Dell Selects Crystal Semiconductor's Single-Chip Audio Solution For New Line of OptiPlex Corporate PCs; Industry leaders join forces to integrate single-chip audio on motherboard.

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 11, 1996--Crystal Semiconductor Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Cirrus Logic Inc. (NASDAQ:CRUS), announced today that its CS4236 audio integrated circuit (IC) solution will be incorporated into Dell Computer Corp.'s new line of OptiPlex-GXi corporate desktop PCs.

With this announcement, Dell becomes one of the first manufacturers of mainstream corporate PCs to integrate a high- quality, single-chip audio solution on the motherboard.

Dell chose Crystal's CS4236 because it is the only audio IC that meets or exceeds all the requirements of Microsoft's Windows 95 and Windows NT operating systems, plus upcoming PC 97 requirements. To meet these requirements, the CS4236 features include Plug-and-Play compatibility, full-duplex operation and true 16-bit CD-quality sound (greater than 80 dB signal-to-noise ratio). The CS4236 also includes a complete suite of Microsoft- and Dell-qualified drivers that enable Dell's OptiPlex-GXi to earn the Windows 95 Plug-and-Play logo from Microsoft's Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL).

"Crystal is proud to have a world-class company like Dell choose our products to meet its corporate desktop audio requirements," explained Jim Moore, vice president and general manager of Crystal's Computer Products Division. "Dell's selection shows once again that Crystal continues to lead the industry in bringing feature-rich, high-quality audio to the motherboard."

OptiPlex-GXi Meets Growing Corporate Multimedia Demand

Dell's OptiPlex-GXi system is designed for corporate and institutional users who require highly reliable multimedia systems in a networked environment. With Crystal's audio IC, Dell's OptiPlex-GXi system fulfills a growing need for multimedia audio capabilities, such as speaker phones, videoconferencing, and multimedia-enriched Internet and Intranet communication.

"The corporate desktop is the last major PC category that does not generally have sound capability," explained a Dataquest focus report from September 9, 1996 titled, "Audio Chips Let PCs Be Heard and Not Just Seen." The report continued, "Future applications such as desktop videoconferencing and greater computer/telephony integration create demand for audio features in corporate markets."

The OptiPlex-GXi is a Pentium Pro processor-based system, optimized for Windows NT. OptiPlex-GXi combines error correcting code (ECC) and 72-bit EDO memory, AutoShutdown, ThermalShutdown, and other advanced technologies with industry-wide compatibility.

Crystal's CS4236 Meets Motherboard Audio Demands

The CS4236's high level of integration translates to small device-size, low cost and a rich feature set, making it ideal for desktop, notebook, green PC and handheld computers. The device is the first 16-bit audio codec with on-chip sample rate converters to provide complete register and functional compatibility for Microsoft Windows Sound System and SoundBlaster Pro.

The CS4236 features a fully-compliant Plug-and-Play Specification 1.0a ISA interface, and delivers a comprehensive audio solution including Crystal's industry-standard digital audio playback and record codec and MPC-3 compliant audio mixing. The device also features advanced power management (APM) and external digital volume control. The CS4236 is part of a family of pin-compatible devices that includes the CS4237 and CS4238 which incorporate 3-dimensional sound.

Crystal Semiconductor Corp.

Crystal Semiconductor Corp., headquartered in Austin, designs, manufactures and markets advanced analog and digital integrated circuits for applications in the multimedia, telecommunications, data communications, consumer audio, data conversion and signal acquisition markets.

For more information regarding the CS4236 and other multimedia audio codec products, contact Crystal Semiconductor Corp., 4210 S. Industrial Drive, Austin, Texas 78744; Telephone [phone] or 800-888-5016; Fax [phone], WWW http://www.crystal.com/. -0-

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CONTACT: Crystal Semiconductor Corp.

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