ARM Shows Low-Cost, Low-Power, High-Performance ARM810 At Hot Chips 96; VLSI Technology now shipping ARM810.

CAMBRIDGE, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 19, 1996--Advanced RISC Machines Ltd (ARM) presented today at HOT CHIPS 96 details of the ARM810, a cost-effective, 80 MIPS, low-power, process portable RISC microprocessor. The new architecture bridges the gap between ARM's current product offerings: the minimalist, embeddable ARM7 family of RISC cores (approximately 40 MIPS, 72mW at 3.3V) and the very high performance StrongARM processors (greater than 200 MIPS, 900mW at 3.3V).

The ARM810 provides a high-performance cached processor (8KBytes) while minimizing power consumption (500mW at 3.3V), optimizing it for cost-sensitive embedded applications such as digital TVs, PDAs and Network Computers. The ARM810 is available now from VLSI Technology, Inc. with other ARM licensees expected to make announcements in the future.

The fully static ARM810 is available as a stand-alone, single-chip microprocessor or as an embedded core within an application specific design. This embedded 'macrocell' approach provides an ideal solution for applications where power consumption is a concern but high-integration is key.

The ARM810 architecture utilizes a five-stage pipeline which allows execution of each instruction to be spread over more cycles, reducing the amount of work done at each stage and allowing higher clock rates. Although this higher speed increases die size and power consumption, this new architecture doubles performance -- maintaining ARM's industry-leading MIPS/Watt and MIPS/mm2 ratios.

"With the addition of the ARM810, available as both a packaged microprocessor and as an integratable ASIC functional system block (FSBx), we are better able to satisfy a wider range of performance requirements with the ARM architecture," commented Daniel Abecassis, director of the embedded processor division, VLSI Technology Inc.

"With the OEM adoption ARM has been receiving, we are becoming the volume RISC standard, and the ARM810 nicely broadens our offering by giving a low-power, low-cost processor you can integrate now on a range of process options," said Robin Saxby, president and CEO, ARM Ltd.

The VLSI versions of the ARM810 are available as FSB ASIC cores or packaged as evaluation vehicles in 144-pin TQFP packages. The ARM810 processor is compatible with existing ARM development tools and industry-leading Real-Time Operating Systems for a variety of applications. Samples are available now with volume production from VLSI scheduled for November 1996. VLSI quotes pricing at USD $25 for high-volume shipments.

Advanced RISC Machines Ltd (ARM) ARM designs, licenses and markets high-performance, low-cost, low-power consumption 32-bit RISC processors, peripherals and development tools for embedded control, consumer multimedia, DSP and portable applications. ARM also provides consulting and training. ARM licenses its technology to semiconductor partner companies, who focus on manufacturing, applications and marketing.

The versatility of ARM's cores, together with the unparalleled breadth of the partnership's expertise, ensures that ARM-based solutions are available to meet almost every customer's processor needs. The ARM semiconductor partners are: AKM, Alcatel Mietec, Atmel ES2, Cirrus, Digital, GEC Plessey Semiconductors, LG Semicon, NEC, Oki, Samsung, Sharp, Symbios Logic, TI, VLSI, and Yamaha. Together they make ARM the world volume embedded RISC standard.

To learn more about ARM, please see our Web Site at http://www.arm.com

VLSI Technology, Inc.

VLSI Technology, Inc. designs and manufactures System-Level Silicon solutions based on its library of FSB functional system blocks. Targeting its offerings toward the communications, computing, and consumer digital entertainment markets, the company offers its customers advanced system-level integration capabilities. The company is based in San Jose, Calif., with 1995 revenues of $720 million, and approximately 3,000 employees worldwide.

Visit VLSI's homepage at http://www.vlsi.com -0-

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