Virage Logic's high performing can memories reduce network system bottlenecks

Fremont, Calif. - July 30, 2001 - Virage Logic Corp. (Nasdaq: VIRL), a leader in embedded memory IP, today announced its binary NetCAM B-128K content addressable memory (CAM). As network hardware designers are squeezing more functionality into less space, while simultaneously striving to improve performance, Virage Logic has developed a high-performing CAM that allows them to optimize critical design factors such as speed, power and area. The Custom-TouchTM NetCAM product family embodies embedded memories that generate both high-speed ternary and binary CAMs that can be embedded into IC designs for use in network applications such as routers and switches.

CAMs are today's essential components in hardware-based search engines, which are key enablers in moving traffic through a network. As the explosive growth of the Internet continues to put a tremendous amount of pressure on the network, routers and switches need to examine packets of information and make forwarding decisions every few nanoseconds. With a 16K Virage Logic binary CAM, network hardware designers will experience a speed improvement of about 33 percent over the corresponding ternary CAM due to the binary CAM's smaller area. The 16K binary CAM, which runs at

218 MHz worst case is about 40 percent smaller in area and consumes 50 percent less power as compared to a ternary CAM of the same size. The NetCAM B-128K is capable of generating binary CAMs that are 128 Kbits in size. This represents a four-fold increase in the maximum size of CAMs as compared to the earlier ternary CAM (NetCAM T-32K) product from Virage Logic.

"The continuing evolution of the Internet depends, in large part, on the ability of semiconductor intellectual property (SIP) companies such as Virage Logic to provide innovative solutions to reduce or remove system bottlenecks altogether, " said Fred Berkowitz, vice president of engineering at AMCC's Switching and Network Processing

Group (Nasdaq: AMCC). "With Virage Logic's NetCAM compiler, we can efficiently embed CAMs, enabling us to provide the higher speed and quality of service required to move traffic through the Internet."

The binary CAM, NetCAM B-128K, joins the ternary CAM, NetCAM T-32K, to complete the family of NetCAM embedded memories. The difference between the binary and ternary CAM is that the binary CAM stores data as 0's and 1's, whereas the ternary CAM stores data as -0's, 1's and "don't cares." Because the binary CAM does not have to store "don't cares, " it is smaller and can utilize the silicon area much more efficiently. It also performs much more coarsely grained searches than ternary CAMs. When a system designer is trying to determine how many binary and ternary CAMs to embed on-chip, the decision is typically based on how often the searches need to be fine-grained (ternary CAM) vs. course-grained (binary CAM). In order to achieve high silicon utilization, it is usual to embed a few ternary CAMs and mostly binary CAMs on-chip.

By cascading binary CAMs, the designer can increase the bandwidth of the CAMs, and allow for searches on very wide words. This is key for high-bandwidth applications that need to facilitate the search process. Because binary CAMs have an integrated address encoder, they are much easier to cascade than ternary CAMs.

"Both binary and ternary CAMs have emerged as the search engines of choice in a number of applications including network routers and switches, Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and firewalls because of their ability to conduct high-speed table lookups that are required to meet the ever-growing traffic on the Internet," said Krishna Balachandran, director of product marketing at Virage Logic. "With the addition of our new binary NetCAM B-128K embedded memory IP, we can now offer a full array of CAMs in 0.18 micron technology to meet the demands of our networking customers and including those implementing design architectures for graphics, speech, security, and image recognition systems. We have taken the leadership position by offering the only commercially available embedded CAM compilers producible in TSMC and UMC processes."

Availability and Pricing

The Custom-Touch NetCAM B-128K IP is available immediately on TSMC's 0.18 micron process. Pricing is based on a license fee of $300K (U.S. list price) and royalties for a single CAM configuration generated by the compiler.

About Virage Logic

Virage Logic is a global technology and market leader in embedded memory. To meet customer design goals with the highest level of quality, Virage Logic products are silicon proven and production ready, and optimized for area, power and speed. These products include embedded memory cores, which are critical components of communications, consumer and computer products including switches, routers, modems, cellular phones, set-top boxes, HDTVs, DVD players and PCs. In addition, the company offers software tools and custom memory design services. The company's customers include fabless semiconductor companies who use pure-play foundries and other semiconductor companies. Founded in January 1996, the company has over 180 employees and is located at 46501 Landing Pkwy., Fremont, Calif., 94538. Telephone: (877) 360-6690 (toll free) or (510) 360-8000. Fax: (510) 360-8099. For more information, please visit www.viragelogic.com.

This release may contain forward-looking statements based on our current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry, management's beliefs, and certain assumptions made by us. Words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "may," "will" and variations of these words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, our actual results could differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors.

All trademarks and copyrights are property of their respective owners and are protected therein.

For More Information on Virage Logic Corp.:

Agency Contact:
Jennifer Bader
McClenahan Bruer Communications
(503) 546-1014
E-mail:  jennifer@mcbru.com

Company Contact:
Dale Prull
Virage Logic Corp.
(510) 360-8095
E-mail: dprull@viragelogic.com