National Semiconductor's Geode Processor Wins "Best Highly Integrated Processor" Award for 2000 from MicroDesign Resources

Analyst's Choice Award Recognizes National's Line of Integrated Processors for Information Appliances

Santa Clara, CA -- 1/19/2001 -- The Geode™ processor from National Semiconductor (NYSE:NSM) was recognized last night as the Best Highly Integrated Processor in MicroDesign Resources' (MDR) second annual Analyst's Choice Awards.

The Awards, judged by MDR's team of independent analysts, recognize excellence in semiconductor technology innovation, design and implementation. The National Geode™ was chosen for its successful implementation of incorporating a proven Pentium-class x86 processor core in a single highly integrated processor chip that is ideal for use in information appliances.

"The Geode processor represents the highest level of integration found in the industry today," said Cary Snyder, senior analyst and senior editor of MDR's Microprocessor Report. "National is the leading innovator in the information appliance market in large part because the Geode processor incorporates all of the essential functions for a complete information appliance that is easily programmed."

"It is a great honor to be recognized with this award," said Michael Polacek, vice president of National Semiconductor's Information Appliance Division. "We are focused on providing the highest level of integration as a means of offering a balanced combination of performance, power dissipation, and cost. Our customers, who make Internet connected devices, have told us all along that the Geode is a winner. Now that message is also coming from MicroDesign Resources, which has given National one of the most prestigious awards in the industry."

The National Geode family of silicon and system solutions is the leading technology solution in the information appliance market. Leading consumer companies are powering their products with Geode, including: 3Com, AOLTV/Philips, Compaq, eMachines, Ericsson, Honeywell, IBM, Legend, Samsung, Wyse and more.

The Geode family of microprocessors consists of integrated single-chip and two-chip solutions as well as reference and development platforms based on the x86 architecture. National has integrated most of the semiconductor content for an information appliance onto a single chip, offering manufacturers several significant advantages: highest available performance, lowest available power consumption (for long battery life and no cooling fans) and small form factor (especially important in consumer devices). Customers' overall design and manufacturing costs are lower because National provides validated system solutions with fewer components.

The MDR Analyst's Choice Awards were presented in eight categories: Best Highly Integrated Processor, Best PC Processor, Best Server/Workstation Processor, Best Mobile PC Processor, Best DSP, Best Embedded Processor, Best Network Processor and Best Media Processor. Further details are available at www.mdronline.com.

The Geode processor competed against Cirrus' Maverick EP9312, the IBM PowerPC 440GP and Motorola's MCF5407 for the award.

About National Semiconductor
National Semiconductor is the premier analog company driving the information age. Combining real-world analog and state-of-the-art digital technology, the company is focused on the fast growing markets for wireless handsets; information appliances; information infrastructure; and display, imaging and human interface technologies. With headquarters in Santa Clara, California, National reported sales of $2.1 billion for its last fiscal year and has about 10,500 employees worldwide.