Sage Launches Dual Interface Display Processors for Mainstream XGA and SXGA Flat Panel Markets.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

MILPITAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 30, 2001

s9330 display processors incorporate dual interface with integrated

microcontroller and advanced scaling

Sage Inc. (Nasdaq:SAGI), a leading provider of digital display processors for PC-display and consumer technology products, today announced two highly integrated dual-interface display processors that reduce overall system costs. As Sage's strongest entrant into the mainstream dual-interface flat panel market, the s9330 product family integrates four major components onto one chip: ADC/PLL, DVI Rx with HDCP, scaling engine and industry-proven microcontroller. The s9330-100 (XGA) and s9330-135 (SXGA) display processors use Sage's proprietary core technologies to provide the most cost-effective and flexible solutions required by the XGA and SXGA flat panel markets.

According to Ross Young, president of leading FPD market research firm DisplaySearch, "The dual interface display market is the fastest growing segment of the LCD monitor market, rising 39% sequentially in Q4 2000 and is expected to rise 33% sequentially in Q1 2001. It rose three times faster than competing interface solutions in Q4 2000. Between Q4 2000 and Q4 2002, the market share for dual interface LCD monitors is expected to more than double to 35%. As a result, Sage is positioned to capture much of this growth with its new s9330 product."

The s9330 display processors feature EMI reduction using proprietary Transition Minimization Logic (TML) with an option to externally support industry-standard spread spectrum ICs. Incorporating a programmable industry-proven 80186-compatible microprocessor enables the s9330 to drive and interface with a variety of LCD modules targeted at both the XGA and SXGA markets. Sage has also built in a standalone internal pattern generator that requires no external input, for greater ease of manufacturing. Additionally, the new display processors include a bitmapped or character-based OSD, support for Sync on Green, spatio-temporal dithering and digital brightness/contrast control.

"The dual interface is here to stay, with the entire LCD market eventually moving away from straight analog or digital systems," said Chandra Reddy, CEO of Sage. "Sage technology cores are solid and can be ported over multiple product lines, and the dual interface s9330 product provides our flat panel customers with manufacturing flexibility and reduced costs."

The s9330 products will use Sage's proven industry standard DVI (digital video interface receiver) with HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) core and high-speed ADC (Analog to Digital Converter), both of which were developed in-house by Sage and are currently shipped in its Jaguar product family. Products compliant with DVI standards allow manufacturers to save costs by eliminating digital-to-analog conversion functions, eventually eliminating analog technology. Intel developed HDCP to protect digital content transmitted/received using DVI interfaces. The s9330's DVI Rx with HDCP core was recently tested at DAVE III, a DDWG Group plug test event in Hawaii for DVI and HDCP compatibility, and was found to be fully compliant.

"DVI has shown itself to be the de facto standard for interfacing digital displays and computers, and Intel's High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) enables a new class of content protection for PC and consumer displays," said Mark Waring, DVI strategic initiative manager of Intel Corporation.

Pricing and Availability

Available in a 208-pin PQFP package at prices of $18 (s9330-100) and $22 (s9330-135) in volume quantities, samples are currently available.

About Sage

Headquartered in Milpitas, Calif., Sage Inc. (Nasdaq:SAGI) is a leading provider of digital display processors, enabling superior picture quality for a variety of consumer technology and PC-display products ranging from web appliances to TVs and flat panel monitors. Through its acquisition of Faroudja Laboratories, the Company also provides high-end home theater equipment providing unrivaled pictured quality, and digital broadcast upconverter products that provide a range of modular solutions for broadcasters, cable and satellite services. Leveraging Emmy-award winning Faroudja technology, Sage is developing products that bring the home theater experience to the mass consumer and PC-display market through digitally enhanced television, projection displays, DVDs and internet appliances. The Company's systems-on-a-chip technology provides highly integrated mixed signal and system functionality with higher picture quality than lower-quality processors at a similar component cost. Sage's display processors, which include Faroudja digital video processors, are used by world-renowned consumer electronics manufacturers such as Compaq, Fujitsu, Hyundai, LG, NEC, Philips, Samsung, Sanyo, Sony and Toshiba. More information about Sage can be found on its web site at www.sageinc.com; the Company may be contacted directly at [phone].

For a discussion of factors that could cause actual results to differ please see the publicly available SEC filings of Sage including its 10K for the year ended March 31, 2000 and particularly the discussion of risk factors within such documents.

All trademarks are those of their respective companies. All other products or company names mentioned are used for identification purposes only, and may be trademarks of their respective owners.