Athlon goes DDR

[Eugene Leitl]

(((more meat to be had at
	http://www.heise.de/bin/nt.print/newsticker/data/jk-30.10.00-000/?id=9f74a782&todo=print 
   but you have to speak Kraut, or ask the Babelfish)))

http://www.amd.com/news/prodpr/20161.html

--AMD introduces AMD-760? chipset, enabling the world's first
commercially available PC platform supporting next-generation Double
Date Rate (DDR) memory technology--

--Initial systems expected to debut from micronpc.com in the U.S. and
NEC Computers International in Europe for holiday buying season--

TOKYO,JAPAN--October 30, 2000--At press conferences in Tokyo, Taipei
and Paris, AMD today is introducing the AMD-760? chipset, enabling the
world's first commercially available PC computing platform supporting
next-generation Double Data Rate (DDR) memory technology.

DDR memory is an evolutionary new technology that increases peak data
throughput to the processor by up to 100 percent compared to its
predecessor, Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM), at
comparable costs to SDRAM solutions. AMD's DDR platform solution,
which includes the award-winning AMD Athlon processor, provides the
foundation to continue AMD's leadership position in supplying
high-performance solutions for the performance PC space.

"The PC industry's memory momentum is clearly in favor of DDR
SDRAM. DDR memory delivers performance that easily surpasses its SDRAM
memory predecessors, along with cost advantages that make it an
exciting and logical memory choice over other memory technologies for
high-performance computing solutions. By building upon
industry-standard SDRAM memory technology and manufacturing processes,
DDR memory should enjoy a speedy time to market and rapid adoption by
the industry," said Sherry Garber, Senior Vice President, Semico
Research.

"In response to requests from our customers, AMD, along with our
partners, has championed the adoption of DDR memory technology to
power the next-generation of high-performance computing solutions,"
said Rob Herb, executive vice president of AMD. "Today's announcement
once again demonstrates AMD's commitment to drive compelling new
technology into the marketplace and enable beneficial solutions for
our customers."

"DDR memory is an evolutionary technology that promises revolutionary
rewards for computer users. Fundamentally, DDR memory technology
doubles a PC's available memory data transfer rate, at comparable
costs to today's SDRAM solutions," said Richard Heye, vice president
and general manager of AMD's Microprocessors Division in Texas. "With
DDR memory, a major performance bottleneck is removed, allowing PCs to
take advantage of increasing processor frequencies."

AMD also is introducing AMD Athlon? processors with a 266MHz
front-side bus to support the highest grade DDR memory. The processors
are available at 1.2GHz, 1.13GHz and 1GHz.

Systems Based on DDR Memory Platform Available Through Retail and Direct Channels
Systems featuring the AMD Athlon processor and DDR memory technology
are immediately available for order from micronpc.com in the U.S. and
from NEC Computers International in Europe. Systems are expected to be
available in November, and AMD expects widespread system availability
worldwide in the first quarter of 2001. Other leading OEMs, including
Compaq, also are evaluating AMD processor and DDR memory based
platforms for introduction in early 2001.

"Micronpc.com is committed to advancing DDR as a leading memory
solution, both for its superb performance and competitive cost
structure," said Jeffrey K. Moeser, Vice President of Product
Development at micronpc.com. "Our Millennia® Max XP systems based on
the AMD Athlon processor platform with DDR memory will offer
tremendous performance at an extremely attractive price. This will
help us deliver our usual standard of high performance that our
customers have always expected from micronpc.com."

"As a top computer retailer, Best Buy prides itself on delivering
exceptional products at exceptional value. We believe micronpc.com
systems based on AMD platforms and state-of-the-art DDR memory
technology will hold tremendous appeal for buyers seeking the top
performance and value available. Systems will be available at Best Buy
stores and at www.BestBuy.com in November," said Robert Davidson, Vice
President of Merchandising - Computers for Best Buy Co., Inc.

"NEC believes DDR memory technology is the natural successor to
existing SDRAM memory solutions for its envious performance return and
favorable cost model. NEC Computers International is committed to
bringing this evolutionary technology into market with our Direction
A+ systems and Packard Bell iXtreme home computer featuring the 1.2GHz
AMD Athlon processor with support for DDR memory," said Thierry
Millet, Executive Director Sales and Marketing, NEC Computers.

Industry Rallies Behind DDR Memory
AMD has worked closely with its third-party partners to support the
broad industry desire for DDR memory platform solutions, and has
helped the industry drive to a single DDR memory specification. AMD
and leading memory vendors have also worked with SMART Modular
Technologies, an independent validation test house, to ensure the
compatibility and reliability of the memory solutions. Leading memory
manufacturers offering DDR memory modules include Micron, Samsung,
Infineon Technologies, Elpida, Hyundai, IBM, Mitsubishi and Toshiba.

"DDR SDRAM is rapidly gaining momentum as the next memory
solution. Micron has worked closely with AMD on enabling DDR SDRAM and
we are positioning our production capability to support AMD Athlon
processor based DDR platforms with 64MB, 128MB, and 256MB DDR
technology," said Mike Seibert, DRAM Technical Marketing Manager,
Micron. "We are happy to participate with AMD in the introduction of
the first volume DDR platforms."

"Samsung Semiconductor, Inc. is committed to leading the DDR SDRAM
market and is working to pave the way for the availability of low
cost, high-performance DDR technology for the server, workstation and
high-performance desktop PC markets," said Dieter Mackowiak, Senior
Vice President of Marketing and Sales of SSI. "With today's
availability of DDR SDRAM for both 128MB and 256MB, Samsung is ready
to support the growing demand for DDR products."

"Infineon is very pleased to be working with AMD and the industry to
build the market for systems supporting DDR memory," said Peter
Schaefer, Vice President, Memory Products, Infineon Technologies
Corp. of North America. "Through the first half of 2000, Infineon has
been the industry's leading supplier of DDR memory for graphics
applications, with our 1M x 32 DDR SGRAM. We also are the first
company to offer 256Mbit DDR SDRAM based modules for PC200/266
applications, and we strongly believe that our support of this density
will help pave the way for the availability of high performance DDR
technology for the server, workstation and high-end desktop PC
markets."

AMD Innovation Impacting Users

The AMD-760 chipset is simply the latest in a growing compendium of
AMD technological innovations that enable better solutions for end
users.  AMD's technological innovations have enabled Jim Henson's
Creature Shop to work magic with the renowned Muppet characters during
the past year. One of these is the proprietary Henson Digital
Performance Studio (HDPS), which is a medium to deliver not only
entertaining digital Muppet performances, but also a technology that
has applications ranging from personalized web browsers to compelling
next-generation video game content and digital television.

"After doing independent benchmarking and analysis of available x86
architectures, we found the AMD Athlon processor to be the highest
performing processor for our workstation needs," said Jeff Forbes,
Computer/Electronics Supervisor of Jim Henson's Creature Shop. "Each
generational improvement of the AMD Athlon processor core and memory
architecture has added significant realism to our digital puppets and
has enabled our puppeteers to work with these characters in a more
lifelike manner. This is the reason we built four AMD Athlon processor
powered "Henson Digital Performance Studios" which we will be using to
perform digital characters on the Web, in video games and for live
events."

Pricing
The 1.2GHz, 1.13GHz, and 1GHz AMD Athlon processors with 266MHz front
side bus and support for DDR memory technology are priced at $673,
$506 and $385, respectively, each in 1,000 unit quantities. The
AMD-760 chipset is priced at $39 in 1,000 unit quantities.

About DDR Memory Technology
Double Data Rate (DDR) memory technology is a successor technology to
Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM) technology, the
prevailing memory standard found in today's PCs. DDR memory leverages
existing SDRAM technology, but with a 2.1GB/sec peak data rate, it can
achieve memory transfer rates up to 100 percent higher than
SDRAM. Next-generation DDR memory is thus expected to be manufactured
at cost levels that are in line with today's mainstream PC memory
costs. Consequently, PC users are expected to receive better overall
system performance at system costs comparable to current SDRAM based
systems.

Next-generation DDR memory technology will enable the AMD Athlon
processor platform to deliver new levels of performance on
math-intensive applications like video editing, CAD/CAM, scientific
applications, and digital content creation, with minimal effect on
system costs. DDR memory technology is supported by the AMD-760
chipset, and will help enable AMD to bring the advantages of DDR
memory technology to workstation and high-end PC users.

About the AMD-760? Chipset
The AMD-760 is AMD's next generation chipset for the AMD Athlon
processor. It consists of two chips - the AMD-761? system bus
controller, or northbridge, and the AMD-766? peripheral bus
controller, or southbridge. The AMD-760 chipset unleashes the power of
DDR memory, enabling the ultimate PC performance in multi-tasking and
multimedia intensive applications. The AMD-760 chipset supports the
AMD Athlon processor with both a 200MHz and 266MHz front side bus, as
well as PC1600 and PC2100 Double Data Rate (DDR) memory and 4xAGP
graphics.

About the AMD Athlon? Processor
The AMD Athlon processor is an x86-compatible, seventh-generation
design featuring a superpipelined, nine-issue superscalar
microarchitecture optimized for high clock frequency; the industry's
first fully pipelined, superscalar floating point unit for x86
platforms; high-performance cache architecture, now featuring 384KB of
total on-chip cache (256KB of on-chip level (L2) cache and 128KB of
on-chip level (L1) cache); enhanced 3DNow!? technology with 24
additional instructions designed to improve integer math calculations,
data movement for Internet streaming, and DSP communications. The AMD
Athlon processor features either a 266MHz Front Side Bus (FSB) or a
200MHz FSB based on the Alpha? EV6 bus protocol. AMD Athlon processors
are manufactured using AMD's 0.18-micron process technology in Fab 25
in Austin, Texas and AMD's 0.18 micron technology in Fab 30 in
Dresden, Germany.

Cautionary Statement
This release contains forward-looking statements, which are made
pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are
generally preceded by words such as "plans," "expects," "believes,"
"anticipates" or "intends."  Investors are cautioned that all
forward-looking statements in this release involve risks and
uncertainty that could cause actual results to differ materially from
current expectations. Forward-looking statements in this release
include the risks that DDR memory and systems based on DDR technology,
the AMD-760 chipset and AMD Athlon processors may not be available on
the anticipated schedule, that DDR technology may not obtain customer
and end-user acceptance, and more generally that AMD may be unable to
retain the leadership position in supplying high performance solutions
for the performance PC space. We urge investors to review in detail
the risks and uncertainties in the Company's filings with the United
States Securities Exchange Commission.

Note to Editor
Additional information will be available on Monday morning. Tim
Wright, Director of Desktop Products Marketing, will lead a
teleconference.  Opening remarks will be followed by a moderated
question-and-answer period.

8:30 a.m. US PST Domestic 1-888-391-0101
                            International 1-212-896-6114

Audio replay information
A replay will be available beginning at 10:30 a.m. US PST, October 30. 
Domestic - 1-800-633-8284
International - 1-858-812-6440
Reservation #16767388

B-roll footage
B-roll footage of the new product, AMD manufacturing processes,
testimonials, and the latest graphic applications running on AMD
Athlon processor-based systems will also be available via satellite on
Monday morning, October 30, 2000 on the following coordinates:

0700-0730EST
GE2 Transponder 6
DL: 3820 Horizontal Audio: 6.2/6.8

1100-1130EST 
GE2 Transponder 6 (Audio: 6.2/6.8)
DL: 3820 Horizontal Audio: 6.2/6.8 

All inquiries regarding satellite transmissions can be directed to: 

Andy Toh
Bulletin International Inc. 
494 Eighth Avenue, Suite 300 
New York, NY10001 
Tel: (212) 542 9324