| >Why not license/sell the design of the AXP 150pc to Gateway or Dell?
TAIPEI, TAIWAN, Sept. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital Equipment Corporation
(NYSE: DEC) and Elitegroup Computer Systems Co. Ltd announced today that
Elitegroup, a leading supplier of motherboards worldwide, will use Alpha AXP
architecture microprocessors in their new family of motherboards for Windows
NT systems. Digital's Alpha AXP architecture microprocessors are the
fastest RISC microprocessors on the market, providing the power to unlock
the full potential of Windows NT. Digital's recently announced DECchip 21066
and DECchip 21068 microprocessors are the first to integrate the
industry-standard Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI).
"We are very pleased that Elitegroup has selected Alpha AXP architecture
microprocessors to drive their next-generation products," said Ed Caldwell,
vice president Semiconductor Operations, Digital Equipment Corporation. "We
are confident that the Alpha AXP architecture and microprocessors will meet
Elitegroup's expectations for excellence and give them an edge in delivering
the highest quality products, offering leadership performance. Our
relationship with Elitegroup supports our commitment to establishing the
Alpha AXP 64-bit architecture as an open market standard."
"Our goal is to leverage the performance leadership of the Alpha AXP
architecture microprocessor family into emerging volume markets such as
Windows NT PCs," added Caldwell. According to Linley Gwennap,
Microprocessor Report, "The new processor could enable vendors to cut the
price of PCs based on the Alpha AXP architecture to around $3,000."
Elitegroup chose Digital's Alpha AXP architecture and microprocessors
because of their superior price/performance and their support for PCI and
Windows NT. "Digital's Alpha AXP architecture and microprocessors raise the
ceiling on microprocessor price/performance significantly," said Thomas
Chen, Elitegroup's president. "Digital's leadership performance, combined
with PCI support, provides the Windows NT market with a solid platform for
high-performance servers and desktop systems. We plan to deliver a family
of PCI motherboards for these markets based on Digital's DECchip 21064 and
DECchip 21066 products."
Elitegroup anticipates strong down-stream demand from OEMs of servers and
power desktop systems for the new line of Alpha AXP architecture boards.
The company will begin manufacturing the boards in early 1994 and will be
able to produce more than 10,000 units per month by mid-1994.
Digital and Elitegroup are working closely together during the company's
system design phase. Elitegroup will use Digital's Evaluation Board Kit,
including a sample motherboard design, to expedite software development and
test, and hardware design and evaluation.
Digital fabricates its Alpha AXP architecture microprocessors in facilities
in Hudson, Mass., and South Queensferry, Scotland. Digital will open a new
state-of-the-art research and fabrication facility in 1994 to produce future
generations of Alpha AXP microprocessors. Mitsubishi, the world's eighth
largest semiconductor supplier, is the second source for Alpha AXP
architecture microprocessors.
Headquartered in Taiwan, Elitegroup Computer Systems Co. Ltd. is dedicated
to the research, development, and production of mainboards for PCs and
servers. With satellite offices in the U.S., Germany, and the U.K., the
company supplies boards to both domestic and foreign computer manufacturers.
Elitegroup supports 600 employees worldwide and in 1992 generated $350
million in revenues.
Digital Equipment Corporation, headquartered in Maynard, Mass., is the
leading worldwide supplier of networked computer systems, software and
services. Digital pioneered and leads the industry in interactive,
distributed and multivendor computing. Digital and its business partners
deliver the power to use the best integrated solutions - from desktop to
data center - in open information environments.
Note: AXP, Alpha AXP, and DECchip are trademarks of Digital Equipment
Corporation. Windows NT is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
/CONTACT: Pat McGloin, U.S., 508-568-5102; or Lisa Lipson, U.S.,
508-568-4352; or Daphne Wu, Taiwan, 886-2-776-8888, all of Digital Equipment
Corp./
10:03 EDT
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