FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kentron Technologies, Inc., Announces that VIA Technologies, Inc and S3 Graphics, Inc have Licensed the DDR based, Quad Band Memory (QBM) Technology

The QBM technology effectively doubles the bandwidth of DDR SDRAM, and when incorporated into leading chipsets from VIA and S3 Graphics, will deliver higher PC performance through evolutionary memory technology.

Wilmington, MA – September 17, 2002 – Kentron Technologies, Inc., a privately held company, announced that VIA Technologies, Inc., a leading innovator and developer of silicon chip technologies and PC platform solutions, and S3 Graphics, Inc. have licensed the QBM technology.  The QBM controller interface license provides VIA and S3 Graphics with the necessary IP coverage to incorporate QBM into their line of PC, Workstation and Server core logic chipset solutions.

The QBM technology doubles the speed of Double Data Rate (DDR) memory devices, maintains the existing 64-bit bus structure common in today’s general purpose computing systems and meets the marketplace’s requirement for low cost memory modules.  Using existing DDR I devices, the technology provides DDR II speeds, cost savings and a dramatic performance improvement over DDR333, DDR 400, future DDRII modules, and other more expensive, non-DDR compatible memory technologies.

This license marks the first time that PC based systems will be able to interface to the high speed DDR533 and DDR667 modules featuring QBM technology.  New systems using QBM enabled chipsets from VIA and S3 Graphics will combine the fastest speed memory in the industry with the fastest processor front side bus speeds and maintain backward compatibility with today’s DDR infrastructure.

“VIA is committed to delivering higher performance chipset solutions to the marketplace while minimizing cost impact on our customers,” said Chewei Lin, Vice President of Product Marketing, VIA Technologies, Inc. “Kentron’s leading edge QBM memory technology will enable us to strengthen our position as the market leader in providing high-performance chipsets and, at the same time, exploit all the potential of the existing DDR SDRAM infrastructure.”

“We are looking forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with VIA and S3 Graphics,” said Bob Goodman, Kentron Technologies’ Chief Executive Officer. “As a developer of high speed and high density memory solutions, Kentron’s objective is to produce innovations that will benefit the semiconductor and system industries.”

"Kentron's QBM technology implemented with VIA and S3 chipsets will raise the performance bar and deliver the highest bandwidth achievable in a low cost 64-bit DDR configuration,” said Bert McComas, founder and principle analyst at InQuest Market Research.  “Compared to the other high performance alternatives, this architecture could produce the best price/performance for several years to come."

In order to ensure a worldwide low cost supply of DDR based QBM modules in support of VIA’s chipsets, Kentron is providing the major DRAM and memory module manufacturers with the necessary tools (modules, gerbers, design guides, etc.) under a royalty-free license. 

“QBM enabled chipsets from VIA and S3 Graphics mark a major milestone toward the implementation of QBM technology,” said Jun Kitano, Director of Technical Marketing for Elpida Memory (USA) Inc.  “Elpida will continue to work closely with Kentron Technologies by offering high density, low power DDR SDRAM devices.”

Other partners in The QBM Alliance, such as STMicroelectronics and Acuid Corporation have been working closely with both Kentron Technologies and VIA in the activities targeted towards the development of QBM enabled chipsets.

“STMicroelectronics has been a member of the QBM Alliance since the beginning and we are pleased to be providing key components used in the QBM solution being brought to the marketplace by VIA, S3 Graphics and Kentron Technologies,” said Ricardo de Sa Earp, Director of Marketing at STMicroelectronics’ ASD & Discretes Division.

“Acuid clearly recognizes the advantages that the QBM technology brings to the system market place and the requirement for advanced testing solutions,” said Ricci Brach, VP ATE Marketing and Sales North America at Acuid Corporation Ltd. “The move by VIA and S3 Graphics to incorporate QBM into their chipset products will have a very positive impact on the acceptance of the QBM technology in the marketplace.”

VIA has established itself in a market leading position by successfully transitioning to price/performance leading memory technologies, as demonstrated in the successful transition to PC133 SDRAM in 1999 and DDR SDRAM in 2001.  The adoption of the QBM technology reflects the continuation of VIA’s industry defining strategy of driving evolutionary memory technologies into the market in order to deliver higher system performance with a minimal cost penalty.

Frequently Asked Questions on QBM can be found at http://www.quadbandmemory.com/Technical/FAQ.htm

About Kentron Technologies.

Founded in 1998, Kentron Technologies, Inc., specializes in the design, manufacture, sales, support and licensing of present and next-generation memory platforms to meet the speed and density requirements of high performance computing systems.  With a portfolio of patented memory solutions, Kentron is pioneering new technologies that solve the memory density and speed issues faced by the PC, workstation, server and telecom marketplace. These standard memory platforms achieve the highest “per socket” densities and bandwidths in the world without the premium costs that might be expected of such leading edge technology.  Kentron manufactures its products in multiple locations in the United States and maintains a world-class engineering and R&D facility at its corporate headquarters based in Wilmington, Massachusetts.
Additional information is available at the official Quad Band Memory (QBM) website www.QuadBandMemory.com or at the Company’s website at http://www.kentrontech.com.

About VIA Technologies, Inc.

VIA Technologies, Inc. is a leading innovator and developer of PC core logic chipsets, microprocessors, and multimedia, communications, optical media and networking chips. VIA delivers value to the PC industry by designing, marketing, and selling high-performance VIA Apollo core logic chipsets for the full range of PC platforms, and cost-effective VIA C3™ processors for Value PCs and Internet Appliances, as well as developing complete solutions for the PC platform through its VPSD Business Unit. Its customers include the world's top OEMs, main board manufacturers, and system integrators. VIA is headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, at the center of the Greater China high-tech manufacturing engine, and has branch offices in the US, China and Europe. The company is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE2388), and achieved annual revenues of nearly US$1 billion in 2001.
Additional information is available at the company’s website at http://www.via.com.tw.

About S3 Graphics, Inc.
S3 Graphics, Inc. ("S3 Graphics") specializes in providing the complete graphics solution for PCs, including the SuperSavage™ discrete and ProSavage integrated graphics chipsets for the mobile and desktop markets. S3 Graphics has already shipped a number of joint venture products including ProSavage™ PM133 and KM133; ProSavage8 PM266, KM266 and P4M266 for the integrated desktop market and ProSavage™ PN133 and KN133; ProSavage8 PN266, KN266 and P4N266 for the mobile market. With a long-term commitment to developing advanced graphics processors, S3 Graphics continues to expand its market presence for mobile and desktop PCs. Additional information is available at the company’s website at http://www.s3graphics.com.