Cirrus Logic Consumer Network Attached Storage Reference Design Speeds Time-to-Market, Lowers System Cost.

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Cirrus Logic Inc. (Nasdaq:CRUS):

NAS Reference Design Includes Complete Software Solution, Addresses Growing Market for Consumer Storage and Management of Digital Multimedia Content

Cirrus Logic Inc. (Nasdaq:CRUS), a world leader in high-precision digital audio processing, mixed-signal integrated circuits and embedded ARM processors, today announced the availability of a new reference design for the fast-growing consumer Network Attached Storage (NAS) market.

Cirrus Logic's reference design gives ODMs and OEMs a comprehensive solution that includes not only a cost-effective and powerful hardware implementation but also a full set of software features. This total solution enables them to rapidly deliver competitive consumer network storage devices at new lower price points ranging from entry-level systems to full-featured NAS products, all based upon Cirrus Logic's EP9312 ARM9(TM)-based embedded processor.

As consumers accumulate digital multimedia content, the market for NAS servers in the home is growing rapidly, according to research firm IDC. "Consumer multimedia content is growing, and as a result personal NAS devices are moving into the home," stated John Rydning, IDC's research manager for hard disk drives. "The overall market for personal storage devices is expected to grow from approximately 11 million units in 2005 to over 70 million by 2009 (source: IDC Worldwide Hard Disk Drive 2005-2009 Forecast Update, October 2005), with a growing percentage of these units delivered as personal NAS solutions."

The EP9312 ARM9-based system-on-a-chip offers an ideal level of performance and feature integration in a single chip. This includes an integrated Ethernet port, dual hard-drive controller interface for future upgradeability, and three USB connections to enable the NAS product to directly connect to a wide range of peripherals such as printers, flash drivers and digital audio players.

The Cirrus Logic NAS reference design also includes software which provides not only the standard NAS feature set but also enhanced features such as:

--Simplified installation for the consumer with auto-detect functionality;

--Print server application, enabling quicker and easier network printing;

--Consumer ease of use with hot-pluggable support for external storage device support (HDD, Flash drive);

--Customizable user interface, allowing OEMs to easily modify and differentiate their products.

"Cirrus Logic is already a leading provider of embedded ARM(R) processors for networked media products such as internet radios, JPEG viewers, IP set top boxes and audio jukeboxes," said John Delfeld, director of marketing for Cirrus Logic's Embedded Processor Division. "Our new NAS reference design, combined with our EP9312 SOC, extends our solutions in the networked consumer products market and provides customers a way to get to market quickly with a family of products ranging from low-end NAS products to more sophisticated NAS products."

The EP9312 provides additional features, such as integrated audio and display functions, making it ideally suited for media NAS server products. Integrated audio features include SPI, I2S and AC'97 with six-channel 24-bit audio, and it also supports a wide array of software codecs including MP3, WMA and AAC. The integrated display interface and 2-D graphics accelerator provides a powerful user interface to access content and view JPEGs directly from the NAS product. TV out timing and interface signal support also enable JPEG pictures to be viewed from a TV.

Cirrus Logic Inc.

Cirrus Logic develops high-precision, analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits for a broad range of consumer and industrial markets. Building on its diverse analog mixed-signal patent portfolio, Cirrus Logic delivers highly optimized products for consumer and commercial audio, automotive entertainment and industrial applications. The company operates from headquarters in Austin, Texas, with offices in Colorado, Europe, Japan and Asia. More information about Cirrus Logic is available at www.cirrus.com.

Cirrus Logic and Cirrus are trademarks of Cirrus Logic Inc. ARM is a registered trademark of ARM Limited. ARM9 is a trademark of ARM Limited. All other product names noted herein may be trademarks of their respective holders.