Diamond Multimedia's Monster 3D Games Accelerator Chosen by Performance Leader Micron Electronics, Inc.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 6, 1996--Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: DIMD), a leader in Internet and desktop PC multimedia products, today announced that Micron Electronics, Inc. has chosen its Monster 3D high-performance 3D graphics accelerator as an option for its new line of Micron desktop systems.

"Diamond's Monster 3D employs powerful technology for no-compromise 3D gaming," said Jeff Moeser, director of desktop product marketing at Micron Electronics. "We are pleased to offer our customers the high-performance of Monster 3D for today's new generation of realistic, arcade-style 3D games."

"Micron is a key design win for the Monster 3D," stated David Watkins, vice president and general manager of Diamond Multimedia's Visual Systems Division. "Micron is known for its leading-edge PC technology and Monster 3D is state-of-the-art entertainment 3D for the PC."

Monster 3D is an advanced 3D-only pass-through subsystem that works seamlessly with an existing 2D or 2D/3D graphics accelerator. The pass-through feature allows Micron to combine the top 2D graphics performance of the Stealth 3D with the ultimate 3D performance from the Monster 3D.

Based on 3Dfx Interactive's Voodoo Graphics accelerator chipset and populated with 4MB of EDO DRAM, Diamond's Monster 3D provides consistently high frame rates and quality for the most demanding new 3D entertainment titles and future 3D web development tools. It is designed for the Windows 95 and DOS operating systems and is tuned for Microsoft's popular Direct3D application programming interface (API) as well as 3Dfx Interactive's Glide API. Glide is a popular API among both PC software developers and arcade developers such as ATARI and Williams.

The robust texture memory architecture of the Monster 3D allows for advanced 3D rendering without sacrificing system performance. Its high-performance 3D features include Z-buffer; perspective corrected texture mapping; bi-linear and advanced composite texture filtering; MIP-mapping; double-buffered Gouraud shading; texture compositing, morphing and animation; and per-pixel special effects for transparent and translucent objects.

The December issue of Computer Gaming World awarded "Computer Gaming Choice" to the Micron Home MPC, with Diamond's Monster 3D. "Diamond's Monster 3D accelerator is a perfect fit for the Micron Home MPC," said Joe Daltoso, CEO of Micron Electronics, Inc. "It really increases the 3D graphics performance and allows us to maintain a competitive price. Micron places a great deal of value on its relationships with vendors and is enthusiastic about working with Diamond Multimedia."

Micron Electronics, Inc. and its subsidiaries manufacture electronic products and provide services for a wide range of computing and digital applications. The company develops, markets, manufactures and supports PC systems for consumer, business, government and educational use.

In addition, Micron Custom Manufacturing Services, Inc., a subsidiary of Micron Electronics, Inc., provides custom contract manufacturing services to original equipment manufacturers. SpecTek, a division of Micron Electronics, Inc., recovers, assembles, tests, grades, and markets nonstandard random access memory components. Micron Electronics, Inc., common stock trades on the NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol MUEI. Product information is available by calling 800/515-9197 or via the company's home page on the Internet at http://www.mei.micron.com

Diamond Multimedia

Diamond Multimedia is driving the Internet multimedia market by providing interactivity and connectivity solutions for home, business and professional desktop computer users, enabling them to create, access and experience compelling new media content from their desktops and through the Internet. Products include the Stealth and Monster 3D series of media accelerators, the Fire GL series of professional 3D and CAD accelerators, and the Supra series of modems and NetCommander ISDN adapters.

Diamond also markets sound cards and multimedia and video phone upgrade kits. Headquartered in San Jose, CA, Diamond has sales, marketing and technical facilities in Vancouver (Wash.), Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo, Starnberg (Germany), Clichy (France) and Winnersh (U.K.). Diamond's products are sold through regional, national and international distributors as well as to major computer retailers, mass merchants and OEMs worldwide. Diamond's common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol DIMD.

How to Contact Diamond Multimedia

There are many ways to reach Diamond for sales support, technical assistance, driver updates and general information:

Internet Web Site: http://www.diamondmm.com Diamond Multimedia's Headquarters and Visual Systems Division: 408/325-7000; Fax: [phone] Communications Division (Supra brand modems) Main Phone Number: 360/604-1400; Fax: [phone] European Division (Germany): [phone]; (UK): [phone]; (France) [phone] Korean Office (Seoul): [phone]; Fax: [phone] Japanese Office (Tokyo): [phone]; Fax: [phone] ASEAN Office (Singapore): [phone]; Fax: [phone] Support Information Line for Communications: 800/774-4965 Product Support (Voice), Visual Systems: 408/325-7100;

Communications: 541-967-2450; Europe (Germany) [phone];

Europe (UK) [phone]; ISDN Support Center 408/325-7110;

Fire GL Support Center 408/325-7120 Product Support (Fax), Visual Systems: 408/325-7171; Communications:

541/967-2401; Europe (Germany) [phone];

Europe (UK): [phone]; (France) [phone] Pre-sales Information, Visual Systems: 800/468-5846; Communications:

800/727-8772 Investor Relations: 408/325-7476; Fax-On-Demand: 800/346-3329;

International Fax-On-Demand: 201/433-1778 24-Hour Fax-On-Demand Service, Visual Systems: 800/380-0030;

Communications: 541/967-0072 FTP sites: ftp.diamondmm.com; or Supra: ftp.supra.com BBS for Visual Systems 408/325-7080 (to 14.4 Kbps) or 408/325-7175 (to

28.8 Kbps) or 408/383-0551 (ISDN); Communications BBS: 541/967-2444; Europe (Germany) BBS at

[phone] (to 28.8 Kbps) or [phone] (ISDN); Europe (UK) at [phone]-

Note to Editors: Monster 3D, NetCommander and Supra are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc. All other trademarks referenced are the service mark, trademark or registered trademark of their respective manufacturers. This announcement relates to products offered for sale in the United States of America. The product names, contents, prices and availability may differ elsewhere in the world according to local factors and requirements.

CONTACT: Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc.

Joan Huang, 408/325-7236

Email: [e-mail]