NGene devices

Introduction

In the spring of 2005, Micronas Semiconductors announced the APB 7202A nGene dual-channel PCI-Express multimedia controller with support for two DTV transport streams and analog video. It should be noted, however, that any analog device design that incorporates the nGene will also have to utilize an additional analog decoder(s), as the nGene itself does not support such function.

Supported Cards

There is currently no Linux driver for this controller chip, and hence no support for PCIe cards bearing the nGene. However, apparently development for a driver is under way, so support for cards based on this IC will likely also begin to appear shortly there afterwards.

Examples of nGene Based Cards

PixelView PlayTV PCX600

This card, from Prolink Microsystems in Taiwan, was demonstrated already at CeBit 2005 as the first PCI Express dual channel multimedia controller; cf. press release. It uses the nGene controller.

They claimed their PV-A425E model would be available "soon", but a year later there is no trace of it. (<-- is this still correct?)

External Links

• nGene product page