Cadence Delivers Windows NT Versions of Affirma HDL Simulators; New Level of Performance and High-End Features Now Available to Windows NT Users

Business Wire, June 14, 1999

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 14, 1999--

Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (NYSE:CDN) today announced that it will support the Windows NT operating system with its full family of Affirma(TM) hardware description language (HDL) simulators for verification of application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), boards, and systems.

These simulators deliver exceptional performance and are known for their mixed-language capability and leading ASIC sign-off status. Native-compiled code (NCC), created specifically for the Intel Architecture, ensures maximum verification performance on advanced Intel-based workstations.

The Windows NT versions of the Affirma NC simulator for mixed-language simulation, Affirma NC Verilog simulator, and the Affirma NC VHDL simulator will deliver the same leading-edge features and performance previously available only on UNIX platforms. Cross-platform licenses will be offered for UNIX and Windows NT at no additional cost allowing designers to effectively implement mixed Windows NT and UNIX environments. Since both the Windows NT and UNIX products use identical databases, designers can seamlessly share libraries and design data without the need for error-prone translations. In addition, Windows NT users will benefit from enhanced productivity by running advanced technical applications with office and personal productivity software on the same workstation.

"We've worked closely with companies like Cadence in our Application Solution Center (ASC) to optimize compute-intensive applications such as HDL simulators on Intel Architecture," said Matt Gordon, director of marketing, Workstation Products Group, at Intel Corporation. "The Intel-based platform is an emerging force in electronic design, and the introduction of Affirma hardware description language simulators on this platform promises even greater advantages for performance-critical designs."

"Cadence(R) is the first to deliver advanced native compiled code simulation technology to the Windows NT operating system. This leads to greater performance, sophisticated mixed-language capability, and best-in-class tools for verifying complex system-on-a-chip (SOC) designs, regardless of the platform used," said Craig Silver, group director of marketing for simulation products for Cadence.

Cadence currently supports the Windows NT operating system with its Intrica(TM) family of printed circuit board (PCB) and integrated circuit (IC) packaging design products, as well as its Verilog(R)-XL simulator.

Pricing and Availability

U.S. list prices for the Affirma family of HDL simulators starts at $27,500. Products will begin shipping in August, 1999. Demonstrations can be seen in the Compaq Computer Corporation, Hewlett-Packard Company, and IBM booths at the Design Automation Conference (DAC) in New Orleans, starting June 21, 1999.

About Cadence

Cadence is the largest supplier of software products, methodology services, and design services used to accelerate and manage the design of semiconductors, computer systems, networking and telecommunications equipment, consumer electronics, and a variety of other electronics-based products. With more than 4,000 employees and 1998 annual sales of $1.2 billion, Cadence has sales offices, design centers, and research facilities around the world. More information about the company, its products and services may be obtained from the World Wide Web at http://www.cadence.com.

Cadence, the Cadence logo and Verilog XL are registered trademarks, and Affirma and Intrica are trademarks of Cadence Designs Systems, Inc. All other trademarks are the properties of their owners.