NeoMagic
Encyclopedia
NeoMagic Corporation is a fabless semiconductor company
and supplier of low-power audio and video integrated circuits for mobile use (MagicMedia). NeoMagic designs and delivers consumer electronic device solutions with semiconductors and software offering exciting new product functionality for Video, TV, Imaging, Graphics, and Audio.
Although NeoMagic's PC graphics solutions were inexpensive and popular in laptop and other small form factor computer configurations in the 1990s and early 2000s, their 3D performance was either abysmally poor or non-existent. Specifically in regards to the MagicGraph 128XD, NeoMagic used to have incorrect information on their website, stating that the chip had Direct3D support when it definitely did not. This caused much confusion among users of the chip.
The incorrect information was eventually removed from their website due to consumer complaint, but no official statement was released by the company as to why the mistake occurred.
MagicGraph and MagicMedia chips were also known for poor 2D performance, resulting in slowdowns while using the Windows GUI and crashes during play of 2D games. As a result, PC graphics enthusiasts began referring to the company as "NeoTragic". This final nail in the coffin caused the company to pull out of the PC graphics market. Instead, they focused on developing graphics solutions for hand-held devices and other non-PC-related types of hardware.
Fabless semiconductor company
A fabless semiconductor company specializes in the design and sale of hardware devices and semiconductor chips while outsourcing the fabrication or "fab" of the devices to a specialized manufacturer called a semiconductor foundry...
and supplier of low-power audio and video integrated circuits for mobile use (MagicMedia). NeoMagic designs and delivers consumer electronic device solutions with semiconductors and software offering exciting new product functionality for Video, TV, Imaging, Graphics, and Audio.
MagicGraph / MagicMedia Products
| Model | Chipset Chipset A chipset, PC chipset, or chip set refers to a group of integrated circuits, or chips, that are designed to work together. They are usually marketed as a single product.- Computers :... |
|---|---|
| MagicGraph 128 | NM2070 |
| MagicGraph 128V | NM2090 |
| MagicGraph 128ZV | NM2093 |
| MagicGraph 128ZV+ | NM2097 |
| MagicGraph 128XD | NM2160 |
| MagicMedia 256AV | NM2200 |
| MagicMedia 256AV+ | NM2230 |
| MagicMedia 256ZX | NM2360 |
| MagicMedia 256XL+ | NM2380 |
History
NeoMagic's first products pioneered the concept of integrating the major component parts of a computer video system (video memory, logic and analog circuitry such as a RAMDAC) into one integrated circuit package. This allowed notebook computer makers to design smaller and more space-efficient circuit boards for their computers. The company referred to this technology as MAGIC, an acronym that stood for Memory And loGIC.Although NeoMagic's PC graphics solutions were inexpensive and popular in laptop and other small form factor computer configurations in the 1990s and early 2000s, their 3D performance was either abysmally poor or non-existent. Specifically in regards to the MagicGraph 128XD, NeoMagic used to have incorrect information on their website, stating that the chip had Direct3D support when it definitely did not. This caused much confusion among users of the chip.
The incorrect information was eventually removed from their website due to consumer complaint, but no official statement was released by the company as to why the mistake occurred.
MagicGraph and MagicMedia chips were also known for poor 2D performance, resulting in slowdowns while using the Windows GUI and crashes during play of 2D games. As a result, PC graphics enthusiasts began referring to the company as "NeoTragic". This final nail in the coffin caused the company to pull out of the PC graphics market. Instead, they focused on developing graphics solutions for hand-held devices and other non-PC-related types of hardware.