RMI Introduces Industry's Most Advanced Processor for Portable Media Applications With Integrated ARM Mali 3D Graphics Acceleration

LAS VEGAS & CUPERTINO, Calif. — RMI Corporation, a leading provider of high-performance processors for communication and media rich applications, today introduced its game changing RMI Alchemy™ Au1300™ Processor Family, targeted at consumer devices requiring high CPU performance, low power consumption, and rich media capabilities. RMI’s latest offering builds on its industry leading Au1250TM Processor and now supports integrated 3D acceleration, performance up to 800MHz, and video decode resolution up to 720p including H.264 main profile. The Au1300 Family also includes further enhancements to power management resulting in industry-leading full-chip power rates of less than 1/2 watt at speed.

The Alchemy Au1300 Processor is the most advanced, highest performing integrated processor for portable media based applications, including Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs), Home Media Player™ Devices such as Advanced Digital Photo Frames, 3D Personal Navigation Devices (PNDs), Portable Media Players (PMPs), Audio/Video Networking, thin clients and other multimedia devices. The Au1300 Processor takes advantage of RMI’s innovative architecture to extend the performance and enrich the media experience beyond that of previous generation devices, while maintaining overall system power rates of less than ½ watt. The Au1300 also delivers an enhanced Media Acceleration Engine™ (MAE2), providing hardware Bit Stream Acceleration and entropy decode that were formerly performed by the CPU core. This novel approach enables High Definition (HD) video decode at significantly higher bit rates then prior generation devices and also frees up additional CPU performance “headroom” enabling multi-tasking capabilities such as browsing, video chat and other communication features.

“The advancements RMI has made with the Au1300 Processor continue to build upon the novel CPU and media architecture pioneered by the Au1250 family of Alchemy products. With the inclusion of rich 3D acceleration for advanced user interfaces and 3D navigation, High Definition video decode, performance levels to 800 MHz and lower overall system power, the Au1300 Family will allow us to serve a broader customer base in the consumer media and enterprise markets,” said Mike Wodopian, vice president and general manager, RMI. “We plan to continue building on this novel architecture and fully expect to introduce devices at the 1GHz level in the near future which will extend our lead even further in consumer markets requiring high performance processing capabilities.”

The Alchemy Au1300 adds a high performance Graphics Processing Engine (GPE) from ARM [(LSE:ARM); (Nasdaq:ARMH)] dramatically improving 3D graphics acceleration. The ARM® Mali™ family of Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) offers a broad range of acceleration solutions to suit many embedded graphics needs including amazing web experiences, rich user interfaces and 3D navigation, up to the most demanding gaming requirements on high definition screens. ARM’s unique ability to supply a total graphics systems IP solution enables RMI to quickly deliver the highest quality, cutting-edge graphics products across the broadest range of consumer devices.

“Our work with RMI has resulted in an outstanding proof point for the power and efficiency of ARM Mali 3D graphics solutions and we look forward to continuing to work with RMI on innovative solutions,” said Lance Howarth, VP and general manager, Media Processing Division, ARM. “This launch demonstrates the applicability of Mali graphics technology to the broadest range of media applications – both portable and tethered.”

RMI products push the edge of processor technology in performance and integration, and are used by system and original equipment manufacturers to address the infrastructure, enterprise, and consumer media markets. The company’s XLR®, XLS®, and Alchemy™ Processor families are based on innovative MIPS®-compatible architectures creating advanced, highly-integrated designs built on leading-edge silicon process technologies.