Cynergy System Design and MIPS Technologies Announce Availability of MIPS Jade Processor Models.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 2, 2000

Cynergy System Design, Inc., the premier provider of embedded system simulation solutions, today announced that MIPS Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:MIPS) is shipping an RTL-C(R) model of its MIPS32(TM) 4Kc(TM) processor core (code named "Jade") created using Cynergy's ArchGen(R) and ASVP Builder(TM) products. MIPS chose Cynergy's solutions to provide customers with early, accurate and fast Jade models in RTL-C, allowing embedded software developers to simulate virtual prototypes of system designs featuring Jade processors months earlier than is currently possible.

Brian Knowles, vice president of marketing for MIPS, said, "Our customers want faster time-to-market, so they are demanding clock-accurate models and they want these models available to software developers much earlier in the design process. Cynergy's solutions allow us to deliver accurate models of our Intellectual Property (IP) cores in a secure format earlier in the design process than is otherwise possible."

Recognized Need for Accurate C Models for Early System Simulation

Increasing design complexity and the fragmented design approaches currently seen in embedded system design have created the need for high-speed, clock-accurate models that allow fast system simulation early in the design process. Although there are competing solutions offering either accurate or early models of IP cores for system verification, Cynergy's solutions are the only products on the market today that provide both accurate and early models for embedded software developers. Cynergy's patented RTL-C technology also enables fast simulation and secure IP transport.

"Writing C models by hand is no longer a viable solution for the fast growing embedded systems market given the continuously increasing complexity of processor design," said Mike Uhler, chief architect at MIPS. "A graphical modeling methodology such as that provided by Cynergy's ArchGen makes derivative designs easier to implement and improves collaboration among everyone involved in the design process."

In current system-on-a-chip (SoC) design processes, design engineers must hand-code an instruction set simulator (ISS) and separate clock-accurate models to support system simulation tasks. Cynergy's solutions automatically generate clock-accurate C models from a single source, significantly accelerating model availability and ensuring consistent functional behavior between the two models.

Using Cynergy's ASVP Builder(TM), MIPS customers are able to integrate the clock-accurate Jade model with other application-specific C hardware models, and third-party commercial hardware and software debugging tools, to create complete custom system-level virtual prototypes for early design verification. The models can then be distributed to customers and partners in binary form as object code, protecting intellectual property. Also, the models are configurable at run-time, so customers can easily evaluate different options in the MIPS product line. The models do not require a separate simulator license or reliance on vendor-specific simulators.

Dr. Prem Jain, founder and CEO of Cynergy System Design, commented, "MIPS has a large installed base that needs clock-accurate models of its processors early in the system design process. MIPS selection of Cynergy's products to generate these models validates our approach as a viable alternative to proprietary ISSs. We expect that MIPS will make Cynergy part of its standard environment for generating processor models going forward."

About MIPS Technologies, Inc.

MIPS Technologies, Inc. is a leading provider of industry standard processor architectures and cores for digital consumer and network applications. The company drives the broadest architectural alliance that is delivering 32- and 64-bit embedded RISC solutions. The company licenses its intellectual property to semiconductor companies, ASIC developers, and system OEMs. MIPS Technologies, Inc. and its licensees offer the widest range of robust, scalable processors in standard, custom, semi-custom and application-specific products.

Licensees currently include: Alchemy Semiconductor, Inc.; Altera Corporation; ATI Technologies, Inc.; Broadcom Corporation; Centillium Communications, Inc.; Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing Ltd.; Conexant Systems, Inc.; empowerTel Networks, Inc. (formerly Lara Technologies); ESS Technology, Inc.; Gemplus SA; General Instrument Corporation; IDT; inSilicon Corporation; Integrated Telecom Express, Inc. (ITeX); LSI Logic Corporation; Macronix America, Inc.; Metalink Ltd.; Motorola Inc.; NEC Corporation; NeoMagic Corporation; NKK Corporation; Philips Semiconductors International B.V.; Quantum Effect Devices, Inc. (QED); QuickLogic Corporation; Sandcraft, Inc.; SiByte, Inc.; Sony Corporation; Synova Incorporated; Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC); Texas Instruments Incorporated; Toshiba Corporation; and Virata Corporation. Numerous companies utilize MIPS-based(TM) intellectual property. MIPS Technologies, Inc. is based in Mountain View, California, and can be reached at 650/567-5000 or http://www.mips.com.

About Cynergy

Cynergy System Design, Inc. is the premier provider of solutions for early and accurate simulation of embedded systems to companies developing System-On-a-Chip (SoC) and other embedded system products. Cynergy's solutions reduce design iterations and accelerate time-to-market for embedded system applications. Using Cynergy's products, embedded developers can create Application Specific Virtual Prototypes (ASVP) for simulation early in the SoC design process.

Cynergy's customers include Hughes Network Systems, LSI Logic, MIPS Technologies, Motorola, Toshiba, Visteon and VxTel. Cynergy (formerly CAE Plus) is a privately held company founded by Dr. Prem Jain. The Company's investors include Broadband Venture Partners, LLC, Motorola Semiconductor Products Sector, and a major Japanese semiconductor company. Cynergy is offering its solutions through a subscription-based pricing model.

Cynergy is based in Austin, Texas, and has sales and support offices in Santa Clara, California. Cynergy's offices located in Noida, India provide consulting and support services to customers worldwide. For more information please call 512/338-0165, or visit our website at www.cynergysd.com.

Note to Editors: RTL-C(R) and ArchGen(R) are registered trademarks, and Afterburner(TM) and ASVP-Builder(TM) are trademarks of Cynergy System Design, Inc. (formerly CAE Plus, Inc.) MIPS(R), MIPS3(R) and MIPS64(R) are registered trademarks of MIPS Technologies, Inc. All other marks are property of their respective owners.