AMD Boosts Battery Life for Notebook Computers with AMD PowerNow!™ Technology

-First systems enabling innovative, battery-saving AMD PowerNow!™ technology commercially available from HP-

SUNNYVALE, CA -- 6/26/2000 -- AMD today announced the 550MHz and 533MHz versions of its Mobile AMD-K6®-2+ family of processors featuring the pioneering AMD PowerNow!™ technology. The new processors deliver an uncompromising blend of high performance and innovative features, while enabling significantly extended battery life for notebook PCs.

AMD PowerNow! technology can substantially extend the battery life of notebook systems by up to 30%. AMD PowerNow! technology represents the second generation of battery saving technology, and includes AMD's unique automatic mode. While competitive offerings require the user to manually select a performance or battery saving mode, AMD's automatic mode delivers performance on demand and optimizes power consumption transparently to notebook users.

Hewlett-Packard Company has selected the AMD-K6-2+ processor featuring AMD PowerNow! technology to power four new models of its HP Pavilion N3300 notebook PCs, with processor speeds ranging from 500 to 550 MHz. The HP systems are shipping now. Other system manufacturers who are offering AMD-K6-2+ notebooks include Compaq, Fujitsu, and NEC.*

"AMD PowerNow! technology provides HP Pavilion notebook PC customers with a broad range of power-performance modes," said Bob Nitzberg, retail notebook marketing manager for HP. "Four of our new HP Pavilion N3300 notebook PC models integrate the AMD-K6-2+ processor, offering increased levels of reliable power, speed and portable productivity features for SMB users and consumers."

"Today's introduction of new speeds of the mobile AMD-K6-2+ processors builds upon AMD's position as a leading processor supplier for the notebook PC market. Systems featuring AMD PowerNow! technology are expected to deliver dynamic performance and battery life for notebook computing," said Larry Hollatz, Group Vice President of AMD's Computation Products Group.

Manufactured on AMD's advanced 0.18 micron technology, the AMD-K6-2+ processors support a number of notable features including high-speed, on-chip L2 cache, an enhanced implementation of AMD's 3DNow!™ instruction set with digital signal processing (DSP) instructions, and the innovative battery-saving AMD PowerNow! technology.

"The Mobile AMD-K6-2+ processor with AMD PowerNow! technology represents a significant industry advancement of power savings in mobile computing," said Theresa Nozick, Industry Analyst at Mobile Insights, Inc. "The technology lives up to its name - providing performance on demand. Now, neither users nor system manufacturers have to sacrifice performance in exchange for prolonged battery life."

BIOS Support
AMD PowerNow! technology requires specific BIOS support, and AMD worked with its development partners, including Phoenix Technologies and Insyde Software, to help deliver systems that fully support AMD PowerNow! technology.

"Providing longer battery life in portable digital designs requires a close partnership between the hardware and software design," said David Everett, Sr. VP and General Manager of the Platform Enabling Division of Phoenix Technologies. "Phoenix has worked closely with AMD and its silicon partners to optimize performance and battery life using AMD PowerNow! technology with our PowerSuite 4.0 application and our NoteBIOS 4.0 firmware offerings."

"Insyde is thrilled to help deliver the first notebook PCs to market with AMD PowerNow! technology," said C.T. Wang, Vice President, Insyde Software Corp. "Our core BIOS architecture, combined with AMD's power management technology, will offer system manufacturers a compelling solution for the mobile market."

About AMD PowerNow! Technology
AMD PowerNow! technology can significantly extend the battery life of notebook PCs by up to 30%.

AMD PowerNow! technology is a combination of software and hardware support that allows the processor to run at different frequencies and voltages. There are three basic modes of operation, including AMD's unique "automatic" mode.

High Performance mode - the CPU runs at maximum frequency and voltage.
Battery Saver Mode - the CPU runs at lowest frequency and voltage to maximize system battery life.
Automatic Mode - the system monitors application usage and continuously varies operating frequency and voltage to deliver performance on demand while optimizing battery life.

Under most conditions the system can be run in automatic mode (whether it is on AC or DC power) and the user will get all the benefits of AMD PowerNow! technology, such as the ability to prolong battery life and a cooler, quieter running notebook. A simple Windows® control panel allows the user to change modes to high-performance mode or battery saver mode.

About the Mobile AMD-K6-2+ Processor
The Mobile AMD-K6-2+ processor offers exceptional performance and features for value notebook PCs. Available at 550MHz, 533MHz, 500MHz, 475MHz and 450MHz, the processor incorporates a 128Kbyte on-chip, Level 2 cache, support for the innovative AMD PowerNow! technology, an enhanced implementation of AMD's 3DNow! instruction set with digital signal processing (DSP) instructions, and a 100MHz front-side bus.

Mobile AMD-K6-2+ processors operate at a core voltage of 1.4 to 2.0 Volts, have an extended case temperature rating of 85 degrees Celsius, and dissipate as little as 3 Watts of power running in PowerNow! battery-saver mode of operation. The processors are available in Socket 7/Super™ platform-compatible 321-pin Ceramic Pin Grid Array packages, and are manufactured at AMD's Fab 25 wafer fabrication facility in Austin, TX.

Pricing and Availability
The Mobile AMD-K6-2+ processors are available now. Prices are in 1,000-unit quantities.
550MHz Mobile AMD-K6-2+ $99
533MHz Mobile AMD-K6-2+ $85

Visit AMD on the Web
For more information about the Mobile AMD-K6-2+ processors and AMD PowerNow! technology, please visit our virtual pressroom.

*Not all OEM systems featuring the Mobile AMD-K6-2+ processor enable AMD PowerNow! technology.

Note to Editor: Additional information will be available on Monday morning. Martin Booth, product marketing manager for mobile products, will lead a teleconference. Opening remarks will be followed by a moderated question-and-answer period.

8 a.m. US PDT
Domestic 1-800-670-3547
International 1-212-676-5265

Audio replay information: A replay will be available beginning at 10 a.m. US PDT, June 26.
Domestic 1-800-633-8284
International 1-858-812-6440
Reservation #15631215