CHICAGO, Ill. - March 31, 1998 - Sun Microsystems, Inc. today announced the newest member of its 64-bit UltraSPARC^TM family, the 333 MHz UltraSPARC-IIi microprocessor, enabling new levels of SPARC^TM and Solaris^TM operating environment performance in the embedded compute and entry-level workstation and server markets.

"The 300 and 333 MHz UltraSPARC-IIi microprocessors demonstrate the scalabilty and robustness of the UltraSPARC architecture," said Jeff O'Neal, Sun Microsystems Group Marketing Manager for SPARC Products. "The 333 MHz UltraSPARC-IIi module, with 2MBytes dedicated external cache continues to outperform volume offerings from the competition and gives our customers affordable SPARC and Solaris operating environment solutions at industry-leading performance levels. Our OEM customers need the on-chip integration of the UltraSPARC-IIi processor that shortens design cycle times and improves time-to-market."

The first announced product taking advantage of the 333 MHz UltraSPARC-IIi microprocessor is Sun's Ultra^TM AXi PCI-based motherboard, which is specifically targeted for OEMs creating high-performance SPARC embedded compute applications. The Ultra AXi platform offers breakthrough price/performance points compared to previous offerings, and supports an industry standards-based ATX form factor (see related announcement)

UltraSPARC-IIi Microprocessor and Module
The UltraSPARC-IIi processor, based on the SPARC V9 superscalar architecture, builds on the strength of the 64-bit UltraSPARC microprocessor family and adds the functionality of memory and PCI controllers to deliver a tightly integrated single-chip solution. All members of the UltraSPARC-IIi processor family are sold both in a single chip and module solution with dedicated external cache. The immediate benefits for system designers who integrate the UltraSPARC-IIi family, is reduced system cost along with superior overallsystem performance and improved ease of design.

At 333 MHz, with 2MBytes external cache, the UltraSPARC-IIi processor-based module provides an estimated SPECint95 of 14.2 and SPECfp95 of 16.9. The UltraSPARC-IIi processor supports four PCI devices at up to 66 MHz. An optional Advanced PCI Bridge is available from Sun to expand the number of PCI devices supported to a total of 32 devices at 33 MHz. The UltraSPARC-IIi processor provides optimum I/O, memory and compute performance for typical uniprocessor systems. This leads to a well balanced price/performance solution that delivers the power and features needed by high-end embedded applications, such as Sun's new Ultra AXi motherboard.

The UltraSPARC-IIi processor family is optimized for the telecommunications, high-performance networking and imaging markets, for use in applications such as adjunct communication processors, switched routers and multifunction printers and photocopiers.

VIS^TM Multimedia Instruction Set
In addition to its many other features, the UltraSPARC-IIi processor takes full advantage of Sun's VIS instruction set for applications in accelerating multimedia, image processing, and networking. The VIS instruction set continues to be the highest-performance and most robust set of multimedia extensions available today. UltraSPARC microprocessor customers have expanded the breadth of VIS applications to include media intensive applications, such as three dimensional medical imaging.

Software Support
The UltraSPARC i-Series of processors supports Sun's Solaris operating environment and is binary-compatible with the broad array of existing SPARC applications. In addition, Sun is working with leading real-time operating system (RTOS) and tool chain suppliers, including VxWorks/Tornado from WindRiver, Chorus from Sun, BSD/OS from BSD1 and GNUpro from Cygnus, for embedded applications.

Availability and Pricing
The entire UltraSPARC-IIi microprocessor and module family is available today. In volume quantities at 333 MHz, the UltraSPARC-IIi microprocessor sells for $720, while the module, with 2MBytes external cache, sells for $1,250. The Advanced PCI-to-PCI Bridge (APB) sells for $50. The processors are available in a ceramic LGA package and the APB is available in a plastic BGA package. For further information about UltraSPARC-IIi processors contact Sun Microelectronics Sales at (650) 960-4200 or visit our website at http://www.sun.com/microelectronics.

About Sun
Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision, "The Network Is The Computer^TM," has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ:SUNW) to its position as a leading provider of hardware, software and services for establishing enterprise-wide intranets and expanding the power of the Internet. With more than $9 billion in annual revenues, Sun can be found in more than 150 countries and on the World Wide Web at http://www.sun.com.

Sun, the Sun logo, Sun Microsystems, Solaris, Ultra, VIS, and The Network is the Computer are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All SPARC trademarks are used under license and are trademarks or registered trademarks of SPARC International, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Products bearing SPARC trademarks are based upon an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Press announcements and other information about Sun Microsystems are available on the Internet via the World Wide Web using a tool such as Netscape Navigator or Sun's HotJava. Type http://www.sun.com at the URL prompt.