FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Andrea E. Pruna 
Kentron Technologies, Inc.  
978-988-9100, ext. 4161
andrea@kentrontech.com 

KENTRON AND ACTEL JOIN FORCES TO CREATE THE FIRST QBMä HIGH-BANDWIDTH MEMORY SUBSYSTEM 

Wilmington, MA, (August 3, 2000) – Kentron Technologies, a leader in next-generation memory architectures announced today that they have chosen Actel Protocol Design Services Group, to create the first memory subsystem that interfaces with Kentron’s Quad Band Memory (QBMä). QBM is a technology that uses standard DDR memory along with Kentron’s patented use of FET switches on a module (E-BUSä) to double the bandwidth of DDR from 200MHz to 400MHz data rate. The subsystem exercises the QBM memory in a similar fashion to a Northbridge chipset in a system. The QBM technology will increase the bandwidth of the DDR module solution from 1.6GB/sec to 3.2GB/sec, which will be a dramatic improvement over the capabilities of other non-compatible, more expensive memory technologies. QBM operates at 100MHz clock achieving data transfer rates of 400Mbit/sec during reads/writes.

The new QBM subsystem will utilize Actel’s SX-A high-speed FPGAs (field programmable gate arrays) to reduce the cost of development and provide chipset designers with the valuable data to aid with the implementation of QBM ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) controller(s).

QBM will dramatically improve the speed at which data is handled in the telecom, graphics and Internet server environment. We expect QBM to be an industry standard in the memory arena,” stated Bob Goodman, CEO of Kentron Technologies. “Actel’s FPGA controller will exercise QBM in a system environment that will provide members of the QBM Alliance with the necessary tools to incorporate QBM control into their chipsets.” 

“This project is an ideal application for both Protocol’s design experience and Actel FPGA technology,” added vice president of Actel’s Protocol Design Services Group, Tony Farinaro. “Protocol Design Services is excited to be applying our expertise in developing a memory subsystem for Kentron’s innovative QBM interface.  The combination of our design knowledge plus the flexibility and inherent rapid time-to-market capability of FPGAs is helping Kentron stay on schedule and accomplish its development objectives.”

Migration to a next-generation Actel device family early next year will provide a faster controller design that allows running current QBM designs at 133MHz clock and a 532Mbit/sec data rate.

ABOUT QBM (Quad Band Memory)
Kentron’s QBM provides twice the bandwidth of the fastest DDR chip at the same cost curve. The new memory architecture speeds up the performance of processors used in Network Servers, Routers, Telecommunications hardware as well as Internet hardware. The QBM technology may also be applied to wireless and portable applications. QBM addresses the need for a high-speed memory interface to compliment the ever-increasing power of microprocessors. QBM is an innovative approach to increase memory bandwidth by increasing the functionality of memory modules based on industry standard memory devices. QBM provides the solution to memory bus bandwidth problem.  By significantly increasing memory bus bandwidth, QBM enables system designers to fully utilize the power of today’s fastest microprocessors.

ABOUT KENTRON TECHNOLOGIES
Founded in 1996, Kentron Technologies specializes in the design, engineering and manufacturing of high density present and next-generation memory products and architectures to meet the speed and density requirements of high performance systems.  The company follows an overall system approach from CPU, to chipset, to system bus for engineering the next generation high-density memory and provides engineering and manufacturing support at every phase of the customer's product life cycle. Additional information about Kentron Technologies, Inc. is available at the Company’s website www.kentrontech.com.

ABOUT ACTEL 
Actel is The Programmable ASIC Solutions Company. Programmable ASICs (application specific integrated circuits) offer the benefits of both conventional ASICs (single chip and low power and price) and programmable logic devices (faster time to market plus reduced design and inventory risks). For customers requiring discrete programmable logic solutions, Actel's FPGAs (field programmable gate arrays) provide design security, are nonvolatile and "live at power up." For customers requiring embedded programmable solutions, Actel's intellectual property cores will enable the integration of reprogrammable logic functions in ASICs or ASSPs (application specific standard products) on standard processes. Customers can further accelerate time to market by using Actel's Protocol Design Services Group. Actel is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol ACTL and is located at 955 East Arques Avenue, Sunnyvale, California, 94086-4533. Telephone: 888-99-ACTEL (992-2835). Internet: http://www.actel.com.