I-Cube Introduces New PSX Family of Devices for High Performance Bus Switching Applications; High Speed Bus Switching Capability Supports Trend Toward Switched Design Paradigm.

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 15, 1995--I-Cube, Inc. has introduced the PSX family of high speed Programmable Switching & Interconnect Devices (PSID) targeted at high performance bus switching applications found in telecommunications, networking, image processing and parallel processing.

At the core of the PSX family is a non-blocking, enhanced crossbar architecture. The PSX devices offer high speed switching of 4, 8, 16 and 32-bit datapaths with support for multicasting. The device's RapidConnect(TM) feature allows on-the-fly connection changes in as little as 20 nanoseconds. A unique bank switching feature enables these devices to change the entire switch configuration instantaneously.

The move from shared media architectures to switched design architectures is accelerating as designers are faced with increasing bandwidth demands. "Designers are going to move to switched architectures as they start to run into bandwidth limitations with shared media," according to Jeff Prince, a senior member of the technical staff at Centillion Networks. "You see it across the board: switched ATM, switched Ethernet, switched Token Ring, even switched bus applications."

"The PSX family is specifically targeted for applications that will benefit from a switched paradigm," said Kent Dahlgren, Director of Marketing at I-Cube. "In PCI, we are already seeing applications that strain the 132 MB per second limits of 32-bit, 33 MHz PCI. With the PSX, designers can move to a switched PCI architecture that will achieve much higher aggregate bandwidth without going to 64-bit or 66-MHz PCI."

ATM systems are another example of the trend toward switched architectures. Jeff Prince of Centillion Networks says, "As bandwidth increases, shared memory designs start running out of steam. I-Cube's PSX switch devices are a very cost effective way to achieve high bandwidth." A single PSX device supports a bandwidth of 8 Gbs.

The PSX family includes the PSX96B with 96 I/O ports and the PSX160 with 160 I/O ports. In support of high bandwidth requirements the PSX devices offer both time and space multiplexing. In addition, the devices provide flow-through, registered and latched data flow modes with identical and predictable delays. The PSX architecture also provides port connection flexibility and supports one-to-one, one-to-many and many-to-one connections.

PSX devices are 100% JTAG compliant and are fabricated with 0.6micron CMOS technology. The parts are available now. The PSX96B is priced at $39.09 in quantities of 5000. The PSX160 is priced at $56.69 in quantities of 5000.

I-Cube, Inc. is the originator of the Programmable Switching & Interconnect Device (PSID(TM)). I-Cube's high performance, non-blocking switching technology provides cost effective bandwidth management solutions for high-performance systems targeted at rapidly expanding markets in telecommunications, high speed networking, image processing, and computer design. The company supports these applications through both general purpose and focused, application specific devices. Privately held, the company is funded by its founders, private investors and venture capital.

CONTACT: I-Cube, Inc., Santa Clara

Kent Dahlgren or Shrikant Sathe (international),

408/986-1077

or

Pacifico, Inc.

Scott Murray, 408/293-8600