Chipworks Agrees With Sony and Toshiba That the PSX Device is Manufactured Utilizing a Highly Advanced Process.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

OTTAWA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 4, 2004

Chipworks Inc. ("Chipworks"), the standard setting supplier of reverse engineering services, commented today that they consider that the Sony PSX device is manufactured on one of the most advanced processes in production.

"Chipworks obtained a sample of the Sony PSX chip and had started to take it apart based on the reports that it was a 90 nm part, but we have come to somewhat different conclusions than those reported last week," stated Chipworks senior technology analyst Dick James. "For one thing, we found transistors with a physical gate length of 45 - 50 nm, which immediately led us to believe that we did have a 90 nm part."

While the Sony/Toshiba process may not meet the letter of the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS) 2003 it is comparable with the leading edge Intel process in terms of gate dimension. The highly anticipated Intel 90 nm device announced last fall at the Intel Developer Forum is reported to have a gate length of 45 nm. This is a little larger than the gate length listed in the ITRS, which benchmarks the polysilicon gate length at 37 nm.

In addition the Sony device uses an advanced two stack low-k dielectric structure. The combination of this dielectric process and the smallest transistor seen so far by Chipworks makes this one of the most advanced processes in volume production today.

This conclusion contradicts findings reported last week in the press that the Sony PSX device was manufactured in a 130 nm process. While the ITRS process nodes are open to different interpretation this process is a significant advance on the ATI RADEON 9600XT device. This part, built by TSMC and recently analyzed by Chipworks, also uses Black Diamond low-k intermetal dielectrics, but with a 85 nm gate it is clearly a 130 nm device.

"A highly integrated device like the PSX Emotion Engine processor and Graphics Synthesizer chip has tens of millions of transistors incorporated on a single die," commented Chipworks CEO Terry Ludlow. "Many of these transistors are not representative of the highest performance and shortest gate length. It is always exciting to look at advanced technologies from leading edge manufacturers and it is easy to leap to conclusions based on preliminary data in the excitement of the moment. An experienced analyst will always check and double check their findings from a number of distinct sites on a die before reaching conclusions."

About Chipworks

Chipworks is an internationally recognized technical services company that analyzes the circuitry and physical composition of semiconductor chips and electronics systems for applications in patent licensing support and competitive study. Chipworks' technical experts use sophisticated lab facilities and a rich library of in-house semiconductor data and expertise to conduct detailed analyses of a wide selection of chip types. Chipworks develops high value, meticulously researched, on-time reports presented in a format that is easy to understand and tailored to customer needs.

Since 1992, Chipworks has successfully helped semiconductor and electronics organizations achieve their goals by supporting research and development efforts and patent portfolio management. Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, the Company has offices worldwide. Chipworks can be visited via the Internet at www.chipworks.com

An image for this release is available on CCNMatthews' Website at the following address: www2.cdn-news.com/database/fax/2000/chip0204.jpg (Figure 1 - Deep sub-micron transistors.)