Avnet Launches EXP High-Speed, High-Performance SerDes Module From National Semiconductor

Business Wire, May 28, 2008

PHOENIX -- The Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas business of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT), and National Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE: NSM) have launched the EXP high-performance SerDes module for use with low-cost Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) applications.

Based on National Semiconductor's new serializer and deserializer chipset, the new EXP high-performance SerDes module from Avnet and National is the first to enable the use of low-cost Xilinx Spartan-3 FPGAs to help customers add high-speed, high-performance capability to their designs. The module enables rapid device evaluation and system development for use in industrial and medical imaging, communications infrastructure, commercial displays, and test and measurement systems applications.

The EXP high-speed SerDes module includes an EXP module, downloadable documentation and reference design. Product features such as half EXP module format, wide serial data rate (1.25-3.125 Gbps), 5-bit LVDS parallel interface to FPGA and integrated signal conditioning enable high-performance and rapid design implementation.

"National Semiconductor's DS32ELX0421/124 SerDes chipset offers system designers the industry's lowest jitter and longest cable reach at 3.125 Gbps, along with an easy FPGA interface," said Erroll Dietz, vice president of National's Interface Division. "Avnet's EXP module for these devices enables customers to quickly evaluate and design their systems with our SerDes chipset."

"The new EXP high-speed SerDes module from Avnet and National Semiconductor gives designers the ability to add high-speed serial interfaces to their applications in a cost-effective and easy-to-implement manner," said Jeff Ittel, senior vice president of semiconductors for Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas.

For more information about the new EXP high-speed SerDes module, please visit www.em.avnet.com/exp-nsc-serdes.

About Avnet Electronics Marketing

Avnet Electronics Marketing is an operating group of Phoenix-based Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT), a Fortune 500 company. Avnet Electronics Marketing serves electronic original equipment manufacturers (EOEMs) and electronic manufacturing services (EMS) providers in more than 70 countries, distributing electronic components from leading manufacturers and providing associated design-chain and supply-chain services. The group's Web site is located at http://www.em.avnet.com.

About Avnet

Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT) is one of the largest distributors of electronic components, computer products, and technology services and solutions, with more than 300 locations serving more than 70 countries worldwide. The company markets, distributes and optimizes the supply chain and provides design-chain services for the products of the world's leading electronic component suppliers, enterprise computer manufacturers and embedded subsystem providers. Avnet brings a breadth and depth of capabilities, such as maximizing inventory efficiency, managing logistics, assembling products and providing engineering design assistance for its 100,000 customers, accelerating their growth through cost-effective, value-added services and solutions. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007, Avnet generated revenue of $15.68 billion. For more information, visit www.avnet.com.