Stmicroelectronics Announces Application-Specific Flash Memory For Firmware Hub Bios - Product Announcement

EDP Weekly's IT Monitor, Nov 20, 2000

STMicroelectronics (NYSE:STM) has announced the first device in a new family of application-specific Flash memories targeted at high performance PCs employing Intel's Accelerated Hub Architecture.

The M50FW040 is a 4 Mbit Flash memory, organized as eight uniform 64 Kbit blocks, that performs the Firmware Hub (FWH) function, storing the system and video BIOS code and interfacing with other Hub Architecture devices via the Firmware Hub high speed interface protocol. Intel and ST have worked closely together to ensure that the M50FW040 and subsequent members of the family are fully compatible with the 82801 I/O Controller Hub (ICH) that is part of Intel's 810, 810e, 820 and 840 PC chipsets.

Suitable for all PC, workstation, server, internet appliance and other applications based on these chipsets, the M50FW040 is built using ST's advanced proprietary 0.18u Flash technology and is a drop-in replacement for the Intel 82802 Firmware Hub device. The M50FW040 operates from a 3.0-3.6V supply voltage for Program, Erase and Read operations, while an optional 12V rail is available to enable faster programming.

The M50FW040 incorporates a Program/Erase controller with an embedded Byte Program/Erase algorithm and a Program/Erase Suspend capability that allows reading from one memory block while another block is being programmed. Other key features of ST's Flash technology include a typical programming time of less than 10s and minimum data retention of 20 years. All M50FW040 functions are available via the Firmware Hub interface, while an optional Address/Address Multiplexed (A/A MUX) protocol allows faster programming on the customer's production line.

"The M50FW040 is the first result of an ongoing cooperation with Intel in Hub Architecture chips. Reflecting ST's leading position in Non-Volatile Memory technology, the advanced 0.18u Flash technology has resulted in a die size that is the smallest in the industry," said Giuseppe Crisenza, Non-Volatile Memory Group Vice President at STMicroelectronics.

"The M50FW040 is the first of a family of application-specific Flash memories through which ST will leverage its success in both standard and dedicated Flash memories to address the emerging needs of the high performance PC market," Crisenza added.

"We are very pleased that STMicroelectronics is working with Intel to supply Firmware Hubs to our 800 Series Hub Architecture chipset customers," said Gidu Shroff, Vice-President for Intel's Technology & Manufacturing Group. "With ST's qualification of this product, our customers will have a choice of suppliers of FWH for the Intel 8xx chipset family."