedia software investment and development by
helping create an installed base of standardized multimedia-ready
computers. MPC2, released in 1993, reflected a broad industry consensus
regarding upgraded functionality for enhanced multimedia computing. MPC3
does not replace MPC2. It takes multimedia a step further, opening the
door for new applications and a vastly improved multimedia experience.
Software titles that run on MPC and MPC2 compliant hardware will also run
on MPC3 compliant hardware.

"The primary value of the MPC3 Specification is the commitment it
represents by hardware vendors to deliver a new generation of Multimedia
PCs with specific and well-defined capabilities," said Glenn Ochsenreiter,
Acting Chairman of the MPC Working Group Executive Board, and Director of
Marketing at SPA. "Software developers can anticipate a quickly growing
installed base that will have all the MPC3 features."

Ted Waitt, Gateway 2000 Chairman and CEO, added, "By adhering to a standard
like MPC3, Gateway 2000 insures our customers are getting the best in
performance and value. The MPC3 standard lets our customers know our PCs
are easy to use and have the highest multimedia performance and
compatibility."

The Multimedia PC Working Group will provide hardware test suites to
measure MPC3 compliance to ensure the uniform, high quality performance of
PCs bearing the MPC certification mark. The test suites, produced in
cooperation with National Software Testing Laboratories, check for
individual component compliance as well as total system performance. The
tests establish whether the computer is delivering MPC compliance in the
key areas of processing speed, video playback graphics performance and
audio. The Multimedia PC Working Group expects to release the test suites
this summer, which will be made available to computer hardware vendors,
software developers and consumers. In the future, hardware vendors will be
required to successfully complete the test suites in order to display the
MPC mark on their products.

William Fisher, President of Quicksilver Software and producer of several
successful multimedia games, said, "For content producers, MPC3 offers a
solid set of minimum performance standards for multimedia machines. Rather
than merely defining the hardware, this specification focuses on the
quality of the end-user experience. This quality is assured through the
creation of validation suites that test each machine as a complete system,
rather than as a series of individual parts. And the specification offers
a number of exciting new capabilities upon which developers can depend in
creating new titles, such as wavetable sound, 4 X CD-ROM drives and MPEG
video."

IBM's Multimedia Product Marketing Manager Edward L. Jenny noted, "MPC3
validates the opportunity for a whole new level of experience in critical
business applications containing interactive media. By supporting
international standards, lower prices and increased functionality, these
applications will flourish to provide new levels of functionality for
business as well as consumers."

"The MPC3 specification creates a platform for full motion video in
high-volume Multimedia PC markets and therefore represents a very
significant, next logical step in the MPC evolution," said Robert van
Eijk, Senior Program Manager at Philips Electronics. "MPC3 further
broadens the capabilities of the Multimedia PC to allow the development of
applications that continue to meet growing market requirements."

Throughout the standard's development, the focus was on user experience.
"By including MPEG1 in the MPC3 specification, the consumer will enjoy an
exciting new world of CD-ROM titles with TV-quality and CD-quality sound,"
added Jim Anderson, Vice President of Marketing for Jazz Multimedia and
Co-Chairman of OM-1, the organization that defined the MPEG API. "The home
PC will become an information appliance through new interactive education
and entertainment video titles."

Julien Nguyen, Co-chairman and Chief Technical Officer of Sigma Designs,
went so far as to predict, HMPC3 will become the label of quality for
Multimedia PCs this Christmas. Users can now get a machine that will meet
their expectations for true multimedia delivery, and they will experience
their first taste of MPEG video playback Sigma Designs fully supports the
Multimedia PC Working Group."

Fisher pointed out that "...the goal of the specification is not to force
any software developers to use MPEG, but rather to encourage the use of
whatever codec is most appropriate for any given situation."

"Since the establishment of the Sound Blaster audio standard, Creative has
been a firm believer in helping to define standard specifications and to
guide consumers' acceptance of new technologies," said Arnold Waldstein,
Vice President of US Software and Product Marketing for Creative Labs. "We
believe that the MPC3 specification with its emphasis on high performance
PC and, especially wavetable audio, is a necessary step in redefining the
Multimedia PC standard."

"Fujitsu is pleased to see MPC3 published. We are sure this standard will
help ISVs develop international multimedia titles quickly, and will help
consumers make PC and software title purchasing decisions," said Sam
Shimakage, Director of Software Planning Advanced Platform Engineering at
Fujitsu Personal Systems. "Fujitsu is committed to defining the MPC
standard and promoting its expansion into the Multimedia PC world in
Japan."

Manufacturers and vendors of Multimedia PCs, upgrade kits, components and
software may license the MPC certification marks for their MPC-compliant
products. The MPC mark has been a valuable tool as a reference point for
levels of multimedia functionality in the marketplace.

