Pericom Semiconductor Introduces PCI-X Bus Bridge for I/O Intensive Gigabit Ethernet, Fibre Channel, and RAID

SAN JOSE, Calif., May 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pericom Semiconductor Corporation , a worldwide preferred supplier of high-speed integrated circuits and frequency control devices, has expanded its SiliconConnect PCI Bridge portfolio with a powerful PCI-X to PCI-X Bridge that targets bus expansion in next generation high-bandwidth data communication and telecommunication applications.

Pericom's 2-port PI7C21P100 supports the full 64-bit/133MHz specification for PCI-X, and is also backward compatible to conventional PCI down to 32- bit/33MHz. PI7C21P100 is a pin compatible superset to the Tundra TSI310 (formerly IBM21P100) with three key additional features that many customers are finding attractive. These added features are Dynamic Prefetching Control, Configurable Free Space in the Memory Data FIFO, and 5V tolerance in support of legacy products.

Typical applications for the PI7C21P100 PCI-X to PCI-X Bridge include Quad Gigabit Ethernet Cards; Quad Fibre Channel Cards; Dual & Quad SCSI RAID Controller Cards; High-end Video/Imaging Cards; Single Board Computers; Network Infrastructure for Mobile Wireless; Modem Card for 3G Base Station; Industrial PC's. Pericom is also very committed to and focused on the emerging PCI-Express and Advanced Switching Interconnect standards.

"PCI-X and PCI Bridge products are a primary focus at Pericom, and leveraging our device's industry leading-performance with our strong technical and customer support has led to preferred supplier status at a number of key accounts around the world," explained Steve Lam, Product Marketing. "With our unique features of Dynamic Prefetching Control, and configurable free space in the memory data FIFO, designers are able to achieve the high performance and bandwidth they require for their applications," Lam added.

  Key Features:
  -- 64-Bit / 133MHz
  -- Backward compatible to conventional PCI
  -- Dynamic Prefetching Control (Unique algorithm for handling Memory Read
     transactions)
  -- Configurable free space in the Memory Data FIFO (Enhanced method for
     Memory Write transactions)
  -- Asynchronous mode support
  -- Support for 6 Secondary Bus Masters
  -- Support for up to 8 active transactions in each direction
  -- 3.3V signaling with 5V tolerance
  -- Extended Commercial Temp Range (0C to 85C)

  Availability and Pricing:

PI7C21P100 samples, datasheets, IBIS, BSDL, technical support, product presentation, and application note are available today on the Company website. The device is housed in a 304-pin HPBGA package. Pricing starts at $55.00 in 1000 unit quantities.

  Product Photograph & Website Support:
  -- Product web page: http://www.pericom.com/pcibridge
  -- Product Photograph (press-ready): http://www.pericom.com/prgraphics

  About Pericom

Pericom Semiconductor Corporation offers customers worldwide the industry's most complete silicon and quartz-based solutions for the Computing, Communications, and Industrial market segments. Our broad portfolio of leading-edge analog, digital, and mixed-signal integrated circuits and SaRonix frequency control products are essential in the timing, transferring, routing, and translating of high-speed signals as required by today's ever-increasing speed and bandwidth demanding applications. Company headquarters are in San Jose, California, with design centers and sales offices located globally. http://www.pericom.com/

CONTACT: Steve Lam, Marketing Director, ext. 213 or slam@pericom.com, or
Dave Hurd, Public Relations, ext. 321 or dhurd@pericom.com, both of Pericom
Semiconductor, +1-408-435-0800

Web site: http://www.pericom.com/