New Serial ATA Host Controller from Silicon Image Enables eSATA Connectivity for PC and CE Applications

INTEL DEVELOPERS FORUM, San Francisco, March 7, 2006 – Silicon Image, Inc. (Nasdaq: SIMG), a leader in the secure distribution, presentation and storage of high-definition content, today announced the SiI 3531™ Serial ATA (SATA) host controller, one of the industry’s most compact, cost effective and flexible SATA controllers. With its compact 7x7mm package and attractive price, the SiI 3531 makes it easy for PC and CE OEMs and ODMs to add external SATA (eSATA) functionality to their host devices.

With the SiI 3531 SATA controller, Silicon Image continues to build its reputation as a leader in the eSATA market, enabling external connections and fast access to PC and CE devices. 

“The need for external storage within the home is growing in importance as consumers continue to store more of their lives digitally.  Serial ATA’s increasing presence inside PCs and other consumer devices opens the door for a new external storage connection, eSATA,” said Dave Reinsel, director of storage research at IDC.  “Host controllers with eSATA connectivity, enabled by solutions such as Silicon Image’s SiI 3531, provide a means of seamlessly connecting a new breed of direct-attached storage devices that can support features such as fast disk striping and data protection.”

The SiI 3531 is at the forefront of eSATA technology. Complete support for eSATA signal levels allows the use of two meter cables through multiple connection points. Support for Frame Information Structure (FIS)-based switching allows simultaneous commands to multiple hard disk drives for maximum performance.  Port multiplier support coupled with massive 3 gigabit per second bandwidth allows the SiI 3531 to access multiple hard disk drives using a single cable.

“With its blazing bandwidth and superior price/performance, eSATA is emerging as the preferred next-generation external storage interface for digital media applications,” said Alex Chervet, Sr. Marketing Manager at Silicon Image.  “The SiI 3531 provides manufacturers an easy and cost-effective means of adding eSATA connectivity to PC motherboards, TVs, DVR/PVR, and set top boxes for seamless storage expansion outside the chassis. The SiI 3531 is also suitable for in-chassis applications as a standard PCI Express to SATA Gen II controller. ”

Product Features
The SiI 3531 is a single lane PCI Express controller that supports second-generation 3.0 gigabits per second SATA transfer rate, which is six times faster than USB and more than three times faster than FireWire 800. FIS based switching enables the execution of commands and the transfer of data to multiple drives concurrently for unparalleled data throughput over a single SATA link. While many competitive offerings may recognize only one drive on the eSATA port, the SiI 3531’s port multiplier support allows it to recognize multiple drives when used in conjunction with a port multiplier.

Silicon Image will be showing the SiI 3531 during IDF at booth number 612 in the IDF exhibit hall.

Availability
The SiI 3531 is packaged as a 48-pin, 7x7 mm QFN. The SiI 3531 is currently sampling with production quantities currently scheduled for availability in Q2 2006. 

About Silicon Image, Inc.
Headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., Silicon Image, Inc. is a leader in the secure distribution, presentation and storage of high-definition content. Silicon Image creates and drives industry standards for digital content delivery such as DVI, HDMI and UDI, leveraging strategic partnerships with global leaders in consumer electronics and personal computing. Silicon Image offers robust, high-bandwidth semiconductors in the global PC/display, consumer electronics and storage arenas based on its innovative digital interconnect technology and has become one of the top ten IP licensing vendors in the world. For more information on Silicon Image, visit www.siliconimage.com.