Cypress to Support Very-High-Speed DSPs With x24 Memory Product; Fast Low-Power Memory Underscores Benefits of Galvantech Acquisition.

Business Editors and High Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 19, 2000

Cypress Semiconductor Corporation (NYSE:CY) today introduced a fast 3-Mbit asynchronous SRAM in an optimized x24 configuration for DSP-based communications applications. Providing access times as fast as 9 ns, the device keeps pace with today's high performance DSPs.

The CY7C1024AV33 meets the 24-bit data path requirements of Motorola's DSP56000 and DSP56300 families, which have become the preferred solution for applications such as digital audio, next-generation smart networking infrastructure systems for wireless communications, and Internet Protocol (IP) telephony.

The new SRAM was designed by Galvantech Inc., which Cypress acquired last month and merged into its memory products division (MPD). The acquisition brings Cypress a product portfolio focused on ultra-high-density, ultra-high-bandwidth memories for emerging data communications applications.

"Cypress has been steadily increasing its penetration of the market for memories used in bandwidth-hungry applications, such as switches and routers for the Internet," said Tony Alvarez, senior vice president of Cypress's MPD. "Galvantech's memories compliment Cypress's existing portfolio very well. The CY7C1024AV33 is a case in point; our customer wanted the x24 organization. This new x24 organization complements our 1 and 4-Mbit, x16 offerings."

Fabricated using a double-layer metal, low-power CMOS process technology, the 128K x24 CY7C1024AV33 dissipates just 165 mA at 3.3 V in active mode. Running on a single 3.3-volt power supply, the CY7C1024AV33 also offers a low-power standby mode when the chip is not selected.

The new device also provides a more efficient solution for the Motorola processors. "Previously the alternative was to combine a 2-Mbit, x16 chip with a 1-Mbit, x8 device," said Mat Arcoleo, marketing manager for MPD. "The CY7C1024AV33 is a single-chip solution with world-class speed and power specifications."

The CY7C1024AV33 also comes in 10-, 12-, and 15-ns versions, in a 100-pin TQFP package. Samples are available now, priced at $12 in quantities of 10,000. Cypress also plans to offer the new chip in a 119-bump ball-grid-array (BGA) package with engineering samples available in June.

Galvantech's communications-focused memory portfolio is wholly synergistic to Cypress's. Cypress currently offers networking SRAMs in the 1- to 4-Mbit range at a maximum speed of 167 MHz. With the Galvantech acquisition, Cypress' portfolio will expand to the 8-Mb density immediately and to 16-Mb later this year.

Galvantech also complements Cypress on the account side, with important design wins at strategic Cypress communications accounts, such as Lucent and Cisco, and at startup communications companies, such as Redback and Extreme Networks.

Cypress Semiconductor provides high-performance integrated circuit solutions "By Engineers. For Engineers.(tm)" for fast-growing companies in fast-growing markets, including data communications, telecommunications, computation, consumer products, and industrial-control.

With a focus on emerging communications applications, Cypress's product lines include networking-optimized and micropower static RAMs; high-bandwidth multiport and FIFO memories; high-density programmable logic devices; timing technology for PCs and other digital systems; 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 datacom/telecom markets and dynamic companies such as Alcatel, Cisco, Ericsson, Lucent, Motorola, and 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 to have every Internet data stream pass through at least one Cypress IC.

Cypress employs more than 3,900 people worldwide with international headquarters in San Jose, California. More information about Cypress is accessible electronically on the company's worldwide web site at http://www.cypress.com. An electronic investor forum and other investor information is located at http://www.cypress.com/investor/index.html.

"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. Please refer to Cypress's Securities and Exchange Commission filings for a discussion of such risks.