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UMC
and XGITM License Rambus RaserTM PHY Technology
Agreement expands semiconductor foundry’s
PCI Express* solutions and provides chip developer with
advanced solutions for next generation graphics products
LOS ALTOS, Calif. and HSINCHU, Taiwan –
April 8, 2004 – Rambus Inc. (Nasdaq:RMBS), a leading developer
of chip interface products and services, today announced that UMC
(NYSE: UMC), a world leading semiconductor foundry, is now offering
Rambus's RaSerTM physical layer (PHY) cells for PCI Express*
applications to its foundry customers. This partnership gives chip
developers access to cost-effective, high-performance PCI Express-based
interfaces. Additionally, Taiwan-based XGI Technology Inc. is the
first chip developer to license the new UMC RaSer PHY cell to drive
its next generation PC graphics products.
"The PCI Express PHY is an important technology
for next generation PCs," said Ken Liou, director of UMC's
Design Support division. "As UMC continues to expand its IP
offerings with an emphasis on interoperability and reusability,
the Rambus PCI Express compliant RaSer core is a welcome addition
to our portfolio. The combination of UMC's process technology and
Rambus PHY IP enables chip developers like XGI to avoid costly R&D
investments for PCI Express-based products."
Through the new licensing agreement, UMC’s
customers can access Rambus's RaSer PHY. Rambus will provide complete
characterization data and evaluation boards for any UMC-based testchips
using the PHY cell. This Rambus RaSer PHY cell expands UMC's IP
portfolio with additional PCI Express compatible capabilities.
"Desktop and mobile systems are moving to
the PCI Express standard in order to achieve higher bandwidth and
smaller form factors," said Chris Lin, president of XGI. “The
Rambus RaSer interface reduces the silicon area and power of our
graphics products, while exceeding the PCI Express electrical specification
requirements."
The Rambus RaSer family of serial link cells
is silicon-proven in 0.18-micron, 0.13-micron and 90-nanometer semiconductor
process technologies. The RaSer PHY technology for PCI Express applications
has been proven in systems and is in development now in leading
PC chipset, graphics, communication switch and bridge chip applications.
"The PCI Express architecture is rapidly
gaining market momentum, and RaSer PHYs are on the cutting edge
of its deployment,"said Kevin Donnelly, vice president of the
Logic Interface Division at Rambus. "By partnering with companies
like UMC, Rambus will continue to enable mass adoption for advanced
interface technology that results in faster, lower cost, more capable
systems. Also, the availability of this offering helps customers
get new capabilities to market faster."
In addition to the RaSer family of PHY cells,
Rambus provides comprehensive engineering services to its customers.
The availability of chip integration, package, test, and board and
system characterization support help to ensure customers' success
in the development and bring up of PCI Express chips and boards.
Additional information on the RaSer family of serial link cells
can be found at www.rambus.com/raser.
About UMC
UMC (NYSE: UMC, TSE: 2303) is a leading global semiconductor foundry
that manufactures advanced process ICs for applications spanning
every major sector of the semiconductor industry. UMC delivers cutting-edge
foundry technologies that enable sophisticated system-on-chip (SOC)
designs, including 90nm copper, 0.13um copper, embedded DRAM, and
mixed signal/RFCMOS. UMC is also a leader in 300mm manufacturing;
Fab 12A in Taiwan is currently in volume production for a variety
of customer products, while Singapore-based UMCi has just entered
volume production. UMC employs over 8,500 people worldwide and has
offices in Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Europe, and the United States.
UMC can be found on the web at http://www.umc.com.
About Rambus Inc.
Rambus is one of the world's leading providers of advanced chip-to-chip
interface products and services. Since its founding in 1990, the
company's innovations, breakthrough technologies and integration
expertise have help industry-leading chip and system companies solve
their most challenging and complex I/O problems and bring their
products to market. Rambus's interface solutions can be found in
numerous computing, consumer, and communications products and applications.
Rambus is headquartered in Los Altos, California, with regional
offices in the United States, Taiwan and Japan. Additional information
is available at www.rambus.com.
About XGI Technology, Inc.
XGITM Technology Inc., originated from eXtreme Graphics
Innovation, was founded in June 2003 and is headquartered in Taipei,
Taiwan. XGITM is a leading visual computing and GPU design
company aiming to deliver a powerful and feature-packed GPU performance
to enrich the users’ experience. XGITM has positioned
itself as a Fabless IC design company. It offers a full range of
video solution for Professional, Entertainment and now Mobile usage.
For more detailed information, please visit XGITM website
at http://www.xgitech.com.
Rambus and RaSer are registered trademarks
of Rambus Inc. All other registered trademarks and other trademarks
that may be mentioned in this release belong to their respective
owners.
* PCI Express is a
trademark of the PCI-SIG organization. Rambus and RaSer are registered
trademarks of Rambus Inc. All other registered trademarks and other
trademarks that may be mentioned in this release belong to their
respective owners.
This release contains forward-looking statements
that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements
include statements about the adoption rate of the PCI Express interconnect
into and suitability for the computing, consumer and communications
markets, as well as the dates of when PCI Express-based systems
are expected to ship into their respective markets. Additional forward-looking
statements include the ability of Rambus RaSer cells to provide
design flexibility in silicon proven process technologies as well
as the adoption of these cells in leading PC chipset, graphics,
and communication switch and bridge chip applications. These forward-looking
statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause
actual results to differ materially from those projected. Those
risks include the possibility of reduced market adoption of the
PCI Express interconnect protocol, the market response to these
products, any delay in the development of Rambus-based products
by licensees, any delay in the development and shipment of new Rambus
products, any delay in the development and shipment of products
compatible with Rambus products, a strong response of the market
to competing technology, a failure to sign new contracts or maintain
existing contracts for RaSer cell technologies, adverse litigation
decisions and other factors that are described in our SEC filings
including our 10-K and 10-Qs.
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