Sandcraft awarded new performance-enhancing patents for CPU design

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts:
Michael Barar 408-490-3200 barar@sandcraft.com www.sandcraft.com	Jonathan Hirshon 408-969-4888 x101 jh@horizonpr.com www.horizonpr.com

SANDCRAFT AWARDED NEW PERFORMANCE-ENHANCING PATENTS FOR CPU DESIGN

SANTA CLARA, Calif., - July 11, 2000 -- SandCraft, Inc. - a recognized leader in the design of high-performance MIPS® processors - today announced the award of four new patents that enable new levels of functionality, performance, scalability and efficiency for the company's CPU technology. The four issued patents include:

Number 6,085,271, "System bus arbitrator for facilitating multiple transactions in a computer system"
Number 6,070,299, "Cache memory cell with a pre-programmed state"
Number 6,055,606, "Writeback cache cell with a dual ported dirty bit cell and method for operating such a cache cell"
Number 6,035,388, "Method and apparatus for dual issue of program instructions to symmetric multifunctional execution units"

The 23 patents pending relate to other aspects of high-performance features for microprocessors. -more- The issued and pending patents protect SandCraft's proprietary performance enhancement innovations and other unique efficiency-gaining inventions. These patents and patents pending provide advantages not only to the optimum performance of the microprocessor core, but extend the performance advantages to the entire system. The most visible advantage of these inventions are improved efficiency of system design, balanced and scalable memory interfaces and interconnect technology and overall performance improvement of the microprocessor and host system. Michael Barar, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, noted, "The innovative technology underlying these inventions is paramount to the success of the company in maintaining its performance leadership in the evolution of SandCraft's next-generation products."

About SandCraft

SandCraft, founded in June 1996, develops and markets advanced microprocessor technologies for use as computing engines in high-performance embedded applications. These processors are targeted for use in consumer electronics, office automation, and communications applications, such as digital TV, advanced digital set-top boxes, Internet appliances, game consoles, printers, routers, and switches.

Editor's Note - SandCraft images and press materials may be obtained from the Horizon Communications Website at http://www.horizonpr.com

"Engines for the Digital Age" is a trademark of SandCraft, Inc. MIPS is a registered trademark, MIPS32, and MIPS64 are trademarks of MIPS Technologies, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies.