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File: TIGAIS.TXT

                         TIGA FACT SHEET

TIGA, short for the Texas Instruments Graphics Architecture, is
the most widely accepted architecture for high-resolution PC
graphics subsystems available today. TIGA encompasses both a PC
video hardware and software architecture that delivers
workstation-level graphics technology to PCs.

For users, TIGA ensures them of a clear upgrade path for their PC
video subsystems. For developers, TIGA provides a comprehensive
set of hardware and software development systems that enables
them to quickly and easily offer workstation graphics power to
the PC marketplace.

What follows is a guide to the leading-edge components and
development tools that comprise the TIGA environment:

The TME34010 is a bus-independent, 32-bit microprocessor with a
16-bit external data path optimized for video display and
graphics functions. More than 1 million TME34010s have been sold
since this potent processor was introduced in 1986. It supports
color displays up to 16.8 million colors at resolutions ranging
from 640 x 480 to 4,096 x 4,096.

The TME34020 is a full 32-bit microprocessor that was introduced
in 1989. Like the TME34010, it is optimized for graphics and can
handle up to 16.8 million colors and 4,096 x 4,096 resolution.
Due to its state-of-the-art features, such as a larger internal
cache and support for video RAM capabilities, the
second-generation TIGA processor operates 20 times faster than
its predecessor, the TME34010.

The TMS34082 floating-point coprocessor, coupled with the
TMS34020, is designed for high-end imaging and three-dimensional
applications. This processor, which is capable of 40 million
floating-point operation per second (MFLOPs) performance, is
fully supported by the TIGA development tools.

SPECIAL-FUNCTION GRAPHICS CHIPS

The TIL34075 Video Interface Palette significantly simplifies
high-resolution graphics subsystem design by providing
programmable pixel bus width and pixel size, as well as
integrating high-speed video timing controllers, VGA pass-
through and the video palette.

The TMS34092 VGA Interface Chip integrates VGA pass-through,
memory control and display pipeline logic in TMS34010-based TIGA
subsystems.

SOFTWARE PROGRAMMING ENVIRONMENT

The TIGAA 2.2 Interface provides the link between DOS
applications and the library of graphics and video functions
executed by TIGA processors. The interface improves the
performance of applications and graphical user interfaces (GUIs)
by delegating tasks between the host CPU and the TIGA graphics
processors. In many cases, operations execute in parallel,
providing maximum performance in Windows and other
graphics-intensive environments.

The TIGA Code Generation Tools provide a broad line of high-level
language support software, including the C compiler,
assembler/linker, debugger, function libraries and emulators. The
TIGA optimizing C compiler increases productivity and code
portability; it translates ANSI-standard C language into highly
efficient assembly source code, which is then input into the TIGA
assembler/linker. In addition, the TIGA C source debugger allows
developers to dehug a program in the language it was written: C,
assembly or both. The dehugger shares a common interface with
other TIGA support systems.

The TIGA Graphics Library contains powerful software routines,
making it fast and easy to transform ideas into images while
greatly reducing application development costs. The libraries
provide a collection of high-level and lcw- level routines that
make extensive use of the TMS34010, the TMS34020 and the
TMS34082's extensive, high-performance instruction set. The
TMS34082 3-D graphics library provides more than 60 C-callable
three-dlmensional graphics functions, each written in assembly
code and hand-optimized for unmatched 3-D graphics performance.
In addition, there is also a collection of low-level software
modules necessary to implement the industry-standard JPEG (Joint
Photographic Experts Group) compression/decompression algorithms
for still images on the TMS34082. The modules are
assemhly-language functions that are callable fram C.

Finally, TMS34010 and TMS34020 libraries provide more than 100
functions, ranging fram font generation to drawing primitives.
A11 of these functions were carefully designed to work
independent of display resolution and color depth.

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