FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 

SAN JOSE, Calif., October 27, 1997 -- Leading the logic industry into the most advanced semiconductor manufacturing processes, Xilinx, Inc., (NASDAQ:XLNX) in partnership with United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) announced the first FPGA product built with 0.25-micron process technology. This leading-edge technology is the basis of a new Xilinx FPGA family whose initial device incorporates 25 million transistors in a single piece of silicon--more than three times that of today's highest performance microprocessors, such as the Intel Pentium II with 7.5 million transistors. UMC and Xilinx are jointly developing 0.25-micron FPGA technology with expected volume production in January 1998.

"As the first dedicated foundry to market with 0.25-micron technology, we lead the industry in this next generation of processing. The UMC 0.25 micron CMOS process with dual-gate oxide and five layer metal is a very demanding and rugged technology that will enable end products with better integrity, yields, quality, and performance," stated Don Brooks, UMC board member. "Furthermore, UMC offers Xilinx and other customers additional advanced technology, including low-voltage and mixed signal capability. With our progress in 0.18 micron technology, we will continue our leadership in process introductions."

"Our close partnerships with industry-leading manufacturing partners has directly aided our delivery of advanced processes," said Wim Roelandts, Xilinx president and chief executive officer. "Furthermore, it's more than just having access to industry-leading technology in order to deliver on this process. Our unique methods for rapid deployment of new architectures on new processes allows us to bring better products to market faster and, in turn, bolster the success of our customers."

Made possible through partnerships

For its 0.25-micron product development, Xilinx partners with suppliers such as Cadence Inc., San Jose; DuPont Photomasks Inc., Round Rock, Texas; and United Microelectronics Corp., Taiwan.

"With 25 million transistors on an FPGA, Xilinx is providing a dramatic increase in capability for its customers," said Bill Portelli, vice president and general manager, Cadence Custom IC Business Unit. "Xilinx turned to Vampire, Cadence's state-of-the-art hierarchical physical verification tool, in order to verify the correctness of the world's most complex FPGA device. First pass working silicon is a testament to excellent IC design, a great tool, and impressive teamwork between Xilinx and Cadence on this project."

Xilinx partner, DuPont Photomasks, Inc. (NASDAQ:DPMI), more commonly referred to as DPI, met the challenge of developing a set of photomasks that would unite the Xilinx design specifications with UMC's manufacturing process technology. The extraordinary density of the larger Xilinx FPGA die required DPI's extensive technical expertise to meet the demanding 0.25-micron design and manufacturing specifications. DPI also drew on the strengths of its global network to manufacture the photomasks, with data collection and coordination occurring in Santa Clara, Calif., and actual production taking place in its Ichon, Korea, facility.

Xilinx also announced today the availability of the industry's first FPGA products based on 0.25-micron process, the XC4000XV FPGA family. [Xilinx Announces Industry's First Half-Million-Gate FPGA Family]. Samples of the first product in this new family, the XC40125XV--the industry's largest FPGA device--are available now. Production shipments will begin in January 1998.

About UMC

Based in Hsin-Chu City, Taiwan, UMC is Taiwan's first private sector manufacturer of integrated circuits. UMC operates two wafer fabs in the Science-Based Industrial Park in Hsin-Chu City. UMC is also involved in three joint ventures including United Semiconductor Corp. (USC), United Integrated Circuits Corp (UICC) and United Silicon Inc. (USIC).

About Xilinx

Founded in 1984, Xilinx is the world's largest supplier of programmable logic solutions producing industry-leading device architectures and world class design software. Headquartered in San Jose, Calif., the company pioneered the market for field programmable gate array (FPGA) semiconductor devices that provide high integration and quick time-to market for electronic equipment manufacturers in the computer, peripheral, telecommunications, networking, industrial control, instrumentation, consumer, and high reliability/military markets. For more information on Xilinx, access the World Wide Web site at www.xilinx.com.

Xilinx is a registered trademark of Xilinx, Inc. All XC-prefix products referenced above are trademarks of Xilinx, Inc. Other brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
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