Chrontel's DVI Transmitter a Success with Magma's Integrated RTL-to-GDSII Design Flow; Mixed-Signal Chip Achieves Fast Timing Closure and Easy Handoff to Layout.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 13, 2003

Magma(R) Design Automation Inc. (Nasdaq: LAVA), a provider of chip design solutions, today announced that Chrontel, Inc., a leading provider of video interface chips, has successfully completed the design of a digital visual interface (DVI) chip using Magma's RTL-to-GDSII design system. The DVI transmitter is a display controller that accepts a digital graphics input signal and then up-scales, encodes and transmits the data through a DVI link. The mixed-signal chip, which operates at up to 200 MHz, was designed using Blast Create(TM) and Blast Fusion(R).

"We were impressed by the smooth design flow and fast turnaround time of the Magma tools," said Finbarr Crispie, vice president of engineering at Chrontel. "Integrating the mixed-signal blocks into the DVI chip was easy. We also found that the chip's timing was very predictable throughout the design process, leading to first-pass timing closure and saving a lot of effort during the DVI chip's development."

"We are very happy to see Chrontel's success using Magma's RTL-to-GDSII system for a mixed-signal chip design," said Yatin Trivedi, director of product marketing at Magma. "I believe this validates the maturity of our tools for a variety of system-on-chip designs, including those with analog circuitry."

Integrated Synthesis and Physical Implementation Boosts Design Predictability

Blast Create and Blast Fusion are key components of Magma's integrated RTL-to-GDSII system. This system is based on the patented FixedTiming(TM) methodology. This synthesis and place-and-route approach enables Magma's system to predict circuit performance prior to detailed physical design. The system then uses a series of design refinements during physical design to achieve a final timing that is very close to the predicted performance. With predictable timing results, iterations can be eliminated, time to market can be significantly improved and a streamlined handoff to layout can be achieved.

About Chrontel

Founded in 1986, privately held Chrontel is a leading supplier of video interface ICs and technologies to computer manufacturers worldwide. The company's innovations include the world's first VGA-to-TV encoder. Chrontel video display chips are incorporated into reference designs offered by Intel and other leading microprocessor and graphics processor vendors. The company currently offers the industry's most complete product line of video interface ICs for notebook and desktop computers, and its components can be found in PCs sold by dozens of leading manufacturers. The world's six largest computer brands, and the world's five largest notebook ODMs (original design manufacturers), rely on Chrontel ICs. Additional information about Chrontel can be found on its website: http://www.chrontel.com.

About Magma Design Automation 

Magma software is used to design fast, multimillion-gate integrated circuits, providing "The Fastest Path from RTL to Silicon"(TM), enabling chip designers to reduce the time required to produce complex ICs. Magma's products for prototyping, synthesis, and place & route provide a single executable for RTL-to-GDSII chip design. The company's Blast Create(TM), Blast Fusion(R), Blast Fusion APX(TM), Blast Plan(TM) and Blast Noise(R) products utilize Magma's patented FixedTiming(R) methodology and single data model architecture to reduce the timing-closure iterations often required between the logic and physical processes in conventional IC design flows. Magma also provides the PALACE(TM) and ArchEvaluator(TM) advanced physical synthesis and architecture development tools for programmable logic devices (PLDs). The company's stock trades on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol LAVA. Visit Magma Design Automation on the Web at www.magma-da.com.

Magma, Blast Fusion, Blast Noise and FixedTiming are registered trademarks, and ArchEvaluator, Blast Create, Blast Fusion APX, Blast Plan, Blast Rail, "The Fastest Path from RTL to Silicon," and PALACE are trademarks of Magma Design Automation. All other product and company names are trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective companies.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including statements that Magma tools will provide a smooth design flow and fast turnaround time and about the features and benefits of Magma's system, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially including, but not limited to, Magma's ability to keep pace with rapidly changing technology and its products ability to produce desired results. Further discussion of these and other potential risk factors may be found in Magma's Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2003 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on June 20, 2003, and from time to time in Magma's SEC reports. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Magma disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.