<font color=red>AMD Introduces Evolutionary New Computing Platform, Increasing Memory Data Rate by Up to 100 Percent
TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 30, 2000--
-- AMD introduces AMD-760(TM) chipset, enabling the world's first
commercially available PC platform supporting next-generation
Double Date Rate (DDR) memory technology --
-- Initial systems expected to debut from micronpc.com in the U.S.
and NEC Computers International in Europe for holiday buying season --
At press conferences in Tokyo, Taipei and Paris, AMD today is introducing the AMD-760(TM) chipset, enabling the world's first commercially available PC computing platform supporting next-generation Double Data Rate (DDR) memory technology.
DDR memory is an evolutionary new technology that increases peak data throughput to the processor by up to 100 percent compared to its predecessor, Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM), at comparable costs to SDRAM solutions. AMD's DDR platform solution, which includes the award-winning AMD Athlon processor, provides the foundation to continue AMD's leadership position in supplying high-performance solutions for the performance PC space.
``The PC industry's memory momentum is clearly in favor of DDR SDRAM. DDR memory delivers performance that easily surpasses its SDRAM memory predecessors, along with cost advantages that make it an exciting and logical memory choice over other memory technologies for high-performance computing solutions. By building upon industry-standard SDRAM memory technology and manufacturing processes, DDR memory should enjoy a speedy time to market and rapid adoption by the industry,'' said Sherry Garber, senior vice president, Semico Research.
``In response to requests from our customers, AMD, along with our partners, has championed the adoption of DDR memory technology to power the next-generation of high-performance computing solutions,'' said Rob Herb, executive vice president of AMD. ``Today's announcement once again demonstrates AMD's commitment to drive compelling new technology into the marketplace and enable beneficial solutions for our customers.''
``DDR memory is an evolutionary technology that promises revolutionary rewards for computer users. Fundamentally, DDR memory technology doubles a PC's available memory data transfer rate, at comparable costs to today's SDRAM solutions,'' said Richard Heye, vice president and general manager of AMD's Microprocessor Division in Texas. ``With DDR memory, a major performance bottleneck is removed, allowing PCs to take advantage of increasing processor frequencies.''
AMD also is introducing AMD Athlon(TM) processors with a 266MHz front-side bus to support the highest grade DDR memory. The processors are available at 1.2GHz, 1.13GHz and 1GHz.
Systems Based on DDR Memory Platform Available Through Retail and Direct Channels
Systems featuring the AMD Athlon processor and DDR memory technology are immediately available for order from micronpc.com in the U.S. and from NEC Computers International in Europe. Systems are expected to be available in November, and AMD expects widespread system availability worldwide in the first quarter of 2001. Other leading OEMs, including Compaq, also are evaluating AMD processor and DDR memory based platforms for introduction in early 2001.
``Micronpc.com is committed to advancing DDR as a leading memory solution, both for its superb performance and competitive cost structure,'' said Jeffrey K. Moeser, vice president of Product Development at micronpc.com. ``Our Millennia® Max XP systems based on the AMD Athlon processor platform with DDR memory will offer tremendous performance at an extremely attractive price. This will help us deliver our usual standard of high performance that our customers have always expected from micronpc.com.''
``As a top computer retailer, Best Buy prides itself on delivering exceptional products at exceptional value. We believe micronpc.com systems based on AMD platforms and state-of-the-art DDR memory technology will hold tremendous appeal for buyers seeking the top performance and value available. Systems will be available at Best Buy stores and at www.BestBuy.com in November,'' said Robert Davidson, vice president of Merchandising -- Computers for Best Buy Co., Inc.
``NEC believes DDR memory technology is the natural successor to existing SDRAM memory solutions for its envious performance return and favorable cost model. NEC Computers International is committed to bringing this evolutionary technology into market with our Direction A+ systems and Packard Bell iXtreme home computer featuring the 1.2GHz AMD Athlon processor with support for DDR memory,'' said Thierry Millet, executive director Sales and Marketing, NEC Computers.
