Mentor Graphics Collaborates with VIA to Deliver PCB Reference Designs for Leading Microprocessor Suppliers.

WILSONVILLE, Ore. -- Mentor Graphics Corporation (Nasdaq:MENT), the market and technology leader in printed circuit board (PCB) design solutions, today announced its collaboration with VIA Technologies, Inc., a Taiwan-based company, to provide reference designs for use with the Expedition(TM) Series design flow for VIA's next-generation chipsets called P4M800/Pro, PT894/Pro and K8T890/Pro. These reference designs, only available through VIA, accelerate the creation of computer motherboard designs using VIA devices with the Expedition design flow. These reference designs enable Expedition users to re-use design data for high-speed or complex designs, significantly reducing design risk and time, while increasing design quality.

"This collaborative effort with VIA enables our customers to meet and exceed performance and time-to-market goals," said Henry Potts, vice president and general manager of Mentor Graphics Systems Design Division. "We are providing our customers with yet another tool to achieve optimal system performance while accelerating design processes and improving overall design quality of their motherboard designs."

Microprocessors, and their associated chipsets, continue to increase in density, speed and pin count. This makes it increasingly difficult for printed circuit board designers to meet interconnect timing and signal integrity constraint challenges while placing and routing these complex microprocessor components on the board. To facilitate design-in of VIA chipsets, VIA provides their customers with motherboard reference designs for each of the industry's most popular microprocessors, including VIA's own processor. These reference designs include schematic symbols, footprints, and fan-outs for all parts on the board, including the VIA parts.

"Customer demand for Mentor Graphics(R) Expedition Series continues to grow in our market," said Weber Chuang, director of technical marketing of VIA Technologies, Inc. "We see tremendous value in providing this service to our customers that use Mentor Graphics tools."

For more information on the VIA Reference Designs for Expedition, go to www.mentor.com/products/pcb/expedition/design_kits/index.cfm#ref

About Expedition

The Expedition Series offers advanced functionality with ease-of-use for the creation of today's most complex PCB designs. The Expedition Series features the industry's best place and route environment, powered by AutoActive(R) technology and ideal for high-speed, complex and advanced technology boards. http://www.mentor.com/expedition/

About Mentor Graphics

Mentor Graphics Corporation (Nasdaq:MENT) is a world leader in electronic hardware and software design solutions, providing products, consulting services and award-winning support for the world's most successful electronics and semiconductor companies. Established in 1981, the company reported revenues over the last 12 months of over $700 million and employs approximately 3,850 people worldwide. Corporate headquarters are located at 8005 S.W. Boeckman Road, Wilsonville, Oregon 97070-7777; Silicon Valley headquarters are located at 1001 Ridder Park Drive, San Jose, California 95131-2314. World Wide Web site: http://www.mentor.com/

About VIA Technologies

VIA Technologies, Inc. is the foremost fabless supplier of market-leading core logic chipsets, low-power x86 processors, advanced connectivity, multimedia, networking and storage silicon, and complete platform solutions that are driving system innovation in the PC and embedded markets.

Headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, VIA's global network links the high-tech centers of the US, Europe and Asia, and its customer base includes the world's top OEMs, motherboard vendors and system integrators. VIA is registered on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE:2388).

Mentor Graphics and AutoActive are registered trademarks and Expedition is a trademark of Mentor Graphics Corporation. All other company or product names are the registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.