Diamond Multimedia Launches New Sonic Impact Line Of PCI Audio Accelerators for Cost-Effective Audio On the PC

Business Wire, March 17, 1998

How to Contact Diamond Multimedia

There are many ways to reach Diamond for sales support, technical assistance, driver updates and general information:

-0-

Internet Web Site: http://www.diamondmm.com Diamond Multimedia's Headquarters and Multimedia Division:

408/325-7000; Fax: 408/325-7070 Communications Division (Supra brand modems) Main Phone Number:

360/604-1400; Fax: 360/604-1401 European Division (Germany): 49-8151-266-0; (UK): 44-1189-444400;

(France) 33-1-47561157 Korean Office (Seoul): 82-2-551-2700; Fax: 82-2-551-2710 Japanese Office (Tokyo): 81-3-5695-8401; Fax: 81-3-5695-8403 ASEAN Office (Singapore): 65-353-9511; Fax: 65-353-9510 Hong Kong Office: 852-2375-9023; Fax: 852-2375-9021 Australian Office (Sydney): 61-2-9460-2355; Fax 61-2-9460-2360 Product Support (Voice), United States: 541/967-2450;

Europe (Germany) 49-8151-266-330; Europe (UK) 44-1189-444444;

TDD/TTY Support 541/967-2451 Product Support (Fax), United States: 541/967-2401; Europe (Germany)

49-8151-266-331; Europe (UK): 44-1189-444445;

(France) 33-1-47561139 Pre-sales Information: 1-800/468-5846 Investor Relations: 408/325-7476; 1-888/474-3463 (U.S. and Canada) 24-Hour Fax-On-Demand Service: 1-800/380-0030 FTP site: ftp.diamondmm.com BBS: 541/967-2444 (to 33.6 Kbps) or 408/383-0551 (ISDN);

Europe (Germany) BBS at 49-8151-266333 (to 28.8 Kbps)

or 49-8151-266334 (ISDN); Europe (UK) at 44-1189-444415

(to 33.6 Kbps) -0-

Note to Editors: Monster 3D and Supra are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc. Monster(R) is a registered trademark of Monster Cable. Viper(R) is a registered trademark of Directed Electronics, Inc., Used under License. All other trademarks referenced are the service mark, trademark or registered trademark of their respective manufacturers. This announcement relates to products whose introductions are in North America. The product name, contents, prices and availability may differ elsewhere in the world according to local factors and requirements.

Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, such as statements relating to the Company's ability to successfully exploit technological and market developments, the timing and success of new product introductions by the Company and its competitors, and the Company's ability to invest in new technologies and to enhance its existing systems are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the impact of competitive products and pricing and alternative technological advances, the timely and successful development and market acceptance of new products and upgrades to existing products, and other risks as detailed from time to time in Diamond Multimedia's SEC filings, including its most recent Forms 10-K and 10-Q. -0-

Appendix A - The Diamond Advantage: Sound Card Comparison Chart

                           Sonic Impact         Sound Blaster AWE
                                                 64 Value
                           --------------------------------------
Manufacturer               Diamond Multimedia   Creative Labs(R)

Estimated Retail Price     $69.95               $99.99

Bus Type                    PCI                  ISA

Audio Chipset              ESS Maestro-2        EMU8000

No. of Hardware
Accelerated
Audio Stream
Processing                 32 streams(b)        1 stream

No. of Hardware
Accelerated
3D Audio Streams           6 streams            2 streams

Speaker Support            2 Speakers           2 Speakers
                           Headphones           Headphones

True Interactive              YES                  NO
Positional                 DirectSound 3D       Uses proprietary
3D Audio Accelerator

OS Support                 DOS                  DOS
                           Windows 3.1          Windows 3.1
                           Windows 95/98        Windows 95
                           Windows NT 4.0

Signal to Noise Ratio      greater than 90dB    greater than 90dB

Wavetable Synthesis        64-voice ESS         32-voice
                           hardware-based       hardware-based
                                                32-voice
                                                software-based

Full Duplex Audio Yes                          No (supported in SW
                                                   only)