Ramtron and VLSI tech..............
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 18, 1997--VLSI
Technology (NASDAQ:VLSI) and Ramtron International Corp.
(NASDAQ:RMTR) jointly announce today that Alpha-based personal
computers using Digital Equipment Corporation's (NYSE:DEC) Alpha
microprocessors and the VLSI Technology Polaris chipset will now
support the fast latency, high sustained bandwidth Enhanced
Synchronous DRAM (ESDRAM) memory developed by Ramtron subsidiary,
Enhanced Memory Systems, Inc. (Enhanced). The new memory will
increase the performance lead of Alpha-based personal computers
operating under heavy Windows NT workloads.
The Alpha microprocessor is specifically targeted at cost
sensitive desktop Windows NT systems and offers industry leading
clock rates of 400, 455, and 533 megahertz. The ESDRAM adds a higher
performance option to the EDO DRAM and SDRAM memories currently
supported by Alpha-based PCs. In addition, Ramtron's ESDRAM delivers
the same peak bandwidth and over twice the sustained bandwidth of
Rambus DRAM.
"The Enhanced SDRAM is the first synchronous DRAM to address the
problems of memory latency and fast I/O delays needed to achieve high
frequency operation," explains Kevin Mankin, VLSI Technology's vice
president, Enterprise Products division. "The VLSI Polaris System
Controller with ESDRAM support will dramatically increase Alpha PC
performance under heavy Windows NT workloads."
"Fast memory is a vital component of overall system speed," said
Pippa Jollie, Alpha 21164PC product manager. "Adding ESDRAM will
enable system manufacturers to tune their Alpha 21164PC-based PCs for
maximum Windows NT performance."
"We are pleased to be able to deliver the highest performance
memory option for the VLSI Polaris chipset used by the Alpha PC, the
world's fastest desktop Windows NT solution," says L. David Sikes,
Ramtron chairman and CEO, and president of Enhanced Memory Systems.
VLSI Technology, Inc.
VLSI Technology, Inc. designs and manufactures System-Level
Silicon(TM) integrated circuits based on its FSB(TM) functional
system blocks(TM) library. Targeting its offerings toward the
communications, consumer digital entertainment and computing markets,
the company offers its customers advanced system-level integration
capabilities. The company is based in San Jose, California, with
1996 revenues of $717 million, and approximately 3,000 employees
worldwide. Visit VLSI's homepage at vlsi.com .
Digital Equipment Corporation
Digital Semiconductor, a Digital Equipment Corporation business
headquartered in Hudson, Massachusetts, designs, manufactures and
markets industry-leading semiconductor products including Alpha
microprocessors and PCI chips for networking, bridging, and
multimedia, plus low-power StrongARM microprocessors under license
from Advanced RISC Machines Ltd. Mitsubishi Electric Corporation and
Samsung Electronics Company Ltd. are alternate sources for Alpha
microprocessors. Web site: digital.com .
Digital Equipment Corporation is a world leader in open
client/server solutions from personal computing to integrated
worldwide information systems. Digital's scalable Alpha and Intel
platforms, storage, networking, software and services, together with
industry-focused solutions from business partners, help organizations
compete and win in today's global marketplace.
Ramtron/Enhanced Memory Systems
Enhanced Memory Systems develops and markets the EDRAM(R) and
ESDRAM, high performance specialty memories that combine fast DRAM
and SRAM on one chip (patent pending). Enhanced is headquartered in
Colorado Springs, Colorado and is a wholly owned subsidiary of
Ramtron International Corporation (NASDAQ:RMTR).
For additional information regarding Ramtron and the EDRAM and
ESDRAM products, contact: Communications Department, Enhanced Memory
Systems, 1850 Ramtron Drive, Colorado Springs, Colorado USA, 80921.
Telephone 800-545-DRAM (3726); fax 719-488-9095; e-mail
info@ramtron.com; web page csn.net .
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Note to Editors: All trademarks are property of their respective
owners.
CONTACT:
Ramtron
Lee A. Brown, 719/481-7213
or
VLSI Technology
Earle Speranza, 408/922-5268 |
