Intel lifts lid on High Definition Audio specs

By Alun Williams

Posted on 9 Jan 2004 at 12:08

The IT world is full of codenames for new technologies, and Intel is no exception. Well, one name is now off the list, as the chip giant officially titles the next-gen audio specification previously known as 'Azalia'.

Intel boasts that 'Intel High Definition Audio' will bring consumer electronics-quality audio to the computer, and declares that the name High Definition Audio is meant to reflect the 'marriage of advanced audio capabilities in PCs and consumer electronics'.

Replacing AC'97, Intel claims the new specification will help achieve a 50 per cent reduction in power for audio processing. This is important for the laptop space where every possible power saving is squeezed out of the system in order to extend battery lives.

Using Dolby's Pro Logic IIx technology, which supports 7.1 surround sound, Intel states that an upgraded architecture and increased bandwidth allows for 192 kHz, 32-bit, multi-channel audio, future proofing the spec for evolving high-quality audio formats.

Currently at Rev 0.9, Intel expects the spec to be finalised for the 'Grantsdale' chipset scheduled for release in the middle of this year. It will be released under royalty-free license terms.

Intel was promoting Azalia at the recent Fall IDF in the context of 'Sonoma' (yet another codename), which is the second-generation Centrino platform scheduled to appear in the second half of 2004.

See also:

IDF Fall 2003: Next-gen Centrino processor takes a bow

Interview: Intel's Don MacDonald talks Centrino