Western Digital Introduces 3.3 Volt Laptop Platform and Systems Logic Chipset
IRVINE, Calif. — October 15, 1991 — New Low Voltage Technology Systems Logic & Video Products Significantly Increase Battery Life
IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 15 — Western Digital Corp. (NYSE: WDC) today announced the industry's first 3.3 volt system board for laptop and notebook personal computers. The system board, Triathlon I, is a demonstration of 3.3 volt technology that will enable laptop and notebook manufacturers to evaluate Western Digital's new low voltage devices — including the new WD7900 systems logic chipset, the WD90C26 LCD video graphics controller and peripheral devices.
The development of 3.3 volt systems allows original equipment manufacturers to design laptop, notebook, pen-based and palmtop personal computers that offer the longest possible battery life. Low voltage systems utilizing 3.3 volts can provide an increase of 33 percent in battery life. In addition, electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI) are reduced as a result of the operating voltage. This should simplify regulatory agency compliance and reduce the time-to-market cycle.
C. William Frank, vice president, Systems Logic Marketing, says, "Triathlon demonstrates our ability to assist our customers in developing the next generation of portable computing platforms with the longest possible battery life. The addition of our 3.3 volt devices and evaluation platform demonstrates our on-going commitment to utilize our semiconductor and systems-level expertise to provide superior products with distinct time-to-market advantage."
The WD7900LV chipset includes the WD7910LV ISA System Controller with Cache, WD76C20LV Peripheral Controller and WD76C30LV Input/Output Controller. Designed to support the 386SX microprocessor at speeds up to 25MHz, the WD7900LV delivers improved system performance via a built-in 8K direct map or 2-way set associative cache memory and operates at 3.3 volts for maximum battery life.
The WD7900LV provides an enhancement to the WD7600 LP power management architecture which is designed into the following notebooks and laptops: IBM L40SX laptop, IBM-Japan's PS/55 Note, AST Research's Premium Exec 286/12 and Premium Exec 386SX/20.
The WD7900LV features Western Digital's proprietary System Activity Monitor (SAM) which provides precise detection of system idle conditions necessary for efficient power management. Low power with improved performance is further enhanced via close coupling with the WD76C20LV and the WD76C30LV. In addition, WD7900LV supports System Management Interrupt (SMI) and I/O trapping to provide even more power management options to laptop/notebook system designers.
On Sept. 30, 1991, the company introduced the industry's first 3.3 volt laptop and notebook VGA controller, the WD90C26. The LCD controller supports 3.3 volt operation which makes the device a perfect companion to the WD7900LV. Together these devices will maximize power savings.
In addition to Western Digital's system logic and video components, the Triathlon I takes advantage of several other low voltage components including the microprocessor, dynamic random access memory (DRAM), keyboard controller and other logic devices. As the first generation solution, Triathlon I utilizes a split 3.3 V/5V power system to support five-volt peripherals such as the LCD display, hard disk drive and floppy disk drive. Western Digital expects to provide future Triathlon platforms based exclusively on 3.3-volt components as they became available.
Samples of the WD7900 will be available in the first calendar quarter of 1991 and will be priced at U.S. $69 in 1K volume quantities. The Triathlon I system board will be available for customer evaluation and testing in the fourth quarter of 1991.
Western Digital Corp., headquartered in Irvine, is a multinational company that designs and manufactures semiconductor, subsystem and intelligent drive products for OEMs and resellers which serve the microcomputer industry. The company's storage, video and systems logic products are designed to work in concert and the resulting Interarchitecture products yield increased system functionality and performance.
CONTACT:
Letty Ledbetter, 714-932-6250; or Robert J. Blair, 212-867-4490, both of Western Digital