Ann Duft
Xilinx, Inc.
(408) 879-4726
ann.duft@xilinx.com

Kathy Keller
Oak Ridge Public Relations
(408) 253-5042
kathy.keller@oakridge.com

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SAN Jose, Calif., June 2, 1997—Xilinx, Inc., (NASDAQ:XLNX) today announced XACTstep^TM version M1 software, its next generation core technology for implementation and integration functions. The advanced technology, developed as a result of the Xilinx merger with NeoCAD, Inc., enables digital system designers at every level to increase design performance, leverages standards-based, high-level design methodologies, and allows designers to quickly receive future software updates and device support for Xilinx FPGA and CPLD solutions.

XACTstep M1 software provides dramatically improved design performance through advanced placement and routing algorithms, powerful "auto-interactive" tools delivering the choice between a push-button or manually-directed design methodology, and support for standards-based design flows including EDIF, SDF, VHDL (Vital) and Verilog.

XACTstep M1 Product Configurations

XACTstep version M1 software delivers all the new benefits through both the Xilinx Foundation^TM and Alliance^TM Software Series. The Foundation Software Series is the Xilinx complete, ready-to-use design solution based on industry-standard HDLs and push-button design flows. The Alliance Software Series integrates Xilinx XACTstep core technology with design software from the industry’s most extensive set of EDA partners.

"The advanced technology developed for XACTstep M1 software has allowed Xilinx to significantly enhance its industry leading FPGA and CPLD solutions," said Kenn Perry, managing director of Xilinx Boulder and director of software marketing. "This investment enables Xilinx to better increase the efficiency of programmable logic designers, quickly bring new solutions to market, and set a new standard for programmable logic design software."

Up to 25 Percent Performance Improvement

The algorithmic enhancements in the M1 core technology deliver up to 25 percent better performance on the Xilinx XC4000E devices. The new XC4000EX/XL families achieve even greater design performance and device densities due to their development using the device modeling capabilities in the M1 software. Integrated device modeling capability is a unique aspect of the M1 software.

The newer XC4000XL devices were modeled and designed using this capability enabling the best decisions for interconnect, logic utilization, length of interconnect lines, and the number of connection points for optimal performance, routability, and die size. This ensures the best combination of silicon and software for better overall performance, reduced compile time, and push button design flows--even when devices are 100-percent utilized. For example, in the area of reduced compile times, XACTstep Alliance Series can place and route 1,000 gates per minute in representative designs on XC4000XL devices--a 70-percent improvement in compile times.

XACTstep M1 User Benefits

• Maximum Design Performance

XACTstep M1 software enables the user to achieve maximum design performance by providing a unique combination of advanced algorithms, simple push-button flows, and optional auto-interactive tools. Customer testing has shown that version M1 software used with XC4000XL devices results in shorter compile times, performance improvements, and better place and route capabilities in devices with up to 100 percent utilization with a push-button flow.

• Modular Software System

The modular architecture of version M1 software will allow Xilinx to rapidly deliver incremental technologies, new features, additional device support, and new versions of software. New feature sets can now be released independently allowing users to quickly leverage the benefits of these enhancements without having to relearn new tools.

• Methodology Flexibility

High-level design methodologies are becoming the methodology choice for the design of complex programmable logic. M1 software delivers programmable logic specific high-level flows. The flows provide high quality, high performance and optimized results, and afford fast, flexible design changes and iterations to match the way engineers design. Designers employ a mixture of graphical and language-based design entry methods to design their products. The flow is built to complement existing schematic-based design methods while providing an easy-to-learn environment for Hardware Description Language (HDL) based design. Xilinx recognizes that design environments are variant and, therefore, has created a flexible system enabling the customer to choose the best methodology for their environment or design challenge.

Pricing and Availability

Xilinx Alliance Software Series version M1 is available now for PCs running on Microsoft Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0, UNIX workstations including Sparc compatible, SunOS 4.1.3 and Solaris 2.3, HP-UX and IBM RS6000. XACTstep 5.2/6.0 software users currently under a Xilinx support or maintenance plan will receive a free upgrade to XACTstep M1.0. New user prices range from $495 to $5,995, depending on device support, computing platform and software package. Xilinx Foundation Software Series version M1 will be available in July.

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, high-reliability/military, and consumer markets. For more information on Xilinx, access the worldwide web site at http://www.xilinx.com.

 Note to editors: Xilinx is a registered trademark of Xilinx, Inc. All XC-prefix product designations, M1, Foundation, Alliance, and XACTstep are trademarks of Xilinx, Inc. Other brands or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

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