STMicroelectronics announces EEMBC benchmark results for the ST20, 32-bit CPU Core

Business Wire, April 11, 2000

Business Editors

GENEVA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 11, 2000

STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM) today announced the results for its ST20 CPU Core running the EEMBC (EDN Embedded Microprocessor Benchmark Consortium) benchmarks and is one of the first manufacturers to deliver the complete suite of results. ST chose its STi5500 OMEGA(TM) device to demonstrate the price/performance leadership of the ST20 CPU core. The best selling single-chip decoder for satellite set-top boxes, the STi5500 integrates an ST20, 32-bit CPU core with 2K I-cache, 2k D-cache and 2k SRAM running at 50MHz, with an MPEG 2 A/V decoder, PAL/NTSC encoder and wide range of peripherals.

Mark Jones, Marketing Manager for 32/64-bit CPU cores at ST, said, "We believe that the EEMBC benchmarks will become an industry standard method of comparing embedded CPU cores. The ST20 is the central processing unit of choice in over 50% of the digital set top boxes on the market, and as a market leader, we need to be at the forefront of important new initiatives such as EEMBC."

The EEMBC benchmarks are divided into application related packages or suites. Because these give a good overall test of CPU performance and code density to help customers determine the optimum solution, ST has run the complete set of application suites. The high code density results for the ST20 show that system memory costs can be lower than for other processors, which together with its low-silicon footprint, enables the ST20 to deliver the best cost performance solution across a range of consumer applications.

"These results demonstrate the ST20's benefits for real time embedded applications, and the high code density allows small caches and low-cost memory systems to be used to deliver true 32-bit performance at a consumer price-point," said Roger Shepherd, Manager of Advanced Architectures at ST.

In future benchmarking sessions, ST will add its STi5512 set top box device running at 60MHz and future versions of OMEGA running at speeds up to 166MHz. ST will also benchmark its forthcoming ST40 that incorporates Hitachi's SuperH, SH-4 CPU core.

About STMicroelectronics

STMicroelectronics (formerly SGS-THOMSON Microelectronics) is a global independent semiconductor company, whose shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, on the ParisBourse and on the Milan Stock Exchange. The Company designs, develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of semiconductor integrated circuits (ICs) and discrete devices used in a wide variety of microelectronic applications, including telecommunications systems, computer systems, consumer products, automotive products and industrial automation and control systems. In 1999, the Company's net revenues were $5.056 billion and net earnings were $547 million. Further information on ST can be found at www.st.com.

Some of the above statements are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. In addition to factors discussed above, among the other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: general business and economic conditions such as possible future financial turbulence; the cyclicality of the semiconductor and electronic systems industries; capital requirements and the availability of funding; competition; excess or obsolete inventory and variations in inventory valuation; new product development and technological change, including acceptance of new products by particular market segments; manufacturing risks; changes in customer order patterns, including loss of key customers, order cancellations or reduced bookings; intellectual property developments; international events and currency fluctuations; problems in obtaining adequate raw materials on a timely basis; and the loss of key personnel. Unfavorable changes in the above or other factors listed under "Risk Factors" from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including the Prospectus dated September 16, 1999 could materially affect the Company.