Altera's Quartus II Version 4.2 Delivers FPGA and CPLD Performance Leadership

SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Altera Corporation (NASDAQ: ALTR) today announced it is shipping version 4.2 of its Quartus(R) II design software, delivering the world's highest performance for FPGAs and CPLDs. Quartus II software version 4.2 delivers an average of 39 percent higher performance on 90-nm Stratix(R) II FPGAs when compared to Virtex-4, 60 percent on 90-nm Cyclone(TM) II FPGAs when compared to Spartan-3, and 50 percent on MAX(R) II CPLDs when compared to CoolRunner-II. Details on Altera's performance leadership, including details of the third-party-endorsed benchmarking studies, can be found at http://www.altera.com/alterazone.

"Quartus II software delivers clear performance leadership, as well as superior ease of use," said Chris Balough, Altera's director of software and tools marketing. "It's no surprise that Altera's design-win momentum is accelerating and why Quartus II software received the first annual FPGA and Programmable Logic Journal reader's choice award as the industry's best programmable logic development software."

New PowerPlay Power Management Features

With this latest version of Quartus II software, Altera introduces the PowerPlay technology suite, the industry's most advanced tools for programmable logic power analysis and optimization. The analysis features included in the PowerPlay suite offer detailed estimates of static and dynamic power, and assist a designer during the entire design cycle, from design conception through implementation.

Designers can use the PowerPlay early power estimator spreadsheet at the outset of a project to estimate static and dynamic power consumption. During the implementation phase, designers can refine power estimations by using the new PowerPlay power analyzer tool, which improves estimation accuracy by combining an advanced "vectorless power analysis" algorithm with place-and- route results. If optional functional simulation vectors or gate-level simulation vector input are also used, designers can expect even more accurate estimations. The PowerPlay analyzer tool also offers the industry's most detailed insight into a design's power consumption profile, allowing a designer to scrutinize total power by design resource or hierarchy. Armed with this data, designers can quickly target optimization efforts to meet power budgets.

Throughout 2005, additional features will be added to the PowerPlay suite, including automated optimization tools. The PowerPlay power optimization tools will provide designers with an efficient, automated way to optimize power consumption in FPGA, CPLD, and structured ASIC designs.

In addition to the new PowerPlay technology, version 4.2 also includes over 100 new features and enhancements to support advanced FPGA, CPLD, and structured ASIC designs. Highlights of these new features include:

  -- New Implementation and Timing Analysis Features -- New features analyze
     and control clock skew and data skew, allow designers to model clock
     jitter, and enable better analysis and optimization of register control
     signals.
  -- SOPC Builder Multi-Clock Domain Support -- SOPC Builder includes new
     features to support effortless integration of systems with components
     operating in multiple clock domains.
  -- RTL-to-Gates Formal Verification -- Supports new RTL-to-gates
     functional equivalency checking with the Cadence Conformal LEC formal
     verification software.

  Pricing and Availability

Both the Subscription Edition and the Web Edition of Quartus II version 4.2 design software are now available. The Subscription Edition is now shipping to all customers with an active software subscription. The free Quartus II Web Edition software is available by download or from the free Quartus II Web Edition Software Suite CD. The annual subscription for the Altera design software is $2,000 for a node-locked PC license. Altera's software subscription program simplifies the process of obtaining Altera design software by consolidating software products and maintenance charges into one annual subscription payment. Quartus II design software supports major operating systems, including Windows XP; Windows 2000; Windows NT; Sun Solaris8 and 9; Red Hat Linux 7.3, 8.0, and Enterprise 3.0 WS; and HP-UX 11.0.

New or existing customers may obtain a software subscription on line on the Altera web site, http://www.altera.com/, or from Altera distributors worldwide.

About Altera

Altera Corporation is the world's pioneer in system-on-a-programmable-chip (SOPC) solutions. Combining programmable logic technology with software tools, intellectual property, and technical services, Altera provides high-value programmable solutions to approximately 14,000 customers worldwide. More information is available at http://www.altera.com/.

NOTE: Altera, The Programmable Solutions Company, the stylized Altera logo, specific device designations, and all other words that are identified as trademarks and/or service marks are, unless noted otherwise, the trademarks and service marks of Altera Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. All other product or service names are the property of their respective holder.

   Editor Contact:
   Bruce Fienberg
   Altera Corporation
   408-544-6397
   newsroom@altera.com

CONTACT: Bruce Fienberg of Altera Corporation, +1-408-544-6397, or
newsroom@altera.com

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