News & Events
Intersil Introduces World’s Most Advanced Analog Multiphase Power Solution For Next-Generation Processors

-- New Endura™ power technology provides precise on-the-fly dynamic voltage control~-- Intersil technology offers smooth no-surge voltage transitions required for new processors

IRVINE, CA, February 12, 2002 – Intersil Corporation (NASDAQ: ISIL), a leading provider of power management solutions for PCs, file servers and portable information appliances, today announced the world’s most advanced analog multiphase power solution for next-generation processors. The new Endura ISL6557 two- to four-phase 5-bit VID (Voltage IDentification code) pulse width modulation (PWM) controller, combined with Intersil’s HIP660XA series MOSFET drivers, provides designers with the most efficient, safest and most cost-effective advanced core power solution available.

“Designers and manufacturers continue to look to Intersil for the advanced power solutions required for next generation processors,” said Cindy Drapcho, director of Desktop and Server Power Solutions for Intersil’s Analog Business Unit. “Core power solutions must meet strict power control specifications to ensure reliable operation and long life of the processor. Our advanced power solution, based on the ISL6557, provides customers the confidence that their next-generation motherboards will not fail because of harsh or unreliable processor power control.”

The ISL6557 multiphase PWM controller is specifically designed to meet the strict power needs of next-generation processors. These advanced processors require highly accurate power supplies that have precise and dynamic voltage change capability using a 5-bit VID bus. Processor core voltage is actually changed on-the-fly depending on processing needs. Such voltage changes must not be sudden or extreme because potentially harmful current surges would result and false over-voltage conditions may occur. The ISL6557 is designed to gracefully transition the voltage from one level to another in 25-mV steps, thus avoiding current surging. At all times, voltage precision is maintained with the ISL6557’s differential remote voltage sensing capability.

Additionally, the ISL6557 has a separate ENABLE pin that allows proper start-up coordination with Intersil’s HIP660XA MOSFET drivers, when the ATX computer supply is first turned on. The ISL6557 also offers easy-to-use module-to-module current sharing through use of a dedicated output current pin.

The ISL6557 Power Solution
Intersil’s advanced core power solution, based on the Endura ISL6557 and HIP660X MOSFET drivers, is fully supported with board layout, reference designs, evaluation platform (ISL6557EVAL1) and technical support. The solution complement is designed to ensure rapid design-in, short time-to-market and quick cross-board migration. To investigate this and other solutions further, visit Intersil’s Power Management ICs Web site at: http://www.intersil.com/design/powermanagement/

ISL6557 Details
PC, motherboard, voltage regulator module and high-performance DC-to-DC converter manufacturers benefit from the following ISL6557 features:

• Utilization of two to four available phases provides cost-effective design and application flexibility for loads ranging from 30 A to over 100 A.
• Phase staggering reduces filter cost and voltage ripple.
• Differential remote sensing provides precise voltage control right at the processor.
• 5-bit dynamic voltage control provides graceful stepped on-the-fly voltage change that avoids current surging to the processor.
• Precision channel current balance ensures heat distribution to avoid hot spots.
• Over-current protection prevents damaging current surge.
• Loss less current sensing improves efficiency and reduces cost.
• Over-voltage protection ensures processor safety.
• Programmable Power-On Bias Level
• Programmable Droop Voltage
• Precision ENABLE Threshold

ISL6557 Pricing and Availability
The ISL6557 is now sampling. Price per ISL6557CB IC in the 24-lead SOIC package is $2.05 in thousand quantities.

Intersil Power Management Technology
The Intersil Endura product family consists of leading power management solutions for desktop and mobile PCs, workstations, Internet appliances, I/O cards, RAID systems and high-availability servers. The Endura family includes high-efficiency solutions that are used in portable PCs and mobile information appliances as well as residential gateway products. Intersil’s leadership position has grown, capturing over 50 percent of the AMD Athlon™ and Intel® Pentium® 4 processors and providing power management solutions for next generation desktop, portable and wireless communications devices. The company is the first to introduce a complete cost effective power solution for new and next generation PCs that uses a multiphase power configuration to achieve unparalleled precision and efficiency. Learn more about Intersil’s Endura products at: http://www.intersil.com/endura About Intersil
Intersil is a global leader in designing innovative wireless networking and high performance analog solutions that enable wireless access to video, data and voice in homes, offices and public places. Creating advanced power management products, Intersil provides reliable solutions for file servers, portable information appliances and over half of all computer microprocessors manufactured today. With a rich high performance analog and mixed signal portfolio, Intersil brings added value in providing complete silicon, software and reference design solutions to new products that bring portable connectivity to people wherever they live, work or travel. Headquartered in Irvine, California, Intersil has offices in cities throughout the US, Europe and Asia. For more information about Intersil or to find out how to become a member of our winning team, visit the company's Web site and career page at: www.intersil.com.

This press release contains information relating to certain projections and business trends concerning the power management market that are forward-looking statements as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements are based upon management’s current expectations, estimates, beliefs, assumptions, and projections about our business and industry. Words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "may," "will" and variations of these words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. Furthermore, any forward-looking statements and projections made by others in this press release are not adopted by Intersil Corporation (“Intersil”), and Intersil is not responsible for the forward-looking statements and projections of others. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, our actual results could differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various risk factors. Important risk factors that may cause such material differences for Intersil in connection with the power management market include, but are not limited to: the recent economic slowdown; the rate at which consumers adopt small handheld Internet appliances and portable computing devices; the rate of purchases of PC’s and file servers; the rate at which our present and future customers and end-users adopt Intersil’s power management technologies and products; the timing, rescheduling or cancellation of significant customer orders; the loss of a key customer; the qualification, availability and pricing of competing products and technologies and the resulting effects on sales and pricing of our products; silicon wafer pricing and the availability of foundry and assembly capacity and raw materials; the effectiveness of Intersil’s expense and product cost control and reduction efforts; intellectual property disputes, customer indemnification claims, and other litigation risks; Intersil’s ability to develop, market, and transition to volume production new products and technologies in a timely manner; risks inherent in acquisitions and divestitures, such as the anticipated benefits not being realized, integration issues, unanticipated costs, and changing relationships with customers and suppliers, as well as other risk factors. Intersil’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and other Intersil filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) (which you may obtain for free at the SEC’s Web site at www.sec.gov) discuss some of the important risk factors that may affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release and Intersil undertakes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements. Endura is a trademark of Intersil Americas Inc.
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