Cirrus Logic Sets New Price/Performance Standard With Low-Cost, PCI Audio Accelerator; SoundFusion Chip Provides High-Quality Audio For Sub-$1000 PC Market.

FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 30, 1997--Cirrus Logic Inc. (NASDAQ:CRUS) today solidified its audio technology leadership with the introduction of its new high-performance, low-cost SoundFusion(TM) PCI audio accelerator (CS4611), the newest member of the company's CrystalClear(TM) PC audio family of advanced audio products.

Based on the company's innovative SoundFusion technology, the CS4611 targets the cost-sensitive, sub-$1000 PC market by offering OEMs a set of core PCI-based audio features including multiple API support, advanced wavetable synthesis and state-of-the-art 3D positional audio.

The CS4611 accelerator enables a broad range of PC gaming and edutainment applications thanks to Cirrus Logic's SoundFusion technology, which accelerates the Microsoft(R) DirectSound3D(TM) and DirectShow APIs, as well as Aureal Semiconductor's A3D Interactive(TM) and A3D Surround(TM) APIs.

"With the introduction of the SoundFusion CS4611 accelerator, the CrystalClear PC audio family now offers high-quality 3D audio solutions at a range of price points," said Art Swift, vice president of marketing for Cirrus Logic's PC Products Division. "Our expertise in developing mixed-signal and DSP-based audio technology allows Cirrus Logic to deliver a home theater experience into the sub-$1000 PC space."

According to PC industry research firm Computer Intelligence, sales of PCs costing less than $1000 have increased to 23 percent of all retail desktop PC sales in July 1997, up from only 7.2 percent in January. David Tremblay, senior PC analyst at Computer Intelligence added, "The sub-$1000 PC market used to be close-out computers that featured yesterday's technology. Now, with PC manufacturers delivering low-cost systems that utilize new technologies, this market is set for explosive growth."

With its powerful 300 MIPs DSP engine and highly-efficient PCI interface, the new CS4611 offers OEMs and consumers state-of-the-art audio at a low price. Specifically, the CS4611's SLIMD (somewhat long instruction multiple data) DSP and DMA engines reduce the host CPU overhead required to manage the concurrent processing of multiple audio streams required by today's leading-edge multimedia applications. Accordingly, OEMs integrating advanced audio capability into next-generation designs can optimize system performance in support of emerging multimedia applications.

CrystalClear PC Audio Family

The CrystalClear PC audio family of products provides the quality and performance needed for fully immersive, true to life, CD quality sound on mainstream multimedia PCs. Cirrus Logic's CrystalClear PC audio family includes:

-- SoundFusion CS4610 PCI audio accelerator - The first single-chip audio solution to integrate Dolby(R) Digital (AC-3) decoding with industry leading audio APIs and DVD support

-- SoundFusion CS4297 AC'97 audio codec - Provides 90dB signal-to-noise ratio, and when coupled with a PCI audio accelerator, implements a cost-effective, full-featured, AC'97, 18-bit audio solution

-- CS4238B audio codec - Provides a single-chip multimedia audio system controller and codec that provides compatibility with ISA Plug-and-Play, SoundBlaster(R) and SoundBlaster Pro(TM) support and QSound 3D(R) sound technology.

-- CS4237B audio codec - Provides a single-chip multimedia audio system controller and codec that provides compatibility with ISA Plug-and-Play, SoundBlaster and SoundBlaster Pro support and SRS(R) 3D sound technology

-- CS4236B audio codec - Provides full SoundBlaster, SoundBlaster Pro, and Plug-and-Play ISA compatibility with 6-channel mixing. In addition, the CS4236B offers full programmable power management and hardware master volume control

-- CS4127, CS4215, CS4216 and CS4218 serial codecs - Industry-standard codecs for workstations and Apple Macintosh computers

-- CS9236 - The world's most integrated wavetable music synthesizer

Pricing/Availability

The CS4611 is currently sampling with production quantities set for early Q4. The device is pin-compatible with the high-performance SoundFusion CS4610 and is available in one of the industry's smallest packages, a 100-pin PQFP. The CS4611 is priced at $18 in 10K quantities.

Cirrus Logic

Cirrus Logic is a leading manufacturer of advanced integrated circuits for personal computing, communications, mass storage, consumer and industrial markets. The company's "systems in silicon" add high value and software richness to major brands worldwide. With a focus on innovating microperipheral chip solutions, Cirrus Logic is committed to technology leadership for the Interactive Age.

Cirrus Logic news releases may be obtained by fax by dialing 800/359-6414, or by dialing 510/249-4200 from outside the United States, or via the Internet on the World Wide Web at http://www.cirrus.com . -0-

Note to Editors: "SoundFusion" and "CrystalClear" are both trademarks of Cirrus Logic, Inc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

CONTACT: Cirrus Logic, Inc.

Tom Lasiter, 512/912-3140

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or

Tsantes & Associates

Christian Bateman, 408/452-8700

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