Silicon Graphics Selects Mentor Graphics for Emulation

WILSONVILLE, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 6, 2003--Mentor Graphics Corporation (Nasdaq:MENT) today announced that Silicon Graphics, Inc. (NYSE:SGI), the world's leader in high-performance computing, visualization and the management of complex data, has engaged with Mentor as the first customer of Mentor's new high-performance verification solution package.

Consisting of access to Mentor's premier VStation(TM) emulation system and best-in-class consulting services with proven expertise in advanced emulation methodologies, this verification solution lowers the barriers to entry associated with emulation, providing a low-risk, cost-effective solution and ease-of-adoption approach.

SGI will use this solution to accelerate their development schedules and mitigate the risk of silicon re-spins, giving them an additional competitive edge in the development of their next-generation systems. Mentor Consulting will work with SGI to develop a customized emulation environment and emulation infrastructure, and will provide dedicated, on-site support during the project.

"We selected Mentor Graphics based on its unique, collaborative verification solution approach to hardware-based design verification and methodology," said Dave Parry, Sr. VP, General Manager Servers and Platforms SGI. "Mentor Graphics offers high performance with a proven track record of successes, including multiple asynchronous clock support and a leading-edge co-modeling technology. The knowledge and support provided by Mentor Consulting for this comprehensive accelerated verification solution reduces our risks and eases our adoption of system verification in a timely, cost-effective manner."

The high performance VStation emulation system provides a complete and powerful verification environment for highly complex designs with multiple-use modes in a single platform including the ability to model multiple asynchronous clocks. The VStation emulator's unique co-modeling technology also offers high performance simulation acceleration in the range of several hundred kilohertz, delivering up to a 10,000 times performance increase over software simulation.

"This joint effort represents a unique opportunity to provide the industry with a comprehensive verification services offering tailored specifically for our customer," said Eric Selosse, vice president and general manager, Mentor Graphics emulation division. "The complexities of today's hardware and software verification requirements make the need for emulation technology compelling. By forging this relationship, we're seeking to increase market opportunities and improve our customers' success by enabling their early market penetration with the highest quality products which are critical in today's marketplace."

About Mentor Graphics

Mentor Graphics Corporation (Nasdaq:MENT) is a world leader in electronic hardware and software design solutions, providing products, consulting services and award-winning support for the world's most successful electronics and semiconductor companies. Established in 1981, the company reported revenues over the last 12 months of about $600 million and employs approximately 3,500 people worldwide. Corporate headquarters are located at 8005 S.W. Boeckman Road, Wilsonville, Oregon 97070-7777; Silicon Valley headquarters are located at 1001 Ridder Park Drive, San Jose, California 95131-2314. World Wide Web site: www.mentor.com.

Mentor Graphics is a registered trademark and VStation is a trademark of Mentor Graphics Corporation. All other company or product names are the registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.

CONTACT: Mentor Graphics
             Leanne White, 503/685-1984
             leanne_white@mentor.com
              or
             Suzanne Graham, 503/685-7789
             suzanne_graham@mentor.com