Acer Labs shows 'Genie' chipset targeting Intel, network servers

Electronic News, May 29, 1995

SAN JOSE, CALIF.--Acer Laboratories Inc. (ALi) will today square off against Intel with the introduction of a high-end chipset for network servers based on such micro-processors as the Intel Pentium, Advanced Micro Devices K5 and Cyrix M1.

ALi's Genie chipset is based on the architecture of the 64-bit performance-enhanced I/O and CPU architecture (PICA) chipset ALi unveiled in 1993. The three-chip Genie features what ALi claims is the first use of integrated error correction code (ECC) in a server chipset, as well as MESI cache architecture and support for up to four MPUs and 1GByte of memory. It is designed to compete with Intel's Neptune (EN, April 4, 1994) and C5/C8 Pentium chipsets.

The Genie family--targeted at applications such as multi-processor application servers and high-performance workstations--consists of three integrated devices. The M1601 is a 240-pin PQFP packaged, 64-bit, direct-map L2 MESI serial cache controller for x86 multi-processor systems using separate cache memory. The M1609 is a 208-pin PQFP packaged, general-purpose memory and multi-channel I/O controller which incorporates a 64-bit memory bus controller and 32-bit PCI I/O bus. The third chip is the 208-pin PQFP packaged M1513 standard PCI-ISA bus controller with APIC.

ALi president Dr. Chin Wu said that ALi may introduce a PowerPC version of the Genie chipset in the future, if demand warrants it. The three-chip Genie 1600 System Core Logic chipset is set to sample in June, priced at $55 each in quantities of 1,000.

In an interview with Electronic News, Dr. Wu also revealed a roadmap calling for introduction of a variety of products, including a new embedded MPU, video and graphics devices, and I/O devices--all slated to be rolled out by year-end. Dr. Wu said these new products indicate a change in the strategic focus of the company to reflect the current multimedia boom. "Sixty to 70 percent of our products are core logic today. By 1997, look for graphics and multimedia (peripherals) to make up a larger share. In 1996 we expect 40- to 50 percent of all revenues will come from peripherals, and by 1997, that figure will possibly be more than 50 percent."

ALi, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the $4 billion Acer Group in Taiwan, is the number three PC chipset manufacturer behind VLSI and Opti, according to data from market research firm Dataquest. ALi has grown from revenues of $6 million in 1990 to $70 million in 1994 and is projecting sales of $110- to $120 million this year--80 percent of that to companies outside of the Acer Group. Dr. Wu revealed that, propelled by this rapid growth, ALi might go public in three or four years.

Currently, ALi employs 180 people, and half of those are R&D engineers. Dr. Wu said the employee roster will increase more than 20 percent to 200 by the end of the next quarter. He maintained ALi is "the only major design house affiliated with a leading system company, but we are small enough to be fast," in terms of advancing new technologies. We always have the long-term view in mind. We have excellent long-term relationships with world class foundries and assembly houses, which support ALi with cost-effective product, and fast turnaround."

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. is ALi's major foundry and, according to ALi, ALi is TSMC's largest customer in Taiwan.

Among the products the company will roll out, according to Dr. Wu, is a new embedded 386SX for control applications. The device, dubbed M6117, is slated for introduction in late June or early July depending on when the company gets first silicon, and will integrate the existing M1217B 386SX controller with the 32-bit M1386SX MPU introduced late last year. The M6117 will operate at up to 40MHz and will include an RTC and keyboard controller.

In the graphics and multimedia area, ALi will introduce four new devices by 3Q95, including the M3145V, an extension of the existing M3145 line. Built on a M3145 core, the M3145V will also include RAMDAC and clock on-chip. Other planned devices include the M5580 CD ROM controller line; and the M3147, a M3145 pin-compatible device with added video playback capability. Later in the year or early in 1996, ALi will unveil a sound/fax modem chip solution, and a video/audio decoder.