Cirrus Logic Demonstrates Extensive Portfolio of Windows 95-compatible products.

REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 24, 1995--At the formal launch of Windows(r) 95 here today, Cirrus Logic Inc. (Nasdaq: CRUS) demonstrated a broad portfolio of products to support Microsoft's much anticipated operating system.

From software-rich multimedia chips to communications products offering both wireline and wireless links, Cirrus Logic showcased one of the industry's broadest range of Windows 95-compatible solutions.

"As the market leader in multimedia graphics and audio chips, we consider Windows 95 an exceptional opportunity to add higher value and differentiation to our customers' products," said George Alexy, Senior Vice President of Marketing. "Our customers' customers will be the ultimate beneficiaries as our products support Windows 95 to deliver a more exciting multimedia experience and enhanced communications capabilities."

In addition to commanding major shares within key segments of the multimedia chip market, Cirrus Logic is also a major supplier of PC-Card host adapters, power-managed system logic, fax/data/voice modem chip sets, CDPD wireless products, and mass storage controller chips all compatible with Windows 95. Using Microsoft's special launch event to showcase the breadth and depth of its product portfolio, Cirrus Logic demonstrated several of its Windows 95-compatible products within both desktop and portable/mobile computing environments.

Multimedia

Coincident with Microsoft's special launch event, Cirrus Logic unveiled the newest addition to its popular Alpine family of graphics accelerators, a high-performance 64-bit chip (CL-GD5436) that fully supports the "DirectDraw" feature of Windows 95. Microsoft selected this top-of-class accelerator for the evaluation boards that will be included in its Software Development Kit for game developers. The new chip employs a "transparent BLT" feature to significantly boost the speed of graphics for games applications.

Crystal Semiconductor, a Cirrus Logic subsidiary, demonstrated CD-quality sound for the games environment with its audio system controller and codec (CS4232). Supporting the "DirectSound" feature of Windows 95, this highly integrated chip is the first audio codec to be fully compatible across SoundBlaster(tm) Pro, Microsoft Windows Sound System(r) and "Plug and Play".

In another desktop demonstration of multimedia capabilities, Cirrus Logic showed how its integrated video/graphics accelerator (CL-GD5440) combines with audio codecs (CS4232 and CS9233) from Crystal Semiconductor to create cinema-quality video and CD-quality sound. The video/graphics chip accelerates both graphics and video playback, and is the only such single-chip device on the market to achieve realistic, 30 frames-per-second video quality at 1024 x 768 resolution using only one megabyte of video/graphics memory.

Portable/Mobile Computing

Both "DirectDraw" and "DirectVideo" support were demonstrated in the portable/mobile computing environment with Cirrus Logic's recently introduced LCD video/graphics accelerator (CL-GD7543). This leadership chip was industry's first accelerator to bring desktop-equivalent video/graphics capabilities to portable/mobile computers.

Also supporting Windows 95 portable/mobile computing is the just announced Vesuvius chip set from PicoPower Technology, a business unit of Cirrus Logic. Vesuvius provides the convenience and safety of "hot docking" -- wherein a fully powered portable computer can be connected to or disconnected from a docking station with no damage or data loss.

Rounding out its demonstration of portable/mobile computing solutions, Cirrus Logic showed its PCI-to-PC Card host adapter (CL-GPD6729) at work. This device fully supports "Plug-and-Play" at the PC Card interface.

Communications

In demonstrating its data/fax/voice modem chip set (CL-MD14143UN), Cirrus Logic showed this V.32bis solution running with VoiceView software in a PC Card format. This chip set fully supports the communications features of Windows 95, including TAPI (Telephony Application Programming Interface), business audio and .wav drivers as well as "Plug-and-Play".

Wireless communications support of Windows 95 was underscored by the Ubiquity(tm) product line from PCSI, a Cirrus Logic subsidiary. By simply attaching PCSI's compact Ubiquity system to the serial port of any portable computer, the user gains access to three wireless and two wireline modes of communications. PCSI showed the speed and convenience of using CDPD (Cellular Digital Packet Data) communications to connect with America On Line and World Wide Web sites.

Headquartered in Fremont, Calif., Cirrus Logic is a leading manufacturer of advanced integrated circuits for the desktop and portable computing, telecommunications, and consumer electronics markets. The company applies its system-level expertise in analog and digital design to innovate highly integrated, software-rich solutions. Cirrus Logic has developed a broad portfolio of products and technologies for applications spanning multimedia, graphics, communications, system logic, mass storage, and data acquisition. -0-

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CONTACT: Cirrus Logic

Janet Freeman, 510/226-2259

Connie Duncan, 510/226-2346

or

Crystal Semiconductor

Tom Agler, 512/912-3701

or

PCSI

Gwen Carlson, 619/535-9500