AMD Introduces The AMD-K6™-2E Processor, The First Embedded Processor With 3DNow!™ Technology and 100-MHz Frontside Bus SUPPORT

Powerful CPU gives embedded engineers a high-performance, cost-effective, and low-power x86 engine for computation-demanding applications requiring fast time to market

SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA -- 6/28/1999 -- AMD today announced shipments of the AMD-K6™-2E processor, the industry's first dedicated embedded processor with innovative 3DNow!™ technology, superscalar MMX™ technology capability, and 100-MHz frontside bus support.

The newest member of AMD's E86™ family of x86 processors for embedded applications, the AMD-K6-2E processor offers embedded system developers a new level of performance within the cost-effective Socket 7 and 100-MHz Super7™ infrastructure. "The AMD-K6-2E processor is an excellent solution for embedded system developers who want exceptional x86 performance at an affordable price and fast time-to-market within the industry's most prevalent and best-supported architecture," said Bob McConnell, vice president and general manager of AMD's Embedded Processor Division. "For example, the AMD-K6-2E is an ideal choice for embedded applications requiring high performance with low power consumption, such as central office switches, high-speed network routers, industrial control systems, information appliances, point-of-sale terminals, printer controllers, and Microsoft® Windows® compatible single-board computers."

As a member of the E86 family and a derivative of the AMD-K6 processor family, the AMD-K6-2E processor enables designers to leverage existing Socket 7 and Super7 platform-compatible chipsets and board designs, x86 software, development tools, debuggers and compilers in developing high-performance embedded products.

"3DNow! technology included in the AMD-K6-2E processor also opens up new opportunities to use the industry's first 3D enhancement instruction set in new and emerging embedded designs," added McConnell. "3DNow! enables significant performance improvements in a wide range of floating-point-intensive applications, such as high-resolution 3D graphics, modeling of real-world environments and physics, life-like images and audio common in set-top-boxes, soft DVD playback, and speech recognition algorithms."

AMD's Leadership in x86 Embedded Products
As a member of AMD's E86 family of x86-based processors, the AMD-K6-2E processor gives systems developers access to the largest base of programmers and existing software while enabling powerful, cost-effective solutions for today's increasingly sophisticated embedded applications.

"The AMD-K6-2E processor is a compelling choice for embedded systems because it is supported by a wide range of Socket 7 and Super7 platform-compatible infrastructure solutions and is fueled by the success and acceptance of the AMD-K6 processor family and the continued growth of the desktop and mobile computing markets," said Rex Meek, director of marketing and systems engineering of AMD's Embedded Processor Division. "AMD's experience in the embedded market has shown that excellent customer support and fast time-to-market are as critical to the success of an embedded processor as the design and performance of the product itself," added Meek. "Our customers have made significant investments in their x86 embedded products, and the AMD-K6-2E processor allows a path to greater performance while enabling them to preserve much of their existing hardware and software. The x86 instruction set is mature and robust and is supported by a wide range of tools and programmers to help bring products to market quickly. From our Am186™ microcontrollers to the new AMD-K6-2E processor, AMD's E86 family of embedded x86 processors offers a wide range of performance using a single instruction set. The addition of the AMD-K6-2E processor to this family underscores AMD's ongoing commitment to supporting our embedded customers with a continuum of products compatible with the largest base of installed software in the world."

About the AMD-K6™-2E Processor
The AMD-K6-2E processor is a functionally compatible embedded version of AMD's sixth-generation, Microsoft Windows compatible AMD-K6-2 processor, which is used in many top-selling desktop and notebook PCs.

For reduced power consumption, the AMD-K6-2E processor is implemented with a split plane voltage design that allows the processor core to operate at a lower voltage while the I/O voltage operates at the industry-standard 3.3V level.

The AMD-K6-2E embedded processor is available in two versions:

Low-power 1.9V core voltage with clock speeds of 266 MHz and 233 MHz, an extended temperature rating of 85oC, and a maximum power dissipation of less than 10 Watts.
Standard-power version identical to the original desktop AMD-K6-2 processor with a 2.2V core voltage and clock speeds of 300 MHz, 266 MHz, and 233 MHz.

Designed to run both 16-bit and 32-bit software, the AMD-K6-2E processor delivers high-performance x86 instruction set processing and is compatible with popular Microsoft Windows operating systems, such as the Windows CE, Windows 98, Windows NT³, and Windows NTE operating systems, as well as applications that run on them, including the latest software optimized for 3DNow! and MMX technologies. The AMD-K6-2E processor is also supported by other leading-PC and x86 compatible operating systems, including numerous Real Time Operating Systems (RTOS) commonly used in embedded applications, such as pSOS, QNX, RTXC and VxWorks.

The 9.3-million-transistor AMD-K6-2E processor is manufactured on AMD's 0.25-micron, five-layer-metal process technology using local interconnect and shallow-trench isolation at AMD's Fab 25 wafer fabrication facility in Austin, Texas. The AMD-K6-2E is packaged in a Super7 and Socket 7 platform-compatible, 321-pin ceramic pin grid array (CPGA) package using C4 flip-chip interconnection technology.

Pricing and Availability
The AMD-K6-2E processor is available today in both standard and low-power versions.

The standard-power 300-MHz AMD-K6-2E/300AFR is priced at $59 in 1,000-unit quantities through distribution. The standard-power 266-MHz version is priced at $56, and the 233-MHz version is priced at $55 in 1,000-unit quantities through AMD authorized distributors.
The low-power 266-MHz AMD-K6-2E/266AMZ is priced at $69, and the 233-MHz version is priced at $66 in 1,000-unit quantities through AMD authorized distributors.

Cautionary Statement
Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements of management's expectations involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations. Any forward-looking statement about AMD-K6-2E processors involves risks and uncertainties including whether the company will expand product lines, or the market will accept the company's products. Investors are urged to consult the risks and uncertainties detailed in the company reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.