New Synchronous Graphics RAM enables advanced graphics performance on high-end and mid-range systems.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 21, 1995-- NEC Electronics Inc. today expanded its high-performance DRAM offering with the introduction of an 8M synchronous graphics random access memory (SGRAM).

The uPD481850 conforms to the SGRAM specifications set forth by the Joint Electron Device Engineering Council (JEDEC) and operates up to 100 MHz.

With a bandwidth of 400 megabytes per second (MB/sec), the 8M SGRAM provides an attractive solution for high-end and mid-range graphics systems. The company expects to offer samples in May.

"Advanced graphics and video for multimedia are becoming mainstream on desktop computers. In addition, new operating systems such as Windows 95(TM) are expected to accelerate the adoption of ever-higher performance multimedia," said Cecil Conkle, senior product marketing manager for memory products at NEC Electronics Inc. "As a result, manufacturers of workstations, personal computers, and add-on graphics boards are looking for cost-effective memory solutions for their high-performance graphics and video display requirements. The SGRAM provides an attractive price/performance solution for this important market segment."

Features and Benefits

The 8M SGRAM is manufactured using a 0.45-micron CMOS process technology, the same process that is employed for the company's standard and high-performance 16M DRAM solutions. This enables NEC to easily adjust its manufacturing resources to accommodate customer demand. Organized as 128K words x 32 bits x 2 banks, a single SGRAM can store 256 colors for a 1,024 x 768 display. As a result, the SGRAM provides the right granularity for the "sweet spot" of SVGA displays, workstation displays, and frame-buffer upgrades.

The device operates synchronously from a 3.3-V power supply at speeds of 66, 83 and 100 MHz offering a basic bandwidth of up to 400 MB/sec. This enables systems designers to take full advantage of the computing performance offered by various advanced graphics controllers and high-speed CISC and RISC microprocessors. As a result, the device provides the necessary bandwidth required to quickly store and retrieve both static and moving images.

The SGRAM is essentially a synchronous DRAM with two additional key graphics-oriented features to further increase the effective bandwidth. These are write-per-bit (WPB) and block write (8 column). In addition, the SGRAM supports low-voltage TTL (LVTTL) interface specifications. The uPD481850 is housed in a low-cost, 100-pin plastic quad flat package (PQFP) with a footprint of 14 mm x 20 mm.

A New Category of DRAMs Emerges

The SGRAM is one of a group of high-performance memory options from NEC that already includes 16M synchronous DRAMs (SDRAMs) and Rambus(TM) DRAMs (RDRAMs)(TM). This extensive offering allows NEC to meet each customer's varying price/performance requirements.

"As the industry looks for higher bandwidth and higher speed DRAM alternatives, many system manufacturers have begun to transition their system designs to incorporate new synchronous interface memory architectures. As a result, a new category of DRAMs has emerged," said Conkle. "To date, this category has been referred to in a variety of different ways including `high performance,' `specialty' and `boutique.' Regardless of the terminology, NEC believes that RDRAMs, SDRAMs, and the new SGRAM, will be the dominant products in this new category."

Pricing and Availability

Samples of the uPD481850 are expected in May, with mass production slated for Q3 `95. The company expects to offer samples for approximately $97.40. By the end of 1995, the SGRAM is expected to sell for less than $35 in quantities of 10,000.

About NEC

NEC Electronics Inc., headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., manufactures and markets an extensive line of electronic products including ASICs, microprocessors and microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSPs), memories and components. The company operates a 676,000 square-foot manufacturing facility in Roseville, Calif. NEC Electronics Inc. is an affiliate of NEC Corporation (NIPNY), a $35 billion international manufacturer of computer, communications and semiconductor products. -0-

Note to Editors: Windows 95 is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Rambus and RDRAM are trademarks of Rambus, Inc.

CONTACT: NEC Electronics Inc.

Joany Winkler, 415/965-6495

[e-mail] (e-mail)

Literature Hotline, 800/366-9782

Outside the U.S., 415/965-6159