Peking University Microprocessor Development and Research Center Selects Mentor Graphics PCI Express IP

WILSONVILLE, Ore., May 27, 2005 - Mentor Graphics Corporation (Nasdaq: MENT), a leader in standards-based semiconductor intellectual property (IP), today announced its IP core based on the PCI Express architecture has been selected by the Microprocessor Development and Research Center (MPRC) of Peking University. Mentor's PCI Express IP was selected based on its superior configurability and performance of root, switch and endpoint applications, and will be used for the next generation I/O architecture of MPRC's renowned microprocessor technology.

MPRC serves as China's primary research center for computer science, technology and microelectronics and it has established a joint laboratory with Mentor Graphics for system-on-chip (SoC) verification, chip prototyping and hardware-software debugging. This joint laboratory also supports IP applications for chip design, which is why MPRC selected Mentor Graphics' fully-compliant IP for the PCI Express standard.

Using compliant IP for the PCI Express standard enables design engineers to focus on the differentiating aspects of their design and accelerate design time with highly configurable, reusable, low-cost IP building blocks to create innovative electronic systems. Mentor recently announced that its configurable port for the PCI Express specification met compliance by the PCI-SIG organization (See press release "Mentor Graphics Configurable Port is Compliant with the PCI Express Specification," April 13, 2005).

"We selected Mentor Graphics based on its history and expertise in certified, standards-based IP and its ease of integration for complex SoC designs," stated Xu Cheng, director of Microprocessor Research and Development Center of Peking University. "PCI Express is an emerging standard and our latest microprocessor design will support applications for networking connectivity."

"Mentor is honored to have been selected by this prestigious research center and we look forward to supporting Peking University in the future," stated Mike Kaskowitz, general manager of Mentor Graphics IP division and VSIA president. "We believe China is on the forefront of innovative microprocessor designs and Mentor is fully committed to ensuring design and verification success by being a key contributor to this research and development center."

Mentor Graphics IP Solution for PCI Express

Mentor's synthesizable core implements the PCI Express specifications in a highly configurable block that provides transaction layer, data link layer, and media access controller (MAC) functionality down to the physical layer interface (PHY) for the PCI Express interface (PIPE). For added flexibility, the core can implement L1 and L2 features of the ASI specification and there is an option of operation either as a root or as an endpoint with the choice made at boot time.

The Mentor Graphics IP core for PCI Express implements a rich set of features in hardware including end-to-end cyclic redundancy check, advanced error reporting , hot plugging, power management, crosslink, lane reversal, message signal interrupt, and cut-through. Engineers are able to vary the number of lanes, virtual channels, and traffic classes. The core offers configurable buffer resources for each channel and data link layer retry.

Additional features include:

• Scalable architecture: x1, x2, x4, x8 lanes at 2.5 Gbps
• Up to 4,096 byte packets for Tx and Rx and retry buffers
• 64- FIFO-based back-end interface
• 8- or 16-bit PIPE interface to SerDes PHY
• Configurable Port for PCI Express specification is available in Verilog source code with a high-level functional testbench and documentation
• Complementary to Mentor Graphics verification products such as the iSolve™ speed adapter and the ModelSim® verification environment for PCI Express specification
• Interoperable with the Rambus Raser PHY

Mentor Graphics Silicon-Proven, Standards-based Intellectual Property Mentor Graphics offers a variety of industry-leading, standards-based IP cores that are rigorously tested and validated to provide design teams with the most reliable cores in the industry. Mentor's IP portfolio ranges from simple SoC building blocks, such as communications interfaces and microcontrollers, to an expansive offering of products for ethernet, USB, storage and PCI Express. To find out more about Mentor's intellectual product offerings, visit www.mentor.com/products/ip/ .

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 over $700 million and employs approximately 3,850 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: http://www.mentor.com/.

 

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