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BURLINGAME, California, PC TECH FORUM (May 20, 1997)-Stealth start-up Centaur Technology, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Integrated Device Technology, Inc. (IDT) (NASDAQ: IDTI), today announced at PC Tech Forum the IDT-C6 processor, a Pentium-class x86 microprocessor designed for the low-cost desktop and mobile personal computer (PC) market.
The IDT-C6 processor is a 5.4-million transistor device that will be manufactured using 0.35 micron, 4-layer-metal CMOS technology. At only 88mm2 in size, the IDT-C6 processor is between 40 and 50 percent smaller than comparable Pentium-class processors. The IDT-C6 chip's small die size and low power was achieved by simplifying the architecture and eliminating or reducing complex logic found in other processors. The breakthrough will provide Pentium-class performance at lower power and price levels.
"We have achieved our goal of delivering the best performance per watt and per dollar," said Glenn Henry, president of Centaur Technology. "The IDT-C6 microprocessor is smaller, as competitive in performance and more energy efficient than offerings from others in this category. Our aggressively small die size makes it possible for the IDT-C6 processor to bring increased value to manufacturers of sub-$1500 PCs, an underserved sector of the marketplace and, in the process, redefine the price/performance equation."
The IDT-C6 processor was designed by Centaur Technology and will be manufactured at IDT's state-of-the-art facilities in Hillsboro, Oregon and San Jose, California. It is the first of a series of microprocessors to emerge from Centaur's design facility in Austin, Texas.
"We're proud of the Centaur team's achievement," said Len Perham, IDT's president and chief executive officer. "The combination of small die size coupled with a simplified CMOS process will allow IDT to manufacture the IDT-C6 chips very efficiently and at a low cost."
The new IDT-C6 processor will include MMX™-compatible instructions and operate at speeds up to 200 MHz. The IDT-C6 chip's performance is comparable to Pentium-class processors based on benchmarks such as Business Winstone™ 97 running on Microsoft™ Windows™95.
The processors' Socket 7 hardware compatibility will enable PC manufacturers to take advantage of existing system designs and infrastructure, minimize system redesign and development costs and speed time to market for PC manufacturers. "Our goal is to extend the life of the Socket 7 infrastructure by delivering industry leading price performance and working closely with chipset and BIOS vendors," added Henry.
Based on testing by Centaur, the processor executes all leading operating systems, including Windows 95, Windows™ NT™, Windows™ 3.x, MS-DOS™, Novell™ NetWare™, OS/2 Warp™, Unix™ and Solaris™, as well as other software packages and the latest MMX-enabled multimedia applications. External testing and validation is currently in process.
"The majority of the PC market for the next 12 months will continue to be served by Pentium-class processors," said Michael Slater of Microprocessor Report. "The existing vendors are focused on moving up the performance and price curve, leaving an opening for a new vendor like Centaur to serve the low-cost market where much of the growth is occurring."
On May 28, IDT will participate in the Lehman Brother's High Technology Exposition in New York City, at which time the IDT-C6 processor will be exhibited and demonstrated.
In addition, Centaur will be displaying the IDT-C6 processor at the Computex show in Taipei, Taiwan starting on June 3. Demonstrations of the microprocessor will take place from June 3 - 7 at IDT's booth display at the trade show.
Engineering samples of the IDT-C6 processor will be available to target customers at Computex. Centaur Technology expects the chip to be available for shipment starting in third quarter 1997, at which time pricing will be announced. The IDT-C6 processor will be manufactured and sold through IDT.
Centaur Technology, an Austin, Texas-based microprocessor design and development company, was founded in 1995 by Glenn Henry, previously of IBM, Dell Computer and MIPS. More information on the company can be found at http://www.centtech.com.
Integrated Device Technology, Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets high-performance integrated circuits and modules used in products serving its rapidly growing targeted market segments: communications equipment, distributed computing systems, personal computers and office automation equipment. IDT enhances its customers' ability to optimize the cost and performance of their microprocessor-based systems by providing innovative solutions based on four product areas: communications products, including industry-leading FIFO memories, multi-port memories, and Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) products; high-speed SRAMs and Fusion Memory™; RISC microprocessors; and high-performance logic.
Headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., IDT employs approximately 4,400 people worldwide. More information on IDT and its products can be found at http://www.idt.com, and fax-on-demand services, by calling 1-800-9-IDT-FAX. Forward-looking statements in this release involve a number of risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, product demand, pricing, changing economic conditions, timely development and market acceptance of new products, and other risk factors detailed in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission Filings. Actual results may differ materially from the Company's projections.
IDT-C6 and Fusion Memory are trademarks of Integrated Device Technology, Inc.
Pentium is a registered trademark of Intel; MMX is a trademark of Intel.
Windows 95, Windows™ NT(, Windows™ 3.x, MS-DOS™ are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.
Novell™ NetWare™ are trademarks of Novell Corp.
OS/2 Warp™ is a trademark of IBM, Inc.
Unix™ is a trademark of AT & T
Solaris™ is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc.