AMD Introduces Industry's First 32-Bit Wide Page-Mode Flash Memory Device; New Device Improves System Performance Eight-Fold

    SUNNYVALE, Calif.--May 8, 2001--AMD today introduced the Am29PL320 flash memory device with the industry's widest databus and with page access times as fast as 20 nanoseconds.
    The new 32 Megabit device combines AMD's high performance flash memory technology and 32-bit Page Mode architecture to deliver the industry's fastest asynchronous solution.
    Manufacturers of high performance applications, such as advanced automotive navigation systems, set top boxes and handheld computing devices, need high-speed flash memory solutions to offer features such as map searching, graphics and personal communications.
    The Am29PL320 allows designers to deliver these capabilities by transferring code and data to the system processor at 133 MB/second, significantly faster than current 8- and 16-bit flash memories. In many applications, this capability will eliminate the need for other memories like DRAM.
    "AMD has delivered a 32-bit flash memory device that allows systems to run eight times faster than those using standard flash memory devices," said Kevin Plouse, vice president of technical marketing and business development for AMD's Memory Group. "The Am29PL320 offers the industry's highest performance, asynchronous flash memory solution by enabling data transfer rates as high as 133MB/second.
    "The Am29PL320 is an extremely easy-to-use flash memory solution," added Plouse. "It can interface directly with industry-standard microprocessors allowing designers to get very high levels of performance without having to synchronize the flash memory to a clock."

    Features and Packaging:

    The Am29PL320 is a low-voltage, Page-Mode device that offers access times as fast as 20 nanoseconds in the Page Mode and 60 nanoseconds in the random mode.
    The Am29PL320 features Zero Power Operation allowing the device to automatically put itself into "sleep" mode when it is inactive, thereby limiting its current consumption to 0.2uA, without any "wake-up" time penalty.
    The device includes the SecSi(tm) (Secured Silicon) area, which helps protect against unauthorized system cloning, and an accelerated programming feature to speed manufacturing throughput.
    The Am29PL320 is available in an 84-ball Fine Pitch Ball Grid Array (FBGA) package.

    Applications

    The high data transfer rate of the Am29PL320 makes it an optimal solution for high-performance automotive engine control units and navigation systems, printers, portables and handheld devices.

    Price and Availability

    The Am29PL320 is available now and is priced at $13.95 in 10,000 piece quantities.

    AMD Flash Memory Awards

    AMD's Flash memory products have received numerous customer service, quality and technology awards. The most recent Flash memory awards include: Cisco Systems' highest customer satisfaction recognition -- the Cisco President's Award, the Nortel 2000 "Supplier of the Year" award, the Samsung 2000 "Best Supplier" award, the Volkswagen 1999 "Leading Edge" award and the Cisco 1999 "Semiconductor Supplier of the Year" award.

    About AMD Flash Memory Devices

    AMD technology is employed by the world's largest producer of Flash memory devices, Fujitsu AMD Semiconductor Ltd. (FASL). AMD Flash memory products encompass a broad spectrum of densities and features to support a wide range of markets. AMD Flash memory customers represent leaders in the automotive, networking, telecommunications, and handheld mobile terminal markets.
    AMD offers many Flash memory products, such as the award-winning Simultaneous Read-Write (SRW) product family; Super Low Voltage 1.8V Flash memory devices; and Burst- and Page-Mode devices. AMD developed the robust Known Good Die (KGD) program and the patented negative gate erase technology, and refined the industry-standard Fine-Pitch Ball Grid Array (FBGA).
    All AMD Flash memory devices are guaranteed by AMD for a minimum of one million write cycles per sector and 20 years' data retention, making them the most reliable non-volatile memory devices in the industry.
    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy awarded AMD an ENERGY STAR(R) Certificate of Recognition for its energy-efficient Flash memory devices. Products with the ENERGY STAR label are designed to use less energy, save money and help protect the environment.

    About AMD

    AMD is a global supplier of integrated circuits for the personal and networked computer and communications markets, with manufacturing facilities in the United States, Europe, Japan and Asia. AMD, a Fortune 500 and Standard & Poor's 500 company, produces microprocessors, flash memory devices, and support circuitry for communications and networking applications. Founded in 1969 and based in Sunnyvale, Calif., AMD had revenues of $4.6 billion in 2000. .

    Visit AMD on the Web

    For more information about the Am29PL320, please visit our virtual pressroom at www.amd.com/news/virtualpress/index.html. Additional press releases and information about AMD and its products are available at www.amd.com/news/news.html.

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