For Release: February 12, 1998
Altera Ships 3.3-V EPF6024A For Low-End Gate Array Replacement
- Lowest Price Per Logic Element
- 0.35-µ Process Technology for 3.3-Volt Operation and Lower Cost
San Jose, Calif., February 16, 1998 -- Altera Corporation (Nasdaq:ALTR) today announced the availability of the EPF6024A, the newest and densest member of the FLEX® 6000 family of programmable logic devices (PLDs). The EPF6024A offers 24,000 gates of programmable logic and 3.3-volt operation, as well as prices and die sizes previously available only from gate array vendors.
"When we introduced the FLEX 6000 family in June 1997, we promised gate array designers a cost structure they were accustomed to for high volume applications, as well as all of the advantages of a programmable solution," said Cliff Tong, Altera's vice president of product marketing. "Moving to a 0.35-µ process, combined with the advantages of the FLEX 6000 OptiFLEX™ architecture, has enabled us to meet that pledge for applications up to 24,000 gates."
The EPF6024A offers 1,960 logic elements (LEs), 24,000 programmable gates, and is built on a 0.35-µ, triple-layer metal SRAM process. With 3.3-volt operation, it includes Altera's patented MultiVolt™ feature that enables the I/Os to support 5.0-V, 3.3-V, and 2.5-V interface voltage levels. All FLEX 6000 family members meet PCI performance specifications and offer pin migration between packages to provide design flexibility.
Advanced Architecture and Maximum Performance
The EPF6024A is based on Altera's enhanced OptiFLEX™ architecture. Every feature in the OptiFLEX architecture is targeted at producing maximum performance and utilization in the smallest-possible die area. The FLEX 6000 logic array block (LAB) supports an innovative feature called LAB interleaving, which allows any LAB to communicate directly with an adjacent LAB through the local interconnect. This optimizes the global row and column resource utilization within the FLEX device architecture.
The FLEX 6000 family also supports FastFLEX( I/O, which provides a direct path from the LE to the I/O pin for fast clock-to-output timing, providing the benefits of dedicated peripheral registers while minimizing die size. The OptiFLEX architecture also leverages an advanced bond pad pitch of just 3.2 mils to achieve minimum die size.
This efficiency comes without sacrificing utilization or performance. For example, the EPF6024A maintains PCI performance without the silicon overhead of dedicated peripheral registers. A 16-bit loadable counter runs at 135 MHz in an EPF6024A device.
Availability, Packaging and Pricing
The EPF6024A is available now in 144-pin TQFP, 208- and 240-pin PQFP, and 256-pin BGA packages. The EPF6024A also offers footprint compatibility with the
5.0-volt, 16,000-gate EPF6016. At the current price of 1.5 cents per logic element, the FLEX 6000 family is the industry's most cost-effective gate array replacement line. Volume pricing for the EPF6024A is projected to be $9.50 by the end of 1998.
Safe Harbor Notice
This press release contains "forward looking statements" which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward looking statements are generally preceded by words such as "expects," "believes," "anticipates," "projects," or "intends." Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements in this release involve risks and uncertainty, including without limitation the risk that planned products will not be introduced as currently anticipated. Please refer to the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, copies of which are available from the Company without charge, for further information.
About Altera
Altera Corporation, founded in 1983, is a worldwide leader in high-performance, high-density programmable logic devices and associated computer aided engineering (CAE) logic development tools. Programmable logic devices are semiconductor chips that offer on-site programmability to customers. The chips are programmed using tools that run on personal computers or engineering work stations. User benefits include ease of use, lower risk, and fast time-to-market. The company offers the broadest line of CMOS programmable logic devices that address high-speed, high-density, and low-power applications. Altera products serve a broad range of markets, including telecommunications, data communications, computers, and industrial applications. Altera common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol ALTR. More information on Altera can be obtained on the worldwide web at http://www.altera.com.
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