Hsinchu, Taiwan Dec. 12, 2005 ASIX Electronics Corp. today announced the sample availability of its newly developed high-performance non-PCI Ethernet controllers for the emerging multimedia applications. The AX88180, non-PCI Gigabit Ethernet controller, and the AX88780, non-PCI single-chip Fast Ethernet controller, are the two new chips being added to the ASIX embedded networking product portfolio. The new AX88180 and AX88780 chips, architecting for high-bandwidth applications, provide highly integrated and high-performance yet cost effective solutions for the embedded networking market.

There is a growing awareness of the need for a network in the home that can easily distribute and share the high quality digital video and audio content among different home devices. Because of its ease of use, low-cost, high-throughput, and seamlessly interoperating with existing computer network, the Ethernet is a very attractive infrastructure technology for this home network applications. The ASIX AX88180 and AX88780, non-PCI Ethernet controllers, are specifically targeted for such streaming media applications as content distribution, IP set-top box, digital video recorder, DVD recorder/player, high definition TV, digital media client/server, home gateway, and IPTV, etc. The two newly released chips from ASIX will enable the customers to deliver high-performance embedded systems with high throughput of network connectivity based on prevailing Ethernet technology.

About AX88180

AX88180 is a high-performance and cost-effective non-PCI Gigabit Ethernet controller for various embedded systems including consumer electronics and home network markets that require a higher bandwidth of network connectivity. The AX88180 supports 16/32-bit SRAM-like host interface and Gigabit Ethernet MAC, which is IEEE802.3 10Base-T, IEEE802.3u 100Base-T, and IEEE802.3ab 1000Base-T compatible. The AX88180 supports full-duplex or half-duplex operation at 10/100/1000Mbps speed with auto-negotiation or manual setting. The AX88180 integrates large embedded SRAM for packet buffering to accommodate high bandwidth applications and supports IP/TCP/UDP checksum in hardware to offload processing loading from microprocessor/microcontroller in an embedded system.

About AX88780

The AX88780, single-chip non-PCI 16/32-bit 10/100M Fast Ethernet Controller, is a high performance and highly integrated local CPU bus Ethernet Controller with embedded 10/100Mbps PHY/Transceiver and 40KBytes SRAM. The AX88780 supports both 16-bit and 32-bit SRAM-like local CPU interfaces, providing a glue-less connection to most common embedded MCUs. The AX88780 implements both 10Mbps and 100Mbps Ethernet function based on IEEE802.3/IEEE802.3u LAN standards. The AX88780 also provides an extra IEEE802.3u compliant media-independent interface (MII) to support other media type like the Home LAN PHY. The AX88780 also supports IP/TCP/UDP checksum in hardware to offload processing loading from microprocessor or microcontroller in an embedded system.

About ASIX

ASIX Electronics Corporation specializes in network connectivity solutions and provides Ethernet-centric silicon products such as non-PCI Ethernet controller, USB2.0 to Ethernet NIC controller, and Gigabit switch for embedded networking applications. ASIX is based in Hsinchu, Taiwan with distributors in Benelux, China, Israel, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. For more information on the ASIX AX88180 and AX88780, please contact us at e-mail: sales@asix.com.tw, web: www.asix.com.tw.