Sun Unveils Comprehensive
SPARCTM Roadmap Multi-Series Product Line Reaches
1.5 Gigahertz
SAN JOSE, Calif. - September 1, 1998 -
Sun
Microsystems, Inc., today disclosed the roadmap with
frequency estimates for its three series of
high-performance 64-bit UltraSPARCTM processors. Sun
is one of the first microprocessor suppliers to publicly
unveil its current roadmap into 2002. This roadmap
provides a detailed overview of the future processor
performance for an industry-leading architecture, while
maintaining binary compatibility. In the roadmap, the
UltraSPARC V is estimated to reach 1.5 gigahertz (GHz)
early in the year 2002.
This roadmap shows that Sun's UltraSPARC processor
family will be among the performance leaders well into
the next millennium and represents the company's
ongoing commitment to the SPARCTM processor family.
As a result, customers can rely on Sun to provide a
steady delivery of high performance processors, which
maintain binary compatibility, while also spanning to
four times the current clock speeds and more than eight
times the performance of current offerings.
``The SPARC architecture is central to Sun's success
and we are committed to providing systematic
performance improvements with this architecture,'' said
Mel Friedman, president of Sun Microsystems'
Microelectronics Division. ``Our SPARC roadmap stakes
our claim of performance leadership today and in the
future.''
Sun's UltraSPARC processor roadmap includes all three
lines of the UltraSPARC family. The first line is the
scalable or ``S'' series, which is designed to provide
industry-leading performance for scalable workstations
and servers. For the ``S'' series, the roadmap shows 480
MHz UltraSPARC IIs microprocessors shipping in 1999.
For the UltraSPARC IIIs, it lists 600 MHz and 750 MHz
versions, as well as 1 GHz versions of the UltraSPARC
IVs. Early in 2002, Sun expects the UltraSPARC Vs to be
available at 1.5 GHz.
The integrated or ``I'' series that integrates many system
functions onto the processor and provides a more
cost-effective offering for single processor systems. For
the ``I'' series, the roadmap discloses 400 MHz, 440 MHz
and 480 MHz versions of the UltraSPARC IIi shipping in
1999. Additionally, it shows the plans for 600 MHz and
700 MHz versions of the UltraSPARC IIIi. In 2001, it also
lists the UltraSPARC IVi at 1 GHz.
The embedded or ``E'' series processors provide an
optimal price-performance point for embedded
applications that need the performance of UltraSPARC
such as thin clients, as well as network interface, control
and line cards. For the ``E'' series processors 300 MHz,
400 MHz and 500 MHz versions are disclosed.
Sun's development strategy to achieve
this roadmap
consists of a sophisticated risk management system
that protects customer investments in the SPARC
architecture. In its processor development, Sun uses its
odd numbered generations (UltraSPARC I, UltraSPARC
III and UltraSPARC V) to develop new architecture
pipelines and its even numbered generations to
significantly upgrade process technology. As a result,
the 0.18 process technology that the initial UltraSPARC
IIIs processors will use will be proven on the
UltraSPARC IIs processor.
Throughout this roadmap, Sun maintains binary
compatibility across the entire UltraSPARC family. This
compatibility represents a substantial accomplishment
and allows customers to maximize the value of the
SPARC architecture. In addition, they can continue to
utilize their existing applications, operating systems and
middleware software while realizing significant
performance improvements.
``Sun's SPARC processor strategy has resulted in a very
stable roadmap for our customers that protects their
investments and ensures they never have to face a
massive legacy code migration,'' added Friedman. ``The
combination of SPARC with Sun's Solaris provides
industry-leading performance, reliability, scalability,
availability and serviceability for the industry's highest
performance enterprise, telecommunications and
networking workstations and servers.''
For the manufacturing of its UltraSPARC processors,
Sun uses Texas Instruments' world-class manufacturing
facilities. This virtual operations arrangement allows
Sun to leverage Texas Instruments investment in
fabrication facilities and provides Texas Instruments
with high-performance products that are process drivers
for its technology. On August 27, Texas Instruments
announced a new process technology with a drawn gate
length of 0.10 micron and a L-effective 0.07 micron that
will enable devices utilizing up to 400 million transistors
to be build. Sun will be using this technology to develop
its gigahertz processors.
"Texas Instruments' leading CMOS sub-micron process
technology continues to keep the UltraSPARC family at
the forefront of processor performance,'' said Julie
England, Vice President, Computer and Imaging
Systems, Texas Instruments. "TI and Sun have been
through five major process technology nodes over the
course of our relationship. TI is pleased to enter the next
decade working with Sun to enable future generations of
SPARC that will operate at clock frequencies well
beyond one gigahertz."
About Sun
Since its inception in 1982, a singular
vision, ``The
Network Is The ComputerTM,'' has propelled Sun
Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ: SUNW), to its position as
a leading provider of high quality hardware, software
and services for establishing enterprise-wide intranets
and expanding the power of the Internet. With more than
$9 billion in annual revenues, Sun can be found in more
than 150 countries and on the World Wide Web at http://www.sun.com.
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