National Semiconductor is First to Implement ACPI-Controller and Extender with New SuperI/O Device

June 2, 1997--National Semiconductor Corporation today announced the industry's first Advanced Configuration Power Interface (ACPI)-compliant SuperI/O device with both ACPI controller and extender capabilities. The Plug and Play (PnP)-compatible PC87317 allows PC desktop and notebook manufacturers to easily take advantage of ACPI's power savings while at the same time complying with the PC97 Design Guide. PC97 is a design standard driven by Microsoft and Intel to define power management and standard system configuration in new PCs. National worked closely with Phoenix Technologies, a leading supplier of system-level software for PC manufacturers, to produce the PC87317.

This new SuperI/O controller gives system manufacturers the flexibility of using either ACPI or non-ACPI core logic chipsets. This highly integrated device features a floppy disk controller, keyboard and mouse controller, an ACPI controller/extender, real-time clock, enhanced Advanced Power Control (APC), two enhanced UARTs with infrared support, a full IEEE 1284 parallel port and 24 general purpose I/O ports.

"With the PC87317, National is providing PC manufacturers with a key aspect of PC97 and ACPI-compliance which will meet the most stringent regulations for power consumption,'' said Hans Wang, Strategic Marketing Manager of National Semiconductor's Personal Systems Group. "Besides being a pin-for-pin replacement for National's successful PC87307 SuperI/O device, the PC87317 is a single chip to support a complete ACPI system solution. It does not require additional glue logic and is compatible with every core logic chipset available on the market today.''

"Our goal is to ease the industry's transition to PC97, PC98 and ACPI-compliance,'' said Rodger Mohme, Vice President PC Platforms and Products of Phoenix Technologies. "We are pleased to enable National to be the first SuperI/O supplier to deliver a complete ACPI solution. This will help manufacturers to make the move to ACPI-compliance quickly and easily.''

Advanced ACPI Features
In addition to the mandatory ACPI features, the PC87317 also implements six optional advanced features:

• Global lock scheme to enable better system resource management
• Advanced real-time clock with date alarm, month alarm, and century register to resolve the year 2000 issue
• Location of new alarm/century registers in bank 0 is programmable
• Selective masking of ACPI features for ACPI extender
• Programmable power management events: low, high, rising/falling edge
• Extended SMI output can be asserted on 10 systems

Pricing and Availability
The PC87317VUL which is housed in a 160-pin PQFP package will be available in the third quarter and priced at $12 in 10,000-piece quantities. For more information, visit the World Wide Web Site http://www.national.com/pf/PC/PC87317.html.

Phoenix Technologies is the world's largest supplier of standards-based compatibility software to the personal computer industry. The company's system-level software products, such as PhoenixBIOS&153; for desktops, NoteBIOS&153; for portables, and ServerBIOS&153; for servers, allow PC manufacturers to increase product differentiation, reduce product cycle time to market as well as cut internal engineering costs. Phoenix's PICO product line provides products and services for information appliances, and the Virtual Chips product line supports interconnect standards including PC Cards/CardBus, PCI, Universal Serial Bus and other emerging interfaces. Information on all Phoenix Technologies' products is available on the World Wide Web at www.phoenix.com .

National Semiconductor Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, produces system on a chip silicon solutions for the information highway, based on its leadership in analog and mixed signal technologies. National is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, and focuses on the communications, personal systems and consumer markets. In March 1997, National sold its Fairchild Semiconductor businesses and now has 12,300 employees worldwide with annual sales of approximately $2.0 billion. Additional company and product information is available on the World Wide Web at www.national.com.