The Multimedia PC Working Group is a unit of the Interactive Multimedia
Special Interest Group of the Software Publishers Association (SPA). The
SPA is the principal trade association of the PC software industry. Its
1,150 members represent the leading publishers in the business, consumer,
and education markets. The SPA has offices in Washington, DC, and Paris,
France. MPC information and SPA press releases are available on the World
Wide Web at http://www.spa.org.

Software Publishers Association
1730 M St, Northwest, Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20036
202-452-1600,  Fax: 202-223-8756

The complete MPC3 specification is attached to this news release.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
                             MPC3
                         Multimedia PC

                         (Release 1.0)

The MPC3 Specification defines the minimum system functionality for Level 3
compliance, but is not a recommendation for any particular system
configuration.

The MPC specifications are the result of industry-wide discussion and
debate. This consensus makes the MPC specification valuable in helping
create a growing installed base of standardized multimedia computers, and
in turn, creates a strong incentive for Multimedia PC software investment
and development. The MPC specifications also serve as a guide to consumers
purchasing Multimedia PCs, upgrade kits and components.

MPC3 does not replace the MPC1 and MPC2 specification; rather, it defines
an updated platform suitable for delivering enhanced multimedia
functionality.

System Hardware - Minimum Requirements
--------------------------------------

Processor
---------
75 MHz Pentium Processor or other microprocessor capable of running x86
binaries at a comparable level

RAM
---
8 MB required

Floppy Drive
------------
3 1/2 inch, 1.44 MB floppy drive

Hard Drive
----------
540 MB minimum, 15 ms access time, 1.5 MB/second sustained throughput

CD-ROM Drive
------------
Sustained 600 KB/sec transfer rate; average access time of 250 ms (in 4x
mode).

No more than 40% of the CPU bandwidth may be consumed while maintaining a
sustained transfer rate of 600 KB/sec and no more than 20% of the CPU
bandwidth may be consumed while maintaining a transfer rate of 300 KB/sec.
The CPU usage requirement should be achieved for read block sizes no less
than 16 K and a lead time of no more than is required to load the CD-ROM
buffer with 1 read block of data.

Must be capable of reading Compact Disc Audio (Red Book) discs, as well as
Compact Disc Mode 1 and Mode 2 (form 1 and form 2) formatted discs,
including mixed mode and multisession media as well as CD-ROM, CD-ROM XA,
Photo CD, CD Recordable (part II, Video CD and CD-i disks. Data must be
transferred to the host system in block sizes of 2048, 2336 and/or 2352
bytes, as appropriate for each CD format. In addition, the drive and
included driver software must be compatible with Microsoft's MSCDEX
version 2.2 or later (or equivalent), implement the extended audio APIs
and be capable of reading Q channel information.

CD-ROM drive with CD-DA (Red Book) outputs and volume control.

CD-ROM drive must have on-board buffers and implement read-ahead
buffering.

Sequential access time: An application via the standard operating system
access methods must have the ability to read sequential, error free, 16K
blocks every 33.3 ms with each read taking no more than 13.3 ms.

Background CPU utilization: The driver must not use CPU cycles except in
response to a host system request.

Audio
-----
16-bit Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) with: Linear PCM sampling; DMA or
FIFO buffered transfer capability with interrupt on buffer empty; 44.1,
22.05 and 11.025 kHz sample rate mandatory; stereo channels; no more than
10% of the CPU bandwidth required to output 22.05 and 11.025 kHz; it is
recommended that no more than 15% of the CPU bandwidth be required to
output 44.1 kHz.

16 bit Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) with: Linear PCM sampling; 44.1,
22.05, and 11.025 kHz sample rate mandatory; DMA or FIFO buffered transfer
capability with interrupt on buffer full; microphone input.

Wavetable capability required.

CPU utilization for 16 bit stereo sound and wavetable cannot exceed 10%.

CD-ROM drive with CD-DA (Red Book) outputs and volume control.

Internal synthesizer capabilities with multi-voice, multi-timbral capacity,
6 simultaneous melody voices plus 2 simultaneous percussive voices.

Internal mixing capabilities to combine input from three (recommended four)
sources and present the output as a stereo, line-level audio signal at the
back panel. The four sources are: CD Red Book synthesizer, DAC (waveform),
and (recommended but not required) an auxiliary input source. Each input
must have at least a 3-bit volume control (8 steps) with a logarithmic
taper. (4-bit or greater volume control is strongly recommended.) If all
sources are sourced with -10dB (consumer line level: 1 milliwatt into 600
ohms=0dB) . without attenuation, the mixer will not clip and will output
between 0 dB and +3 dB. Individual audio source and master digital volume
control registers and extra line-level audio sources are highly
recommended.

Speakers: If external speakers are included in the system, the following
are required:

Must be at least a two-piece system.

Frequency Response from 120 Hz to 17.5 kHz.

Power rating must be measured and tested at a minimum of 3 watts/channel at
100Hz, 1kHz and 10kHz at 1% THD; 6 watts RMS (3W+3W) into 4 ohms, at 1%
THD, at 1kHz, with both channels driven.

