Avance Logic
| File:Realtek Logo.svg Realtek corporate logo | |
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Semiconductors |
| Founded | October 1987 |
| Headquarters | Hsinchu , Taiwan |
Area served | Worldwide |
Number of employees | 5,000 (2019) |
| Website | www |
Realtek Semiconductor Corp. () is a fabless semiconductor firm headquartered in Hsinchu Science Park, Hsinchu, Taiwan. Established in October 1987 and publicly traded on the Taiwan Stock Exchange since 1998, Realtek designs and distributes a wide array of microchips worldwide. Its extensive product lineup encompasses integrated circuits for communications networks, computer peripherals, and multimedia applications. By 2019, the company had a workforce of 5,000 employees, with approximately 78% dedicated to research and development efforts.
Avance Logic
Founded in 1991 in Fremont, California, Avance Logic, Inc. focused on delivering cost-effective, highly integrated solutions primarily for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), specializing in 2D graphics and audio technologies. Although it developed a 3D accelerator during the mid-1990s, this product achieved limited market penetration. Realtek acquired Avance Logic in 1995, initially operating it as an autonomous subsidiary until fully merging it in 2002. Technologies from Avance Logic underpin Realtek’s audio solutions, which are identified by the prefixes "ALG" (Avance Logic Graphics) and "ALS" (Avance Logic Sound).
Products
Realtek produces and sells a variety of communication network integrated circuits, including network interface controllers supporting 10/100M and gigabit Ethernet speeds, physical layer transceivers (PHYceivers), network switch controllers, gateway controllers, wireless LAN ICs, and ADSL router controllers. The RTL8139 series of 10/100M Fast Ethernet controllers became dominant players in the global market starting in the late 1990s.
Its portfolio of computer peripheral ICs features AC'97 and High Definition Audio codecs, card reader controllers, clock generators, and IEEE 1394 interface chips. The multimedia IC segment comprises LCD monitor and television controllers along with digital media processors.
Driver support
Realtek provides device drivers compatible with various operating systems such as Windows, Mac OS, and Linux, tailored to support a range of its chipset products.
Notable products
In 2003, Realtek’s 10/100M Ethernet controllers captured approximately 70% of the worldwide market share. Its audio codec offerings—including AC'97 and Intel HD Audio standards—held half of the OEM onboard audio market that year, increasing to about 60% by 2004. As of 2013, the ALC892 HD Audio codec alongside the RTL8111 Gigabit Ethernet chipset remained popular choices among OEMs due to their affordability and essential features. In Taiwan, the RTL8139 network interface cards earned the nickname "crab cards," inspired by Realtek’s corporate logo.
Chipsets for HD multimedia players and recorders
Responding to rising demand for high-definition media players in 2009, Realtek introduced the 1xx3 chipset series, positioned competitively against competitors like Sigma. The primary models—1073, 1183, and 1283—offered similar format compatibility and performance levels; notably, the 1283 added AV source recording capabilities. Enhancements in HD audio support were implemented over time, with later iterations enabling full 7.1 channel HD audio functionality.
All players based on the 1073 chipset utilized a standardized Realtek software development kit (SDK), streamlining production through uniform firmware and operating system support. Prominent devices employing this platform included Xtreamer, Asus O!PlayHD, ACRyan PlayOn, and Mede8er MED500X.
In early 2011, Realtek rolled out the 1xx5 series (models 1055 and 1185), which operated at a clock speed of 500 MHz to deliver moderate performance improvements while preserving broad format compatibility. These chipsets ran SDK4 Casablanca firmware that enhanced user experience by providing media indexing and thumbnail generation; they also supported full 7.1 channel HD audio downmixing and passthrough capabilities.
The 1xx6 series (model 1186), launched in October 2011 with a clock rate of 750 MHz, introduced HDMI 1.4 support along with features for 3D playback including ISO-format content; it also enabled dual-boot functionality with Android systems. Key products utilizing the 1186 chipset comprise the Mede8er X3D Series (MED1000X3D, MED800X3D, MED600X3D), Xtreamer Prodigy 3D, and HiMedia 900B.
Security Incident
An investigation conducted by Symantec in 2011 into the Stuxnet malware uncovered that the Windows digital certificate belonging to Realtek had been compromised. This breach allowed cyber attackers to authenticate harmful drivers without triggering any warnings for users. Following this discovery, Verisign revoked the compromised certificate. The findings indicated that the perpetrators probably gained access to these certificates through direct physical entry at Realtek and JMicron, which are situated near each other.
See also
External links
- Computer companies of Taiwan
- Computer hardware companies
- Taiwanese companies established in 1987
- Companies based in Hsinchu
- 1998 initial public offerings
- Companies listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange
- Electronics companies established in 1987
- Semiconductor companies of Taiwan
- Fabless semiconductor companies
- Networking hardware
- Sound cards
- Taiwanese brands
- Defunct computer companies of the United States