Industry Rallies Behind DDR Memory
AMD has worked closely with its third-party partners to support the broad industry desire for DDR memory platform solutions, and has helped the industry drive to a single DDR memory specification. AMD and leading memory vendors have also worked with SMART Modular Technologies, an independent validation test house, to ensure the compatibility and reliability of the memory solutions. Leading memory manufacturers offering DDR memory modules include Micron, Samsung, Infineon Technologies, Elpida, Hyundai, IBM, Mitsubishi and Toshiba.
``DDR SDRAM is rapidly gaining momentum as the next memory solution. Micron has worked closely with AMD on enabling DDR SDRAM and we are positioning our production capability to support AMD Athlon processor based DDR platforms with 64MB, 128MB, and 256MB DDR technology,'' said Mike Seibert, DRAM technical marketing manager, Micron. ``We are happy to participate with AMD in the introduction of the first volume DDR platforms.''
``Samsung Semiconductor, Inc. is committed to leading the DDR SDRAM market and is working to pave the way for the availability of low cost, high-performance DDR technology for the server, workstation and high-performance desktop PC markets,'' said Dieter Mackowiak, senior vice president of Marketing and Sales of SSI. ``With today's availability of DDR SDRAM for both 128MB and 256MB, Samsung is ready to support the growing demand for DDR products.''
``Infineon is very pleased to be working with AMD and the industry to build the market for systems supporting DDR memory,'' said Peter Schaefer, vice president, Memory Products, Infineon Technologies Corp. of North America. ``Through the first half of 2000, Infineon has been the industry's leading supplier of DDR memory for graphics applications, with our 1M x 32 DDR SGRAM. We also are the first company to offer 256Mbit DDR SDRAM based modules for PC200/266 applications, and we strongly believe that our support of this density will help pave the way for the availability of high performance DDR technology for the server, workstation and high-end desktop PC markets.''
AMD Innovation Impacting Users
The AMD-760 chipset is simply the latest in a growing compendium of AMD technological innovations that enable better solutions for end users. AMD's technological innovations have enabled Jim Henson's Creature Shop to work magic with the renowned Muppet characters during the past year. One of these is the proprietary Henson Digital Performance Studio (HDPS), which is a medium to deliver not only entertaining digital Muppet performances, but also a technology that has applications ranging from personalized web browsers to compelling next-generation video game content and digital television.
``After doing independent benchmarking and analysis of available x86 architectures, we found the AMD Athlon processor to be the highest performing processor for our workstation needs,'' said Jeff Forbes, Computer/Electronics supervisor of Jim Henson's Creature Shop. ``Each generational improvement of the AMD Athlon processor core and memory architecture has added significant realism to our digital puppets and has enabled our puppeteers to work with these characters in a more lifelike manner. This is the reason we built four AMD Athlon processor powered 'Henson Digital Performance Studios' which we will be using to perform digital characters on the Web, in video games and for live events.''
Pricing
The 1.2GHz, 1.13GHz, and 1GHz AMD Athlon processors with 266MHz front side bus and support for DDR memory technology are priced at $673, $506 and $385, respectively, each in 1,000 unit quantities. The AMD-760 chipset is priced at $39 in 1,000 unit quantities.
About DDR Memory Technology
Double Data Rate (DDR) memory technology is a successor technology to Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM) technology, the prevailing memory standard found in today's PCs. DDR memory leverages existing SDRAM technology, but with a 2.1GB/sec peak data rate, it can achieve memory transfer rates up to 100 percent higher than SDRAM. Next-generation DDR memory is thus expected to be manufactured at cost levels that are in line with today's mainstream PC memory costs. Consequently, PC users are expected to receive better overall system performance at system costs comparable to current SDRAM based systems.