Sound pressure level must be measured at 1/2-meter on axis from speaker and
should be capable of an SPL of 92 dB from 250 HZ to 7.5 kHz.

Input connectors are as follows: 3.5 mm stereo jack where tip is left
channel, sleeve is right channel and body is ground or audio input using
3.5 mm stereo jack with industry standard channel orientation, supplied
with at least a six foot cable to attach to computer sound source.

Speaker connector must be mono type where tip is positive and body is
ground or left speaker output 3.5 mm mono jack where tip is positive and
case is negative. If stereo headphone output jack is included, it must
mute the speaker when headphone is used.

Noise ratio must be at least 65 dB

Input sensitivity requires no more than 300 millivolts for rated power
output

Volume, treble and bass controls included

Input impedance must be greater than 5000 ohms

In a three-piece system, the satellites shall have the same requirements as
above.

Subwoofer Requirements:

Frequency response must be at least 40 Hz to 250 Hz (+/- 3 dB)

Power minimum is 15 watts at 1% THD

Power ratings should be measured at 40 Hz and 100 Hz at 1% THD

Input sensitivity must be adjustable from 300 millivolts to one volt for
maximum output power

Both inputs must be mixed in the woofer circuitry

Input impedance must be greater than 1000 ohms

(Guidelines for synthesizer implementation available on request; includes
MIDI playback support.)

Graphics Performance
--------------------
Color space conversion and scaling capability are required.

Direct access to frame buffer for video-enabled graphics subsystem required
with a resolution of 352 x 240 at 30 fps (or 352 x 288 at 25 fps) at 15
bits/pixel, unscaled, without cropping.

Test suite will test for acceptable graphics performance.

Video Playback
--------------
MPEG1 (hardware or software) with OM-1 compliance required

Direct access to frame buffer required with a resolution of 352 x 240 at 30
fps (or 352 x 288 at 25 fps) at 15 bits/pixel, unscaled, without
cropping.

All codecs--hardware and/or software--must support a synchronized
audio/video stream with a resolution of 320 x 240, 15 bits/pixel, 30
frames/second, unscaled, without dropping a frame.

Test suite will test for acceptable video playback performance

User Input
----------
Standard 101 key IBM-style keyboard, with standard DIN connector, or
keyboard which delivers identical functionality utilizing
key-combinations.

Two-button mouse with bus or serial connector, with at least one additional
communication port remaining free.

I/O
---
Standard 9-pin or 25-pin asynchronous serial port, programmable up to 57.6K
baud, switchable interrupt channel.

Standard 25-pin bi-directional parallel port with interrupt capability.

1 MIDI port with In, Out, and through, must have interrupt support for
input and FIFO transfer.

IBM style analog or digital joystick port.

System Software
---------------
Multimedia PC system software must offer binary compatibility with Windows
3.11.

System must offer binary compatibility with DOS version 6.0 or higher.

Minimum Full System Configuration
---------------------------------
A full Multimedia PC Level 3 system requires the following elements and
components, all of which must meet the full functional specifications
outlined above.

CPU
RAM
Hard Drive
Floppy Drive
CD-ROM Drive
Audio
Graphics Performance
Video Playback
User Input
I/O
System Software

Minimum Upgrade Kit Configuration
---------------------------------
A Multimedia PC Level 3 Upgrade Kit requires the following elements and
components, all of which must meet the full functional specifications
outlined above:

CD-ROM Drive
Audio
I/O

(Providing system software with Upgrade Kit is optional)

Upgrade Components
------------------
Upgrade components must meet the full functional specifications outlined
above.

Sound Card
  Must use MPC audio cable (see below).

CD-ROM Drive
  Must use MPC audio cable (see below).

Video Playback Card

Speakers

CD-ROM/Sound Card Audio Cable Standard for MPC Components
---------------------------------------------------------
The following cable standards apply only to MPC components (CD-ROM drives
or sound cards sold separately). Full systems and upgrade kits are not
required to observe the following specification:

A Multimedia PC CD-ROM drive component must include a minimum 24 inch cable
to connect the drive's analog audio output connector to an MPC sound
card's analog audio input connector. The cable's open sound card connector
must be a female 4 pin Molex 70066-G, 70400-G, or 70430-G connector with
2.54 mm pitch, or the equivalent, with the following pin assignments: pin
1- left signal, pin 2- ground, pin 3- ground, pin 4- right signal.

A Multimedia PC sound card component must be capable of mating with the
CD-ROM audio cable by having a 2.54 mm pitch Molex 70553 male connector on
the card (or the equivalent), or by including a short patch cable. The
patch cable must plug into the non-standard sound card connector and have
an open male connector (Molex 70107-A, or the equivalent) for attaching to
the CD-ROM cable female connector. The pin assignments on the sound card
connectors must be complementary to the CD-ROM audio cable connector.
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