Altera's Upgrade of MAX+PLUS II Dramatically Enhances Both Silicon and Software Performance; Up to 30 Times Faster Timing-Driven Compilation.

Business Editors & High-tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 24, 2000

Design Performance Improvement Averages More Than 30 Percent

Altera Corporation (Nasdaq: ALTR) today announced the availability of version 9.5 of its MAX+PLUS(R) II programmable logic development software. MAX+PLUS II version 9.5 features a new compilation engine that is optimized for the FLEX(R) 10K device family. Customers with designs targeting FLEX 10K devices will achieve more than 30 percent design performance (fMAX) improvement, as well as up to 30 times faster timing-driven compilation. The industry's first embedded PLD, the FLEX architecture is a robust solution for communications systems design, including telecommunications and networking applications.

"Altera continues to enhance the MAX+PLUS II development system," said Tim Southgate, Altera vice president of software engineering. "The powerful combination of faster performance and dramatically reduced compilation time delivers value where our customers most need it, in complex communications system design."

Compiler Improvements

MAX+PLUS II version 9.5 delivers an average of 10 times and up to 30 times faster compile time as compared to version 9.4. For example, a design that would have run overnight using MAX+PLUS II version 9.4 will compile in approximately one half-hour with version 9.5.

The latest MAX+PLUS II software also significantly improves performance. Altera engineering experiments have shown fMAX increases of more than 30 percent on average for large designs with high utilization targeting the FLEX 10K device family.

Third-Party Technology

Altera maintains a relationship with Right Track CAD Corporation located in Toronto, Canada. Under a joint-development agreement signed in December 1998, the two companies have worked together to increase the performance and decrease the compile times of Altera PLDs. The dramatic improvements in MAX+PLUS II version 9.5 are driven by Right Track CAD's Versatile Placement and Routing (VPR) core technology.

Performance Enhancing Process Improvements

The timing models for the EPF10K30E and EPF10K50S have been updated in MAX+PLUS II version 9.5 to reflect silicon process improvements. These process improvements create faster parts, which in turn increase customer system bandwidth.

Pricing and Availability

The MAX+PLUS II version 9.5 design software will ship to all Altera customers on active subscription and maintenance in February, 2000. Altera's software subscription program simplifies the process of obtaining Altera development tools by consolidating all software products and maintenance charges into one annual subscription payment. For a $2,000 single-user license, an annual subscription entitles a customer to receive the latest version of MAX+PLUS II and Quartus(TM) development tools, as well as all software updates for twelve months. Customers may obtain a software subscription directly from Altera or one of its authorized distributors. Customers in North America may also obtain a software subscription from the Programmable eStore on the Altera web site, http://www.altera.com.

About Right Track CAD Corp.

Right Track CAD Corp. was founded in 1998 and is focused on the development of Computer Aided Design (CAD) software tools and new architectures for FPGAs and CPLDs. The markets served by the company include manufacturers of field-programmable devices as well as semiconductor chip vendors planning to add hardware reprogrammability features in their ASIC designs. The privately held company is located at 720 Spadina Ave., Suite 313, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 2T9. For more information, visit Right Track's web site at http://www.rtrack.com.

About Altera

Altera Corporation, The Programmable Solutions Company(TM), was founded in 1983 and is a leading supplier of programmable logic devices and associated logic development software tools. Programmable logic devices are semiconductor chips that can be programmed on-site, using software tools that run on personal computers or engineering workstations. User benefits include ease of use, lower risk, and fast time-to-market. Altera's CMOS-based programmable logic devices address high-speed, high-density and low-power applications in the telecommunications, data communications, computer peripheral, and industrial markets. Altera common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol ALTR. More information on Altera can be obtained on the Internet at http://www.altera.com.

Note to Editors: Altera, The Programmable Solutions Company, MAX+PLUS, FLEX, Quartus, and specific device designations are trademarks and/or service marks of Altera Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.