[comp.arch] DVI and the i750

tommyd@cs.arizona.edu (Thomas J. Dimitri) (11/17/89)

   I just came back from COMDEX in Las Vegas where Intel was proudly 
displaying the i486, i960, and i860.  Along with this, DVI (Digital
Video Interface) seemed to be Intel's key into multi-media.  The i750
chip has the ability to due video and sound compression at an astounding
60:1 compression rate.  Fast enough for on the fly compression and
decompression.  It does this by having the programmer write the ucode
for the i750.  Of course, the involves a complex compiler since optimization
is tricky, but nonetheless, the i750 takes this ucode and pops it into
another chip which holds the ucode for the i750 to use.  Is this new 
technology?  Where have we been able to write real ucode for a chip
before?  I know RTL code was written for the NOVA, but this is MUCH 
different.  Any thoughts on DVI and where its going?

-Thomas J. Dimitri
tommyd@cs.arizona.edu