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Technology Stocks : Texas Instruments - Good buy now or should we wait? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: rob who wrote (3310)	3/27/1998 2:38:00 PM
From: pat mudge	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 6180

HOUSTON -- This week Texas Instruments (TI) announced a new DSP architecture, designated the TMS320C27x, that unites the flexibility, ease-of-use and cost-efficiency of microcontrollers (MCUs) with the high performance of DSPs. The combination of signal processing and control functions in a single chip will allow OEMs to replace two processors with one or to upgrade MCUs to DSP performance while eliminating supporting functions such as sensors and application specific integrated circuits (ASICs). OEMs will no longer pay a penalty in programming time, code size or cost for having both a DSP and an MCU in a system, and for the first time they will be able to completely implement the most demanding real-time applications in a high-level language. The 'C27x architecture is targeted for use in real-time embedded applications that demand DSP performance now -- and will increasingly do so in the future. These applications include multi-functional printers, faxes and scanners, hard disk drives, digital video disks, digital cameras, feature phones, interactive pagers, automotive systems, digital motor control, robotic and industrial control and many others. Image processing and stabilization in camcorders, global positioning systems (GPS) and advanced point-of-sale terminals are some of the applications that fuel the inevitable need for increasing performance that can only be attained with a DSP architecture like the 'C27x. Balanced Architecture, Efficient Code The 'C27x architecture combines DSP high-speed multiply-and-accumulate (MAC) operations with the intensive input/output (I/O) operations characteristic of MCUs. The result is that one device can provide the high-speed number crunching needed for real-time signal processing, together with the fast context switch and data manipulation capabilities required for control tasks. To take advantage of the balanced 'C27x architecture, TI has developed an extremely efficient C compiler that can produce compiled code denser than that of typical MCUs. Approaching the architecture's native assembly code in density, compiled code for the 'C27x requires half as much memory as equivalent compiled code for earlier DSPs. For developers, this density gain can double programming productivity, as well as saving half the cost of program memory in the system. The efficiency of the compiler also supports the desire of many programmers to use C in embedded systems, since C code is easier to write, more readily ported to new designs and more maintainable than assembly. The 'C27x is code compatible with TI's widely-used TMS320C2xx family of DSPs Code compatibility preserves the software investment that thousands of TI customers have made in their use of 'C2xx products. Development Support Features At-Speed Emulation An important innovation for system debug and development is the inclusion of TI's new Real-Time Data Exchange (RTDXT) technology in the 'C27x hardware. Used in conjunction with an integrated JTAG-based visibility port, RTDX enables'C27x developers to monitor, analyze and modify code executing at full speed (100 MHz) without impacting results or halting applications. RTDX and the visibility port allow designers of 'C27x-based systems to isolate software bugs quickly and produce higher quality code in a shorter time. The ability to perform non-intrusive real-time debug at 100 MHz is a first in the industry, underscoring TI's commitment to providing the most advanced development environment available. By comparison, real-time emulation capabilities for other processors are limited to 30 MHz or less, severely impacting customers' ability to test their systems. In addition, the 'C27x is supported by TI's extensive third-party network with a wide range of software and hardware tools -- including debuggers, emulators, development boards and real-time operating systems -- from both the DSP and the MCU industries. For more information about the TMS320C27x architecture, please visit the TI website at ti.com # # #

To: rob who wrote (3310)	3/30/1998 5:02:00 PM
From: Dave Hausser	Respond to of 6180

ti.com Synchronous DRAM Operates at Intel PC 100 Specification HOUSTON (March 30, 1998) -- Samples of a 64-megabit (64M) synchronous DRAMs (SDRAMs) for Intel's PC 100 specification are now available from Texas Instruments (TI). The PC 100-compliant 64M SDRAMs offer increased performance for file servers, workstations and high-volume desktop personal computers (PCs) without increased system size. PC 100 is the new high-speed standard for synchronous memory interface on computer motherboards. "Performance demands are pushing original equipment manufacturers to offer systems with large amounts of very high-speed memory. Yet they must maintain low costs," said Ramesh Gidwani, TI's vice president of worldwide memory marketing. "TI's early compliance to the PC 100 specification with first 16M and now 64M SDRAMs will enable OEMs to meet these requirements with greater ease. In addition to PCs, TI's new 64M device is particularly well suited for use in the registered dual in-line memory modules, or DIMMs, required for high-performance servers and workstations." As the market for PC 100-compliant SDRAMs develops, TI will continue to develop other higher-density technologies that address customer needs and cater to specific market segments. TI's PC 100 64M SDRAMs will be available in x4, x8 and x16. Part numbers are TMS664414, TMS664814 and TMS664164 respectively. All three configurations are based on the same 0.28-micron manufacturing process used for the 16M products TI announced in November 1997. Engineering samples are available now. Production samples are scheduled to be available in 2Q98 with production ramping scheduled for the middle of 1998. The device will be available in 400-mil, 54-pin thin small outline package (TSOP) and 168-pin DIMMs. Both are JEDEC-standard. For more information about TI's new PC 100 64M and other SDRAMs, please visit ti.com.