AMD Announces Availability of Fast Ethernet Chipset for Industrial Temperature Applications; AMD Shipping 10/100 Physical Layer and Controller Devices Capable of -40 C to +85 C Operation

Business Wire, Dec 16, 1999

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 15, 1999--

AMD today announced the immediate availability of two 10/100 Mbps Ethernet devices that provide full functionality in environments in the -40 degree C to 85 degree C industrial temperature range.

The AMD NetPHY(TM)-1LP physical layer (PHY) and the PCnet-FAST(TM) controller devices provide design engineers reliable and cost-effective choices for reducing their systems' environmental limitations. The two devices can be used together or separately, depending on specific application requirements.

Only the NetPHY-1LP PHY is needed in applications that already have an Ethernet media access controller available, such as designs using custom ASICs. Only the PCnet-FAST controller is needed in applications that use the controller's MII or GPSI interface, such as backplane communication within a chassis-based system. Together, these devices offer a complete Fast Ethernet solution capable of sustained operation under extreme temperature conditions.

"We are quite pleased to offer these products designed to meet the rigid industrial temperature specification," said Laila Razouk, vice-president of AMD's Network Products Division. "A growing number of our customers require Ethernet devices that meet the industrial temperature specification for use in a broad range of applications," Razouk said. "The NetPHY-1LP and PCnet-FAST devices are proven products our customers can count on for reliable performance in extreme environments."

AMD's Family of Ethernet Devices

A leading networking component supplier since 1984 with more than 250 million network ports shipped in the past five years, AMD has offered industrial temperature Ethernet devices for many years. AMD's 10 Mbps industrial temperature Ethernet products include: -0-

--   Am79C940 MACE single-chip16-bit 10 Mbps Ethernet controller
--   Am79C961A PCnet-ISA II single-chip ISA bus 10 Mbps Ethernet
     controller
--   Am79C970A PCnet-PCI II single-chip PCI bus 10 Mbps Ethernet
     controller.

     These devices are now joined by the Am79C972 PCnet-FAST , a
32-bit PCI bus 10/100 Mbps Ethernet controller, and the Am79C874
NetPHY-1LP, a 10/100 Mbps TX/FX Ethernet PHY. Both devices offer the
following key features:

--   IEEE 802.3 compliant, with support for full Auto-Negotiation
     operation
--   3.3 volt with 5 volt tolerant I/O
--   Advanced Power Management modes

-0-

The PCnet-FAST controller implements an IEEE 802.3-compliant Ethernet Media Access Controller (MAC) with full Auto-Negotiation of 10 or 100 Mbps, half- or full-duplex operation, and a Media Independent Interface (MII) for connection to any standard 10/100 Mbps physical layer (PHY) device. The PCnet-FAST controller integrates a high-performance 32-bit PCI bus master interface, large SRAM memory buffers and advanced power management including AMD's patented Magic Packet(TM) remote wake-up technology.

The PCnet-FAST controller is offered with a broad range of network software drivers supporting all leading operating systems including Windows, NetWare, Linux and VxWorks. It is also widely supported by third-party embedded software providers including WindRiver, ISI, QNX, Lynx and Pacific Softworks.

The NetPHY-1LP device is capable of supporting 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, and 100BASE-FX operation. The MAC interface supports the MII, 5B Symbol, and 7-wire (GPSI) standards. The physical media dependent layer supports CAT-3 twisted-pair for 10Mbps and CAT-5 twisted-pair for 10/100Mbps operation, as well as PECL for 100BASE-FX fiber optic transceivers. Four PowerWise(TM) management modes are available to reduce power consumption below the normal one-third Watt.

Diverse Applications Need Industrial Temperature

An increasing number of applications require industrial temperature operation, including enclosures with restricted airflow and equipment exposed to extreme temperature conditions. For voice and data communication applications, where devices are placed in environments with extreme temperature conditions, reliability is essential.

"Whether the systems containing our products are placed in outdoor enclosures in regions that experience harsh winters, or in direct sunlight in the desert, our devices keep functioning normally," said Michele McGregor, director of product marketing for AMD's Network Products Division. "AMD's industrial temperature Ethernet devices are well suited for virtually all conditions subject to severe extremes in temperature," McGregor said.

Package and Availability

The Am79C874 NetPHY-1LP device is available direct through AMD and authorized AMD distributors in an 80-pin TQFP package. The Am79C972 PCnet-FAST device is available direct through AMD and authorized AMD distributors in a 160-pin PQFP or 176-pin TQFP package. The Am79C874 NetPHY-1LP device is priced at $3.95 in 10K-unit quantities direct through AMD. The Am79C972 PCnet-FAST device is priced at $9.75 in 10K-unit quantities direct through AMD.

About AMD

AMD is a global supplier of integrated circuits for the personal and networked computer and communications markets. AMD produces microprocessors, flash memories, and integrated circuits for communications and networking applications. Founded in 1969 and based in Sunnyvale, AMD had revenues of $2.5 billion in 1998. (NYSE: AMD).