Microsoft Teams With Conexant to Deliver Video Encoding to the Xbox Video Game System.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 28, 2001

Conexant's Single-Chip Video Encoder Chosen For Its Industry-Leading

Performance And HDTV Output Capability

Conexant Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:CNXT), a worldwide leader in semiconductor system solutions for communications applications, today announced that its CX25871 video encoder solution has been chosen by Microsoft Corp. to connect the Xbox(TM) video game system to both digital and traditional analog television sets worldwide.

With the added benefit of high-definition television (HDTV) display capability, Xbox gamers will be able to experience the latest software gaming titles with more visual clarity than ever before.

Introduced in August 2000, Conexant's CX25871 is the first video encoding solution to provide ATSC HDTV output capability, true international support and adaptive flicker-filtering in a single chip.

"The Xbox video game system will be a mind-blowing experience for gamers of all abilities," said Todd Holmdahl, hardware general manager, Microsoft Games Division. "The superior image quality that Conexant's video encoder provides is one of the most critical elements for the success of Xbox. Features like HDTV output and adaptive flicker filtering, as well as the overall video quality of the CX25871, are unmatched in the industry, making it an ideal fit for the Xbox video game system."

"High-quality television display capability is at the epicenter of the gaming experience," said Gregory Fischer, vice president of marketing for Conexant's Digital Infotainment Division. "Microsoft's selection of the CX25871 for their flagship video console further defines our unique leadership role in video products. We are delighted to work closely with Microsoft on Xbox, transforming the average living room gaming experience into the ultimate in video realism."

The CX25871 video encoder complements NVIDIA's two key processors for the Xbox video game system, the Xbox Graphics Processing Unit (XGPU) and Xbox Media Communications Processor (MCPX). The NVIDIA solution along with Conexant's CX25871, has been incorporated into the first Xbox game developer kits, which were shipped to more than 40 qualified Xbox video game manufacturers in the fall of 2000.

"Together, NVIDIA and Conexant are taking the gaming experience to new levels," said Dan Vivoli, senior vice president of marketing for NVIDIA. "By combining two of the world's most advanced semiconductors, the MCPX and the XGPU, with Conexant's world-class video encoder, the unmatched synergy and industry-leading technologies will help deliver the world's most advanced gaming platform this fall."

Conexant is a leader in video-encoder chips, and has an 11-year track record in delivering video-encoding solutions. Conexant's solutions have helped popularize PC TV-out in systems offered by Compaq, Dell, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard, Sun and many others, as well as PC cards offered by manufacturers such as 3DFX and Creative Labs.

About Xbox

Xbox (http://www.xbox.com/) is Microsoft's future-generation video game system that delivers new and unforeseen gameplay experiences. With more than three times the graphics performance of the newest generation of game systems, Xbox unleashes game designers' creativity to produce games that are challenging, exhilarating, surprising and fun.

About Conexant Systems, Inc.

Conexant Systems, Inc. is a worldwide leader in semiconductor system solutions for communications applications. Conexant leverages its expertise in mixed signal processing to deliver integrated systems and semiconductor products through two separate businesses: Conexant and Mindspeed Technologies.

Conexant's personal networking business is focused on digital infotainment, personal imaging, wireless communications and personal computing products that are used in mobile communications and the broadband digital home. Mindspeed Technologies is focused on Internet infrastructure products including WAN transport, multiservice access and broadband access for applications that extend from the edge of the Internet all the way to its optical core.

Conexant has headquarters in Newport Beach, and delivered revenues of $2.1 billion for fiscal 2000. The company is a member of the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 indices. To learn more, visit the company at www.conexant.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release contains statements relating to future results of Conexant (including certain projections and business trends) that are "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: maintaining a consistent and reliable source of energy; global economic and market conditions, such as the cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry and the markets addressed by the company's and its customers' products; demand for and market acceptance of new and existing products; successful development of new products; the timing of new product introductions; the availability and extent of utilization of manufacturing capacity; pricing pressures and other competitive factors; changes in product mix; fluctuations in manufacturing yields; product obsolescence; the ability to develop and implement new technologies and to obtain protection for the related intellectual property; the successful separation of the company's Internet infrastructure and personal networking businesses; the ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; labor relations of the company, its customers and suppliers; and the uncertainties of litigation, as well as other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and the company undertakes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Note to Editors: Conexant is a trademark of Conexant Systems, Inc. Other brands and names contained in this release are the property of their respective owners. Xbox and Microsoft are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

Additional technical information is available on request.