NEC Electronics introduces new chipset for 8x rewritable DVD drives

October 6, 2003

NEC was
amongst the first companies to introduce a dual format 4x DVD recorder and
has now introduced a dual format 8x DVD+R/-R chipset. Once again the
company proves to be a technology leader on the DVD recordable area. The chipset is announced even before the 8x standard is approved by the DVD forum, but the 8x DVD+R announcements are probably speeding up the process of approval. Besides 8x DVD+R and DVD-R the chipset also allows 2x DVD-RAM. Engineering samples will be available at the end of the month.

The uPD63630 achieves high-speed recording while significantly reducing power consumption by taking advantage of 0.15-micron process technology and optimizing clock frequency in each block of the chip. In the uPC3330, the circuit configuration is optimized to reduce amplifier current, which reduces the device's power consumption. As a result, the chipset has achieved a power consumption rating approximately 30% lower than earlier devices.

As an additional benefit, the new chipset also provides 2x DVD-RAM read capability that enables it to read all of the DVD recording formats currently available on the market, including DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/+RW, and DVD-RAM.

It seems that this chipset could also speed up the time to market of the Pioneer A07, a drive of which the specifications leaked out a while ago. However an estimated arrival time of dual format 8x DVD recorders has not been given yet.

Source: JCN.net