For Release: February 9, 1998
Altera Offers Complete, Hardware-Tested PCI Solution
- Hardware Testing Provides Industry's Most Robust Verification Methodology
- BlueWater Systems Device Drivers Accelerate Design Cycle
San Jose, Calif., February 9, 1998--Altera Corporation (Nasdaq: ALTR) today announced the availability of the new PCI Master/Target MegaCoreTM function and PCI Target MegaCore function design solutions, as well as a robust hardware testing methodology created to provide maximum performance while dramatically reducing development time for PCI designs.
"PCI implementation is one of the biggest challenges faced by designers today," said Rita Glover, president of EDA Today (Phoenix, AZ.) "Add to that increasing time-to-market pressures, and the need for an integrated design solution becomes clear."
The Altera PCI MegaCore solution includes version 1.3 of Altera's PCI Master/Target MegaCore function, version 1.0 of Altera's PCI Target MegaCore function, and the industry's most robust hardware testing methodology. Programmable logic devices (PLDs) provide a unique benefit in megafunction development in that silicon always exists for verification and testing purposes. Although software simulation methodologies using existing test benches are acceptable for ASIC designs, the final proof of a working system still requires hardware testing. Altera's approach focuses the verification methodology on hardware testing using a PCI prototype board (included with both MegaCore functions) and physically testing the function with multiple PCI bridges and chip sets.
The PCI MegaCore function solutions also provide the new BlueWater Systems (http://www.bluewatersystems.com) NT Reference Device Drivers which enable instant testing and verification of these functions. (See news release: BlueWater Systems Provides NT Reference Drivers for New Altera PCI Master/Target MegaCore Function Design Solution, February 9, 1998)
"Our complete solution is based on the most detailed hardware testing methodology in the industry," said Bob Beachler, Altera's director of development tools marketing. "It gives engineers both a simple, hardware-verified PCI interface and the flexibility to easily customize their designs."
Advanced PCI Megafunctions
Version 1.3 of Altera's PCI Master/Target MegaCore function includes a DMA engine supporting full burst speed data transfer. In addition, device support has been extended to cover new members of the FLEX® 10K family, including the EPF10K20, EPF10K40, and the EPF10K50. Version 1.0 of the PCI Target megafunction includes 33 MHz performance, 0-wait state, read-and-write transfer that supports 132 Mbyte-per-second transfer. It also is the first PCI MegaCore function to support Altera's FLEX 6000 family, the first PLD to offer a gate array alternative.
Both PCI MegaCore functions have been hardware tested against multiple PCI chipsets including: the DEC21052-AB PCI-PCI bridge (Bus 1); Intel 440FX PCISet (Bus 0); Intel 82430 FX PCISet; Intel 82371SB PCISet; and Intel 8243NX. More than 6.5 billion bytes of read-and-write data transfer cycles were exercised against each chipset to validate PCI compatibility.
Pricing and Availability
Altera's PCI Master/Target MegaCore function (pci_a) is available now for $7,995. The PCI Target MegaCore function (pcit1) is available for $4,995.
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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