Cypress Ships High-Bandwidth QuadPort RAM; Next-Generation Communications Memory Optimized for Networking, Wireless Infrastructure and Storage Applications.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 21, 2001

Cypress Semiconductor (NYSE:CY) today announced the availability of production volumes of its 1 Mbit QuadPort(TM) RAM, the next-generation, bandwidth-optimized family of synchronous memories designed for applications in the wide-area and storage-attached networking (WAN and SAN) markets. The family was developed in conjuction with EMC, the world's leading provider of information storage infrastructure systems, for a new storage application.

The QuadPort RAM's four completely independent ports can simultaneously access its 1 Mbit (64K x 18-bit) memory array and operate in different frequency domains. Each port can write at 133 MHz, giving the device up to 9.6 Gbps of data throughput or bandwidth. The QuadPort RAM provides simultaneous access to the memory array by up to four separate processors, ASICs, complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs), physical layer transceivers (PHYs), or buses.

The device can be used in innovative ways to enhance the architecture of high-performance communications systems. In a typical application it can function as a four-ported (2 x 2) shared memory switch fabric, a 3:1 or 1:3 buffered MUX/DEMUX, a packet snooping engine for packet header manipulation, or a redundant data path generator for fault-tolerant systems.

"The 1 Mbit QuadPort RAM empahsizes Cypress's commitment to provide innovative, high-bandwidth and high-density solutions in specialty memories, targeted at the needs of the communications market," said Christopher Norris, Cypress vice president of data communications. "This device will cause system designers to view specialty memories as a critical component of their architecture, rather than just a memory buffer afterthought. The collaboration between Cypress and EMC helped Cypress create the best QuadPort RAM product for the communications marketplace, and helped EMC solve many critical design issues."

Cypress Specialty Memories

Cypress offers several families of high-performance, deep and wide specialty memory devices. The company's high-bandwidth memories address the demands of WANs, wireless infrastructure equipment and storage applications. They are also used to facilitate the transfer and storage of the volumes of data required by the growing number of end-users on the Internet.

Bandwidth, the amount of data throughput of a device, can be increased on a memory by several methods -- increasing the number of access ports, widening the word width of devices, increasing clock speeds, or any combination of these methods. Currently at the 10 Gbps performance level, Cypress aims to achieve 25 Gbps in the near future.

Price and Availability

The 1 Mbit QuadPort RAM (CY7C0430V) is offered in a 272-ball BGA package measuring 27 mm x 27 mm with a 1.27 mm lead pitch. Production quantities are available now, priced at $98.00 in volumes of 10,000.

About Cypress

Cypress Semiconductor is "Driving the Communications Revolution"(TM) by providing high-performance integrated circuit solutions to fast-growing markets, including data communications, telecommunications, computation, consumer products, and industrial control. With a focus on emerging communications applications, Cypress's product portfolios include high-speed data communications ICs; networking-optimized and micropower static RAMs; high-bandwidth multi-port and FIFO memories; high-density programmable logic devices; timing technology solutions; and controllers for Universal Serial Bus (USB). Cypress is No. 1 in the USB and clock chip markets.

More than two-thirds of Cypress's sales come from fast-growing communications markets and dynamic companies such as Alcatel, Cisco, Ericsson, Lucent, Motorola, Nortel Networks, and 3Com. Cypress's ability to mix and match its broad portfolio of intellectual property enables targeted, integrated solutions for high-speed systems that feed bandwidth-hungry Internet applications. Cypress aims to become the preferred silicon supplier for Internet switching systems and for every Internet data stream to pass through at least one Cypress IC.

Cypress employs more than 4,500 people worldwide with international headquarters in San Jose, California. Its shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CY. More information about Cypress is accessible electronically on the company's World Wide Web site at http://www.cypress.com.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements herein that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" involving risks and uncertainties, including by not limited to: the effect of global economic conditions, shifts in supply and demand, market acceptance, the impact of competitive products and pricing, product development, commercialization and technological difficulties, and capacity and supply constraints. Please refer to Cypress's Securities and Exchange Commission filings for a discussion of such risks.

Note to Editors: QuadPort and "Driving the Communications Revolution" are trademarks of Cypress Semiconductor.