Upgraded ATA Interface Shatters 137GB Barrier, Increasing Maximum ATA Drive
Capacity
SUNNYVALE, Calif., June 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Silicon Image's CMD Storage
Division (Nasdaq: SIMG), a leading provider of Ultra ATA technology and
storage controller solutions, today announced its support of the industry's
new "Big Drive" interface initiative introduced by Maxtor Corporation
(Milpitas, Calif.) yesterday at PC Expo in conjunction with Compaq Computer
Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, VIA Technologies and others. Silicon
Image now offers device drivers that accommodate the new 48-bit addressing
standard for the ATA interface while maintaining backward compatibility with
drives using 28-bit addressing technology-enabling customers to deploy
larger-capacity ATA drives to meet their growing storage requirements.
Breaking the 137GB barrier for ATA hard drives, the "Big Drive" standard
frees manufacturers to develop large-capacity drives capable of accessing up
to 144 petabytes (PB)-more than 100,000 times more data than the current
interface standard. The demand for larger-capacity hard drives continues to
escalate to accommodate more storage-intensive applications, such as storing
and manipulating digital video, MP3 files and other multimedia content.
Evidencing this trend, the first 100GB ATA hard drives are now in production.
However, hard drive access to additional capacity beyond 137GB has until
now been limited by the ATA interface. The original specification for the ATA
interface calls for 28-bit sector addressing, which limits hard drive access
to 137GB of storage even with the use of common RAID striping configurations.
By upgrading the ATA interface to accommodate 48-bit addressing on a single
drive, the new "Big Drive" interface initiative increases the maximum capacity
of an ATA device.
"We are pleased to be one of the partners in the 'Big Drive' initiative,
which effectively shatters the 137GB barrier for ATA hard drives," noted
Michael Kelley, vice president and general manager of Silicon Image's CMD
Storage Division. "When the interface doesn't keep pace with other system
components, such as hard drive capacity, system imbalances occur. By
modifying the device drivers for our Ultra ATA host controllers to accommodate
48-bit addressing, we are enabling customers to fully access larger capacity
drives beyond 137GB." Kelley added, "Since many of our customers are using
our Medley(TM) ATA software RAID, our support of the 'Big Drive' initiative
will ensure their ability to utilize the full capacity of the RAID set."
"We're excited about CMD/Silicon Image adopting the 'Big Drive' extensions
to the ATA interface," said Ted Deffenbaugh, vice president of product
strategy for Maxtor. "With this technology, CMD/Silicon Image will allow
customers to easily add RAID systems using drives that exceed the 137GB
barrier."
About Silicon Image
Headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., Silicon Image, Inc. designs, develops
and markets high-speed semiconductor solutions for a variety of communications
applications that require cost-effective, high-bandwidth capabilities. CMD
Technology, a division of Silicon Image, Inc., designs, develops, manufactures
and markets advanced peripheral storage controller technology and storage
interconnect technology to OEMs, VARs, integrators and resellers worldwide.
Leveraging Silicon Image's circuit innovation at the physical layer, the
company's proprietary, reduced overhead Multi-layer Serial Link (MSL(TM))
architecture is well suited to address a number of mass markets with
aggressive bandwidth price/performance requirements -- including the display,
storage and networking sectors. Evidencing its success, Silicon Image has
shipped more than 20 million high-bandwidth, low-cost semiconductor solutions
to the PC/display market alone. For more information on Silicon Image, visit
http://www.siimage.com
This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning
of federal securities regulations. These forward-looking statements include
statements related to inclusion of Silicon Image products in other companies'
products, the possible continuation of these relationships, and the
performance expected of such products. These forward-looking statements
involve risks and uncertainties, including those described from time to time
in Silicon Image's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC),
that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those
anticipated by these forward-looking statements. In particular, customers may
integrate competitors' products rather than Silicon Image's products, the
volumes may not materialize, and the inclusion may not produce revenue, margin
or profit. Also see "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations-Factors Affecting Future Results" in the
most recent Annual Report, Form 10-K or 10-Q filed by Silicon Image with the
SEC. Silicon Image assumes no obligation to update this forward-looking
information.
NOTE: Silicon Image, CMD and Medley are trademarks or registered
trademarks of Silicon Image, Inc. in the United States and other countries.
SOURCE Silicon Image, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.siimage.com
CONTACT:
Sheryl M. Gulizia, Manager, Public Relations
of Silicon Image, Inc., 408-616-1553, or fax, 408-830-9527; or
Marie Labrie, Account Director of MCA, 650-968-8900, or fax,
650-968-8990, for Silicon Image, Inc.
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