Mentor Graphics Extends Co-Verification Support for the Motorola PowerPC Architecture

WILSONVILLE, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 22, 2001--Mentor Graphics Corp. , the world's leading provider of hardware/software co-verification solutions, today announced the availability of new co-verification Processor Support Packages (PSPs) for members of the Motorola PowerPC(TM) family.

Developed for use with the Mentor Graphics® Seamless® Co-Verification Environment(TM) (CVE(TM)), the PSPs accelerate design schedules by enabling designers to validate hardware and software interfaces in virtual prototype early in the design process, avoiding time-consuming design re-spins and shortening time-to-market.

The PSPs will support the Motorola MPC8240 Integrated PowerPC Processor and MPC755 PowerPC embedded microprocessors: two premier processors used in networking and telecommunications applications such as routers, switches, network storage applications and image display systems.

``With first-pass success a necessity in the fast-paced telecommunications and networking markets, co-verification has become an integral part of the embedded system design flow,'' said Brian Wilkie, corporate vice president and general manager for Motorola's Computing Platform Division. ``Mentor Graphics has been a long-standing and valued partner, providing comprehensive co-verification support for the PowerQUICC and PowerPC families.''

By combining a high-speed PowerPC embedded processor along with unparalleled integration of networking and communications peripherals, Motorola provides customers with an innovative, total-system solution for building high-end communications systems. The MPC8240 is based on the successful PowerPC 603e embedded processor core, and integrates independent execution units targeted at the communications market. The combination of the PowerPC cores and the independent execution units reduces chip counts and power consumption and simplifies board design for customers developing embedded systems for such applications as networking and telecommunications.

To accelerate the development process of the PSPs, Mentor Graphics used existing simulation models from Motorola. This reuse methodology helps to ensure that customers have rapid access to the processor models in lock-step with new processor releases, such as model follow-on parts, like the MPC8245.

``Together Motorola and Mentor Graphics have worked to ensure that co-verification models are available in conjunction with new Motorola processor releases,'' said Serge Leef, general manager, System-on-Chip Verification Division, Mentor Graphics. ``Early access to co-verification models allows time-constrained networking and telecommunications designers to merge the hardware and software worlds earlier in the design process, shortening the overall development cycle.''

Availability and Pricing

The Motorola MPC755 PowerPC PSP is available now starting at $30,000. The MPC8240 Integrated PowerPC PSP will be available in September 2001 with pricing also starting at $30,000. Mentor Graphics also provides PSPs for other Motorola microprocessors including the MPC603e, MPC740/750, MPC7400, MPC860 and MPC8260. For additional information about Seamless or to register for upcoming Seamless workshops and seminars, visit the Seamless web site at www.mentor.com/seamless.

About MPC8240 and MPC755

The MPC8240 Integrated PowerPC Processor provides a high level of integration, reducing chip count from five discrete chips to one, thereby significantly reducing system component cost for applications where space, power consumption and performance are critical requirements. This general-purpose integrated processor targets systems using PCI interfaces in networking infrastructure, telecommunications, and other embedded markets.

MPC755 PowerPC microprocessors are high-performance, low-power, 32-bit implementations of the PowerPC Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) architecture, specially enhanced for embedded applications. MPC755 PowerPC microprocessors are also drop-in replacements for the award-winning PowerPC 750(TM).

About Seamless

Combining the best in embedded software development tools with logic simulation, the Mentor Graphics Seamless co-verification environment delivers high performance co-verification months before a hardware prototype can be built. The Seamless environment enables software and hardware development to be parallel removing the software from the critical path, and reducing the risk of hardware prototype iterations resulting from integration errors. User-controlled optimizations boost performance by isolating the logic simulator from software-intensive operations such as block memory transfers and algorithmic routines.

About Mentor Graphics

Mentor Graphics Corporation is a world leader in electronic hardware and software design solutions, providing products and consulting services for the world's most successful electronics and semiconductor companies. Established in 1981, the company reported revenues over the last 12 months of more than $600 million and employs approximately 2,850 people worldwide. Corporate headquarters are located at 8005 S.W. Boeckman Road, Wilsonville, Oregon 97070-7777; Silicon Valley headquarters are located at 1001 Ridder Park Drive, San Jose, California 95131-2314. World Wide Web site: www.mentor.com.

Mentor Graphics and Seamless are registered trademarks of Mentor Graphics Corporation. Co-Verification Environment and CVE are trademarks of Mentor Graphics Corporation. PowerPC and PowerQUICC are trademarks of Motorola. All other company or product names are the registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.