Sandcraft, Inc. Names Three Leading Computer Scientists to Technical Advisory Board.

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 7, 1999--

Group Includes RISC Processing Pioneer David Patterson at U.C.

Berkeley, Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University and Korean

Advanced Institute of Science & Technology

SandCraft, Inc. today announced that three distinguished computer scientists have agreed to work with the company as members of a Technical Advisory Board.

Each of the three researchers -- Todd Mowry, Ph.D., David Patterson, Ph.D., and Euisik ("James") Yoon, Ph.D. -- will provide SandCraft with a window into future computer processing technologies and provide guidance on the development of advanced architectures.

Dr. Patterson, a member of University of California at Berkeley faculty since 1977, led the research and design program for RISC 1, which became the foundation for the SPARC architecture. He is currently directing projects in large scale computing using networks of workstations, and the development of novel microprocessors using intelligent DRAM (IRAM). SandCraft has provided Patterson's student design-team with access to an early version of the design database for its own RISC processor core, the SR1.

"SandCraft's approach to processor design recognizes that the most exciting opportunities for innovation lie in media-rich consumer appliances and other non-traditional computing systems," said Dr. Patterson. "The company is pushing the performance of an industry-leading RISC architecture, and it is a real benefit to our students to have the opportunity to see the development work as it occurs."

Norman Yeung, president and CEO of SandCraft, described the newly formed Technical Advisory Board as a resource that will provide additional insight on developments in processor architecture and requirements for advanced systems. This outside perspective complements the company's in-house research and development programs and helps to create a balance between the immediate requirements of System-on-Chip (SoC) product development and the longer-term definition of new approaches to technology and processor design.

"SandCraft's success is based on its ability to focus on implementation of processor designs to power the next generation of consumer electronics and high-performance embedded computing systems, and to deliver these designs to licensees as cores or complete integrated circuit designs," said Yeung.

"The Technical Advisory Board provides our design teams with additional sources of information on advancements in processor design and the ability to exchange ideas with world leaders in RISC architecture and advanced computer systems design."

The other two members of the Technical Advisory Board also are engaged in research dealing with computer architecture and very-large scale integration (VLSI) design. Dr. Mowry is currently a leader of the STAMPede (Single-chip, Tightly-coupled Architecture for Multiprocessing) project at Carnegie Mellon University. Dr. Yoon's research at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology deals with micro-electrical-mechanical systems and sensors, integrated microsystems and VLSI design.

Brief biographies of each member of the Technical Advisory Board are summarized below.

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--   Todd C. Mowry has been an associate professor in the Computer
     Science Department of Carnegie Mellon University since July 1997.
     During his post-graduate work at Stanford University from 1988
     through 1994, he participated in the DASH multiprocessor and SUIF
     Compiler projects, and worked in the architecture group at MIPS
     Technologies. From 1994-1997, Dr. Mowry was an assistant
     professor in the ECE and CS Departments at the University of
     Toronto.

--   David A. Patterson is holder of the E.H. and M.E. Pardee Chair of
     Computer Science at the University of California at Berkeley. He
     has been recognized for outstanding achievement by the IEEE and
     the ACM (Association for Computing Machinery), received numerous
     honors for teaching, and is co-author of five books.

--   Euisik ("James") Yoon has been an assistant professor in the
     Department of Electrical Engineering at Korea Advanced Institute
     of Science and Technology since 1996. After receiving his
     doctorate in Electrical Engineering from the University of
     Michigan in 1990, Yoon joined the Fairchild Research Group of
     National Semiconductor Corp. From 1994 to 1996, he was a member
     of the technical staff in the MIPS Group of Silicon Graphics,
     Inc., working on microprocessor and graphics co-processor design.

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SandCraft, Inc. is a developer of advanced RISC computing engines, which are licensed as complete, verified-functionality discrete microprocessor or processor core designs to semiconductor manufacturers and other electronics firms. Founded in June 1996, the company applies its expertise in CAD tool development, semiconductor design and implementation, and technology integration to create and deliver microprocessor and system-on-a-chip solutions.

Note to Editors: "Engines for the Digital Age" is a trademark of SandCraft, Inc. Other trademarks or registered trademarks used herein are the property of their respective owners.