Alchemy Semiconductor Expands Low Power, High Performance Chip Portfolio With Advent Of Alchemy Au1500

PCI Interface Integration Enhances Expansion into Gateway and Thin Client Markets

SAN JOSE, CA -- 6/11/2001 -- Alchemy Semiconductor, Inc.™, an Austin-based fabless Semiconductor company targeting the Internet Edge Device market, today announces the details of the Alchemy Au1500 at the Embedded Processor Forum in San Jose, California. The Au1500 is the second product in the company's growing portfolio of low power, high performance, highly integrated chips for the rapidly expanding range of communications client devices, networking applications and communications infrastructure markets.

Maintaining the unique Alchemy system-on-chip (SOC) design features of optimized power, performance and integration, the Au1500 is targeted for gateway and thin client markets. Like its predecessor the Alchemy Au1000, the Alchemy Au1500 also employs a MIPS32™-based (NASDAQ: MIPS) SOC with highly integrated on-chip memory controllers and Internet access peripherals, while adding a 66 MHz PCI 2.2 controller, making it ideally suited for use with systems using PCI cards and devices. The performance and power scalability ranges from 333 MHz at less than 400 mW, 400 MHz at 700 mW to 500 MHz at 1.2W. The Au1500 will run a variety of operating systems, including Windows® CE, Linux® and VxWorks®. Additional technical and product strategy information will be presented at the Embedded Processor Forum. Sampling will begin in Q3 of 2001.

Alchemy CEO Jim Moore stated that the Au1500's development was a company and market milestone for two inter-related reasons: proof of design methodology and how that methodology is integral to Alchemy's time to market product strategy in response to the Internet Edge market.

"In a dynamic market such as this, there are basic performance and power requirements that must be met in devices such as gateways, thin clients, enterprise PDAs and handheld devices," said Moore. "Our technology offers MIPS-level performance, low power and high integration to address these market requirements. In addition, it meets the needs of future applications that demand longevity and integration with a variety of operating systems."

The Alchemy Au1500's features are relevant to both the communications and networking industry segments, making it one of the most versatile chips to enter the marketplace this year.

"Historically in regards to networking, MIPS-based processors have been used as a standalone offering within several tier-1 midrange to high-end routers and switches," said Sean Lavey, a research analyst with IDC. "Alchemy Semiconductor's MIPS-based communication processors would be another vendor targeting higher volume networking system designs, such as SOHO routers, VoIP gateways and networking appliances, where higher forms of integration, lower power and lower costs are more heavily valued."

Alchemy's Moore concluded, "With OEMs looking for fast time-to-market and cost efficiency, the compelling value proposition for the customer is that they get a proven core in an unparalleled power and performance class - they get it quickly."

About Alchemy Semiconductor
Founded in Austin, Texas, in 1999, Alchemy Semiconductor is a fabless semiconductor company that designs, develops and markets high performance, yet very low power systems-on-a-chip (SOCs) for the Internet Edge Device market. These devices include both wireless, hand-held enterprise PDAs and remote Internet access products, as well as Internet infrastructure products, such as routers and line cards. The company's founding team includes world-renown embedded microprocessor architects, led by former DEC Alpha / StrongARM design team members, allowing for a combination of proven design execution and MIPS performance technology to achieve high performance, low power dissipation and system integration in its Internet Edge Processor. Alchemy's headquarters are at 7800 Shoal Creek Blvd., Suite 222W, Austin, Texas 78757; or go to www.alchemysemi.com.

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