Next-generation DDR memory technology will enable the AMD Athlon processor platform to deliver new levels of performance on math-intensive applications like video editing, CAD/CAM, scientific applications, and digital content creation, with minimal effect on system costs. DDR memory technology is supported by the AMD-760 chipset, and will help enable AMD to bring the advantages of DDR memory technology to workstation and high-end PC users.
About the AMD-760(TM) Chipset
The AMD-760 is AMD's next generation chipset for the AMD Athlon processor. It consists of two chips -- the AMD-761(TM) system bus controller, or northbridge, and the AMD-766(TM) peripheral bus controller, or southbridge. The AMD-760 chipset unleashes the power of DDR memory, enabling the ultimate PC performance in multi-tasking and multimedia intensive applications. The AMD-760 chipset supports the AMD Athlon processor with both a 200MHz and 266MHz front side bus, as well as PC1600 and PC2100 Double Data Rate (DDR) memory and 4xAGP graphics.
About the AMD Athlon(TM) Processor
The AMD Athlon processor is an x86-compatible, seventh-generation design featuring a superpipelined, nine-issue superscalar microarchitecture optimized for high clock frequency; the industry's first fully pipelined, superscalar floating point unit for x86 platforms; high-performance cache architecture, now featuring 384KB of total on-chip cache (256KB of on-chip level (L2) cache and 128KB of on-chip level (L1) cache); enhanced 3DNow!(TM) technology with 24 additional instructions designed to improve integer math calculations, data movement for Internet streaming, and DSP communications. The AMD Athlon processor features either a 266MHz Front Side Bus (FSB) or a 200MHz FSB based on the Alpha(TM) EV6 bus protocol. AMD Athlon processors are manufactured using AMD's 0.18-micron process technology in Fab 25 in Austin, Texas and AMD's 0.18 micron technology in Fab 30 in Dresden, Germany.
About AMD
AMD is a global supplier of integrated circuits for the personal and networked computer and communications markets with manufacturing facilities in the United States, Europe, Japan, and Asia. AMD produces microprocessors, flash memory devices, and support circuitry for communications and networking applications. Founded in 1969 and based in Sunnyvale, Calif., AMD had revenues of $2.9 billion in 1999. (NYSE:AMD - news).
Visit AMD on the Web
For more information about today's announcement, please visit our virtual pressroom at amd.com. Additional press releases and information about AMD and its products are available at: amd.com.
Cautionary Statement
This release contains forward-looking statements, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are generally preceded by words such as ``plans,'' ``expects,'' ``believes,'' ``anticipates'' or ``intends.'' Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements in this release involve risks and uncertainty that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations. Forward-looking statements in this release include the risks that DDR memory and systems based on DDR technology, the AMD-760 chipset and AMD Athlon processors may not be available on the anticipated schedule, that DDR technology may not obtain customer and end-user acceptance, and more generally that AMD may be unable to retain the leadership position in supplying high performance solutions for the performance PC space. We urge investors to review in detail the risks and uncertainties in the Company's filings with the United States Securities Exchange Commission.
Note to Editor: Additional information will be available on Monday morning. Tim Wright, director of Desktop Products Marketing, will lead a teleconference. Opening remarks will be followed by a moderated question-and-answer period.
8:30 a.m. US PST
Domestic 1-888-391-0101
International 1-212-896-6114
Audio replay information:
A replay will be available beginning at 10:30 a.m. US PST, October 30.
Domestic -- 1-800-633-8284
International -- 1-858-812-6440
Reservation No. 16767388
B-roll footage:
B-roll footage of the new product, AMD manufacturing processes, testimonials, and the latest graphic applications running on AMD Athlon processor-based systems will also be available via satellite on Monday morning, Oct. 30, 2000 on the following coordinates:
0700-0730EST
GE2 Transponder 6
DL: 3820 Horizontal Audio: 6.2/6.8
1100-1130EST
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AWESOME!!!
Milo |
