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Intersil's Single-Phase Core Controller Powers Intel's Santa Rosa GPUs

— Intersil's ISL6263A Uses Patented R³ Technology™ to Deliver the Industry’s Best Transient Response for Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) or Graphic Cores for Intel's Santa Rosa Platform

MILPITAS, CA, October 10, 2006 – Intersil Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: ISIL), a world leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance analog semiconductors, today introduced the ISL6263A single-phase core controller. This device reduces power consumption and enhances the performance of graphics processing units (GPUs) or graphics cores for Intel Santa Rosa computing products.

The ISL6263A dynamically changes the output voltage and operation modes corresponding to the GPU control protocol. Intersil’s Robust Ripple Regulator, R³ Technology™ stabilizes current flow and allows less time between wave peaks in a regulator circuit.

"The ISL6263A expands Intersil’s portfolio to meet the needs of the latest GPUs requiring dynamic response with VID change on the fly,” said Majid Kafi, director of Intersil’s Notebook Power products group. “Our PMON feature improves overall battery life and meets and exceeds Santa Rosa specifications. With the family of core power controllers that we have introduced within the last few weeks, Intersil has complete power solutions for both CPUs and GPUs on Santa Rosa as well as Napa platforms."

Faster Transient Response, Improved Efficiency
Intersil’s ISL6263A 5-bit VID (voltage identification) controller provides 0.5 percent system accuracy over the entire temperature range, which allows wider tolerance of inductors for platforms using DCR current sensing. To boost battery life, the controller has the flexibility to go to lower switching frequency at DCM either through internal automatic inductor current sensing or programmed by VID.

Compared with traditional single-phase core controllers, Intersil’s R³-based controller provides better transient response and light-load efficiency and is capable of changing the voltage output when the GPU is in suspend or sleep mode. It reports the GPU power consumption through a highly accurate continuous analog output signal.

Key Features

• Precision single-phase core voltage regulator
  • 0.5 percent system accuracy over temperature
  • Differential remote GPU die voltage sensing
  • Differential droop voltage sensing
• Real-time GPU power monitor output
• Input voltage range: +5.0V to +25.0V
• Programmable PWM frequency: 200kHz to 500kHz
• Internal gate driver with 2A driving capability
• 5-bit Voltage Identification input (VID)
  • 1.28750V to 0.4120V in 25.75mV steps
  • Sequential or non-sequential VID change on the fly
• Over-voltage, under-voltage and over-current protection

Target Applications

• Notebook computers systems
• SAN (storage-area network) or NAS (network-attached storage) systems
• Point-of-Sale (POS) terminals
• Blade servers powered with Intel’s Core Duo or Core 2 Duo

About Intersil’s Power Management Portfolio
Intersil’s high-performance analog ICs provide innovative power management solutions for applications in the computing, communications, peripherals, display, networking, telecommunications, industrial, instrumentation and battery-powered products markets. Intersil is a leading supplier of PWM controller ICs with over two billion units shipped. Intersil offers a broad portfolio of power management ICs, including single and multiple output switching regulators, integrated FET DC/DC controllers, battery management ICs, hot plug controllers and power MOSFET drivers. To learn more, visit Intersil’s Power Management page at http://www.intersil.com/power.

Pricing and Availability
The ISL6263A is available now in a 32-lead Thin QFN package and is priced at $3.80 in 1,000-unit quantities. For more information on the ISL6263A, visit http://www.intersil.com/cda/deviceinfo/0,1477,ISL6263A,0.html.

A large selection of power products is supported by Intersil’s iSim™ online design tool. To explore these solutions, visit http://www.intersil.com/isim/.

Note to editors: To view a high-resolution downloadable photo of the ISL6263A, visit Intersil’s photo room at: http://www.intersil.com/pressroom/photoarchives.asp. About Intersil
Intersil Corporation is a leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance analog semiconductors. The Company's products address some of the industry's fastest growing markets such as flat panel displays, cell phones, handheld products and notebook computing. Intersil’s product families address both power management and analog signal processing functions. Intersil products include ICs for battery management; hot-swap and hot-plug controllers; linear regulators; supervisory ICs; switching DC/DC regulators; power MOSFET drivers; optical storage laser diode drivers; DSL line drivers; video and high-performance operational amplifiers; data converters; interface ICs; analog switches and multiplexers; crosspoint switches; voice-over-IP devices; and ICs for military, space and radiation-hardened applications. 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.

R³ Technology and iSim are trademarks of Intersil Americas, Inc. All other brands or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.