Phoenix Technologies announces support for AMD Cyrix OpenPIC multiprocessor interrupt controller specification; advanced firmware and worldwide support network will help enable new multi-processing systems.SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 20, 1995--Phoenix Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on :PTEC PTEC Pinellas Technical Education Centers (Clearwater, FL) PTEC Pharmacy Technician Educators Council PTEC Psychiatric Technician PTEC Plastics Technical Evaluation Center PTEC Page Table Edit Control ), the world's leading supplier of system-level firmware, Monday announced support for the AMD/Cyrix OpenPIC specification. The OpenPIC specification provides an open industry architecture and methodology standard for programmable interrupt controller See PIC. (integrated circuit) Programmable Interrupt Controller - PIC A special-purpose integrated circuit that functions as an overall manager in an interrupt driven system. (PIC) technology. This standard enables OEMs to quickly build a wide range of multiprocessor (MP) ready systems using any X86 CPU CPU in full central processing unit Principal component of a digital computer, composed of a control unit, an instruction-decoding unit, and an arithmetic-logic unit. . "The AMD/Cyrix OpenPIC standard meets the requirements of today's emerging high-performance symmetric multiprocessing (SMP (Symmetric MultiProcessing) A multiprocessing architecture in which multiple CPUs, residing in one cabinet, share the same memory. SMP systems provide scalability. As business increases, additional CPUs can be added to absorb the increased transaction volume. ) systems," said Clay Clatur, vice president of Phoenix Technologies' Desktop Division. "We believe this important new open industry specification will help enable robust X86 multiprocessing systems across the industry." Rob Herb, director of marketing for AMD's Personal Computer Products Division, commented, "AMD (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, www.amd.com) A major manufacturer of semiconductor devices including x86-compatible CPUs, embedded processors, flash memories, programmable logic devices and networking chips. believes that differentiation within standards fosters innovations. We're especially pleased that Phoenix will apply their global engineering network to supporting this open specification to help our mutual customers be more successful." Cyrix Corp.'s Vice President of marketing, Steve Domenik, added, "The OpenPIC specification is a prime example of how industry participants can work together to develop standards in the best interest of both suppliers and customers. Support from a technology leader like Phoenix will help make OpenPIC an open standard." The OpenPIC architecture specification has created a series of new demands for system firmware. Phoenix Technologies has enhanced its industry-leading PhoenixBIOS 4.0 product line to maximize the performance of MP systems using the OpenPIC architecture. Enhancements include extensions to the core BIOS firmware to correctly identify specific processors; to initialize To start anew, which typically involves clearing all or some part of memory or disk. chip sets with appropriate values to support the processor type, speed and cache; and to initialize the interrupt controller. The firmware also builds an interrupt controller table, and provides support for Plug and Play and power management. Phoenix Technologies Ltd. is the leading supplier of system-level software to PC manufacturers worldwide, and an emerging supplier of Phoenix-brand software to PC users. The company's system-level software products, such as PhoenixBIOS, NoteBIOS, MultiKey and PCM (1) See phase change memory. (2) (Plug Compatible Manufacturer) An organization that makes a computer or electronic device that is compatible with an existing machine. + allow PC manufacturers to increase product differentiation Product Differentiation A source of competitive advantage that depends on producing some item that is regarded to have unique and valuable characteristics. , reduce product cycle time to market as well as cut internal engineering costs. Capitalizing on its unique industry position and resources, Phoenix is developing an expanding family of software products for end users such as Phoenix Eclipse FAX, Phoenix Eclipse Find, Phoenix CD Essentials, Phoenix Home Office and Phoenix Telephony Suite that increase personal computer functionality, and make PCs easier to use. -0- Note to Editors: PhoenixBIOS, NoteBIOS, MultiKey, PCM+, Phoenix Eclipse FAX, Phoenix Eclipse Find, Phoenix CD Essentials and Phoenix Home Office are trademarks of Phoenix Technologies Ltd. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. CONTACT: Phoenix Technologies Ltd. George Adams, 408/452-6855 Jerry Ward, 714/440-8017 The Benjamin Group Inc. Elizabeth Deans, 714/753-0755 |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion