IBM PowerPC chips to speed network communications and computing

East Fishkill, NY, June 5, 2000

IBM today introduced new PowerPC^™ chips designed to improve communications and computing across the Internet.

The new PowerPC products include stand-alone high-performance microprocessors, as well as complete "systems-on-a-chip" that combine embedded PowerPC processors with other commonly-required functions onto a single piece of silicon. These chips can be applied in applications ranging from networking gear that carries Internet traffic, to new information appliances and other devices used to access the Internet.

This announcement adds to the portfolio of chips based on the IBM PowerPC architecture^™, many targeted toward the burgeoning communications infrastructure marketplace. PowerPC has been selected in a variety of forms by every top-tier network equipment maker in the industry, helping to fuel an 80 percent increase in IBM's embedded PowerPC business in 1999.

"In the 10 years since its inception, the IBM PowerPC architecture has proven its versatility and reliability in high-performance applications," said Chris King, Vice President of Network Technology for IBM Microelectronics. "While some companies are taking a one-size-fits-all approach to the diverse needs of the network, the flexibility of the PowerPC architecture allows us to give the customer what they need, while still maintaining a common platform. This can be a major advantage in simplifying software development and reducing time-to-market."

The new products include:

• The PowerPC 750CX and 750CXe microprocessors ranging in speeds from 350 to 700 MHz, they use IBM's advanced 0.18 micron copper wiring technology and incorporate 256K of high speed on-chip L2 cache, designed to enhance system performance and reduce system costs.
• New "superstructure" products that integrate onto a single chip a high-performance PowerPC processor, the CoreConnect^™ on-chip bus architecture, and additional functions normally requiring separate chips. New superstructures include:
  • A higher-speed 266 MHz PowerPC 405GP and new packaging options for smaller form factor designs;
  • The 405CR operating at 200 to 266 MHz and providing up to 375 MIPS of performance; the 405CR is an entry point integrated embedded processor — a scaled version of the PowerPC 405GP.
  • The new PowerPC 440GP, one of the most advanced, highly-integrated systems-on-a-chip available in the industry, running at 400 to 500 MHz with up to 900 MIPS performance and integrating PCI-X bridge, DDR SDRAM controller, 128-bit on-chip CoreConnect bus, on-chip SRAM, superscalar 440 core; two ethernet ports and more on a single die.
• The availability of the PowerPC 405 as a "core" for use in custom ASICs using IBM's advanced copper technology.

The IBM PowerPC has been selected by a wide range of customers for a variety of applications in networking gear and network-attached products, including: Ericsson (base stations); 3Com (modems); Sanyo (Internet-access phones); Pixelmetrix (digital TV box); Destiny (color/mono laser printers, copiers, and document image systems); Peerless Systems (integrated printer controllers); Tenor Networks (optical switches); Compaq (RAID controllers); and Apple Computer (personal computers).

Availability/Pricing

Samples are currently available for the PowerPC 750CX, the PowerPC 405GP and the PowerPC 405CR. Samples for the PowerPC 440 GP and the PowerPC 750CXe will be available by the end of 2000. Based on 10K quantities, pricing is as follows: PowerPC 750CX ($77 at 400 MHz); PowerPC 405GP ($29.50 at 200 MHz); and PowerPC 405CR ($23.50 at 200 MHz).

IBM will introduce more details on the PowerPC 440GP and PowerPC 750CX at the Embedded Processor Forum in San Jose beginning June 12th.