CMD Debuts Ultra ATA/100 PCI-649 Host Controller Chip for 3.3V Systems; New PCI-to-IDE/ATA Chip Will Allow Users to Keep Pace With Competing SCSI Standards.

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 6, 2000

CMD Technology Inc. (www.cmd.com), a recognized leader in advanced RAID controller technology, Tuesday announced the debut of the CMD PCI-649, a new stand-alone Ultra ATA/100 PCI-to-IDE/ATA host controller for 3.3V systems.

The PCI-649 is the first CMD host controller to support Ultra ATA/100, the next proposed ATA standard, and features a 50 percent faster maximum burst rate than the current maximum rate set by the Ultra ATA/66 standard.

The CMD PCI-649 host controller is an ideal high performance single chip solution for systems that do not possess an integrated IDE host controller, or for systems that expand the number of IDE channels to accommodate the increasing number of IDE-interface storage peripherals.

"We are very excited about the launch of the PCI-649," stated CMD Vice President of Marketing Roger Klein. "The chip's faster throughput will allow ATA hard disk drives (HDD) to keep pace with competing SCSI standards. We look for the PCI-649 to become a viable high performance solution for multimedia and video intensive applications. ATA continues to be the HDD standard of choice for many end users because of its backward compatibility and cost. ATA/100 ensures a good future for the interface."

PCI-649 features include:

-- Two independent IDE/ATA channels that support up to four IDE/ATA
drives
-- Support for multi-word and single-word DMA timing modes
-- Built-in 80 pin cable detect circuitry
-- Support for external BIOS
-- 32-bit 33 MHz PCI interface
-- Support bus master DMA at 133 MB/sec. PCI burst rate
-- Support for maximum bus master data transfer of 100 MB/sec.
-- Compatible with Microsoft IDE/ATA drivers (Windows 95/98, NT 4.0
2000)
-- Compliant with PCI 2.1 and ATA/ATAPI-5
-- 3.3V operating voltage with 5V tolerant I/O
-- Available in 160 pin TQFP

Samples of the ATA/100 PCI-649 were tested extensively by leading ATA disk drive manufacturers including Quantum, Maxtor, Western Digital, Seagate and IBM. "Quantum has subjected the CMD PCI-649 to a variety of compatibility tests and found the device to be reliable and conforming to our specification," said Jim McGrath, director of technical marketing for Quantum. "As the developer of the Ultra ATA/100 interface, we see it laying the foundation for future improvements in drive performance."

Maxtor Senior Director, Hard Disk Drive Product Marketing Glenn Pieters further commented, "CMD's new ATA controller chip will further extend application markets for ATA disk drives, particularly as a viable alternative to SCSI."

"Western Digital's partnerships with industry leaders such as CMD brings greater value to the end user by supporting Ultra ATA/100 interface technology as a standard for the PC industry," said Rich Rutledge, vice president of marketing for Western Digital's hard drive solutions business.

Production quantities are scheduled for mid-June 2000. Engineering samples and boards for customer evaluation are available now.

About CMD Technology

CMD Technology supplies leading-edge peripheral storage controller technology and high-performance storage interconnect products to OEMs, VARs, integrators and resellers. CMD is a worldwide leader in RAID peripheral controller solutions for the UNIX Open Systems and PC marketplaces and a leading supplier of IDE, Ultra ATA and Universal Serial Bus (USB) semiconductors for some of the world's finest computer systems.

For more information, contact CMD Technology, Storage Interconnect Products, 19 Morgan, Irvine, Calif. 92618. Phone: [phone]; Fax: [phone]; E-mail: [e-mail]; Web site: www.cmd.com.

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