VLSI Introduces "Eagle" Mobile Chipset; First 64-Bit Single Chip Controller Optimized for Mobile Pentium; First in BGA Packaging.SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 6, 1995--The first highly-integrated chipset designed from the ground-up for mobile Pentium-based notebook computers was announced today by VLSI Technology, Inc. (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 :VLSI VLSI: see integrated circuit. (1) (Very Large Scale Integration) Between 100,000 and one million transistors on a chip. See SSI, MSI, LSI and ULSI. (2) (VLSI Technology, Inc., Tempe, AZ, www.semiconductors. ). Eagle is a single chip PCI (1) (Payment Card Industry) See PCI DSS. (2) (Peripheral Component Interconnect) The most widely used I/O bus (peripheral bus). controller which is supported by a tightly-coupled super I/O device and an optional pair of bridges that together make full support of PCI a reality in the notebook and in the docking station. Optimized for mobile, Eagle packs this functionality in low-profile, ball grid array “BGA” redirects here. For other uses, see BGA (disambiguation). A ball grid array (BGA) is a type of surface-mount packaging used for integrated circuits. (BGA) package technology. According to Joe Barta, strategic marketing manager of VLSI Technology's Personal Computer Division. "Our goal is to couple desktop performance and functionality to the notebook form-factor. Highly integrated silicon in BGA packaging allowed us to "fit the environment" without sacrificing performance and functionality. Eagle is the first "no compromise" solution for Pentium-based notebooks. Building on our proven core technologies allowed us to reach this goal in a timely manner while minimizing risk. Our integration allows OEMs to build notebook motherboards that are up to 45 percent smaller than the competition by reducing chip count from eight down to three in the same configuration." Packaged in a low-profile BGA, the single-chip Eagle system controller (VL82C535) integrates the 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. interface, 3.3V mobile PCI bus controller, 64-bit EDO DRAM controller with four-deep smart write buffers; cache controller interface; and CPU power management control. Also integrated are the DRAM buffers thus eliminating the need for external drivers. Designed to save power, this device like the rest of the chipset operates at 3.3V. Also included in Eagle is a tightly-coupled PCI super I/O controller (VL82C532) which integrates all notebook peripherals and clock drivers in a single BGA package. The peripherals integrated include fast IDE, floppy disk, extended capabilities port (hardware) Extended Capabilities Port - (ECP) A parallel printer interface for IBM PC compatibles, supported by several, mainly US, manufacturers. Not to be confused with the more common Enhanced Capabilities Port. (ECP), UARTS UARTS Unmanned Air Reconnaissance & Targeting System , infrared communications port, real-time clock and two pulse-width modulators. In addition, the Eagle super I/O includes an 8051 based keyboard controller that allows "singular ROM" support. This allows the keyboard, graphics and system BIOS to be merged into a single ROM device. VL82C532 also integrates phase lock loops (PLLS PLLS Prep Lessons Learned System (US Coast Guard) ) to generate all clocks to the system thus eliminating the need for an external clock driver. Also as part of the complete PCI solution, Eagle includes a pair of bridges to enable the PCI bus and an ISA Bus in the docking station. The PCI to PCI bridge (VL82C534) buffers the internal PCI local bus to allow PCI docking. The PCI to ISA bridge (VL82C538) is used to support a fully functional ISA bus in the docking station. Eagle makes PCI hot-docking with Plug-N-Play capabilities a reality. Architectured as a mobile solution, the devices will be manufactured in 0.6 micron CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) Pronounced "c-moss." The most widely used integrated circuit design. It is found in almost every electronic product from handheld devices to mainframes. technology to support "True 3.3V" operation without compromises in performance. Eagle also supports new mobile technology such as the Intel/Duracell system management bus (SMB) which allows system information such as battery status to be processed by the system. VLSI expects sampling in the second quarter of 1995 and the chipset will be at $68 in volume quantities. VLSI Technology, Inc. designs and manufactures application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and application-specific standard products (ASSPs) based on its library of functional system blocks (FSB). Targeting its offerings towards the computing, communications and entertainment marketplaces, the Company offers its customers advanced system-level integration capabilities. The Company is based in San Jose, California San Jose (IPA: /ˌsænhoʊˈzeɪ/) is the third-largest city in California, and the tenth-largest in the United States. It is the county seat of Santa Clara County. , with 1994 revenues of $587 million, and has approximately 2,700 employees worldwide. -0- Note to Editors: Pentium is a trademark of Intel Corp. M1 is a trademark of Cyrix. K5 is a trademark of 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. . CONTACT: VLSI Technology Inc., San Jose Tom Mahon, 510/937-4921 (Editorial) Joe Barta, 602/752-6392 (Reader) |
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