New Stratix Edition PCI/PCI-X Development Kit Extends Altera’s PCI Development Leadership

First FPGA Development Kit for PCI-X 2.0 Mode 1 Systems Delivers New Features to Accelerate PCI-Based Designs and Reduce Development Costs

San Jose, Calif., June 12, 2003 — Altera Corporation (NASDAQ: ALTR) today introduced the PCI Development Kit, Stratix™ Edition, a new PCI/PCI-X development platform targeting Altera’s high-performance Stratix FPGA family.  This new offering is the first FPGA development platform specifically created to support the design of PCI-X 2.0 Mode 1 systems, while also delivering fully compliant support for conventional PCI 2.3 designs.  With this introduction, Altera strengthens its commitment to the PCI standard and extends its successful PCI development kit product line, providing customers with increased flexibility in PCI-based system design.

“The PCI interface is ubiquitous in embedded design for a wide variety of applications, including consumer electronics, computers, industrial systems, communications, and networking,” said Justin Cowling, marketing director of Altera’s intellectual property business unit.  “Our new Stratix PCI/PCI-X Development Kit incorporates new features based on customer input, enabling designers to accelerate their design cycles and reduce development costs of new PCI-based systems.”

Among the Stratix PCI/PCI-X development platform’s new features is a high-performance double data rate (DDR) memory interface via a SODIMM socket.  A reference design included as part of the kit allows customers to perform transactions between the PCI interface and DDR memory within minutes of opening the box.  It also includes a universal (3.3/5V) short card form factor to support both 3.3- and 5-V system designs.  The card’s short form factor is compatible with nearly all PCs on the market, simplifying development kit installation and use.  The kit also contains an on-board RJ-45 connector that facilitates quick connectivity to Ethernet networks.  Continuing the Altera practice of offering comprehensive development kit solutions, the PCI Development Kit, Stratix Edition includes Windows software drivers based on Jungo Software Technologies’ popular driver development toolkit, WinDriver.

“In keeping with our long-standing partnership and commitment to provide Altera’s customers with driver development tools for their newest product offerings, Jungo is pleased to be a part of Altera’s newest PCI development kit,” said Ophir Herbst, software tools general manager at Jungo.  “Jungo customers acknowledge Altera’s strong vision for complete solutions, and highly regard the comprehensive PCI development kits that this partnership delivers.” 

Pricing and Availability

The PCI/PCI-X Development Kit, Stratix Edition, featuring a Stratix EP1S25 device (ordering code: PCI-BOARD/S25) is currently available and priced at $1,995.  More information about this product can be obtained on Altera’s web sit at www.altera.com/products/devkits/altera/kit-pci_stx.html.

About the Stratix Device Family

Stratix device family is the industry’s first family of production-qualified FPGAs built on a 0.13-micron, all-layer copper process and the winner of EDN magazine’s 2002 Digital IC Innovation Award.  Featuring embedded digital signal processing (DSP) blocks, embedded RAM blocks, and support for leading-edge and emerging I/O standards, Stratix devices give designers the performance and densities needed to meet the challenges of high-bandwidth system design.  For more information about the Stratix device family, visit www.altera.com/stratix. 

About Altera

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Altera Corporation (NASDAQ: ALTR) is the world's pioneer in system-on-a-programmable-chip (SOPC) solutions. Combining programmable logic technology with software tools, intellectual property, and technical services, Altera provides high-value programmable solutions to approximately 14,000 customers worldwide. More information is available at www.altera.com.

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