NetLogic Microsystems Completes Migration of Entire Knowledge-based Processor Family to Industry-Leading 55nm Process Node with the Sampling of the Latest NL8256 Processor

The successful migration of NetLogic Microsystems’ NL8000 knowledge-based processor family to the industry-leading 55nm process node follows the migration of its NL9000, NL7000 and NETLite™ processor families to the same advanced process node.

Mountain View, Calif. – July 27, 2009 – NetLogic Microsystems, Inc. [NASDAQ: NETL], a leader in the design and development of knowledge-based processors and high-speed integrated circuits, today announced that it has successfully migrated its NL8256 processor, a member of its fourth-generation knowledge-based processor, to the advanced TSMC 55nm process node.  This migration of NetLogic Microsystems’ fourth generation knowledge-based processor to the industry-leading 55nm process node enables the NL8256 device to address higher volume, mainstream applications in which the performance and functionality of fourth-generation knowledge-based processing are required. 

The migration of NetLogic Microsystems’ NL8000 family of knowledge-based processors to 55nm follows the successful migration of its NL9000, NL7000 and NETLite™ processor families to the industry-leading process node at NetLogic Microsystems’ primary foundry partner, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC).  TSMC’s 55nm process technology enables NetLogic Microsystems to deliver products with approximately 18% smaller die sizes than the 65nm process node and 70% smaller than the 130nm process node.  The smaller chips allow for higher performance designs with lower power profile and lower cost structure.  In addition, the NL8256 processor leverages NetLogic Microsystems’ internally developed suite of custom circuits optimized around the 55nm process node, which has successfully been qualified at NetLogic Microsystems’ largest customer.  This suite includes analog and clocking circuitry for high-speed interface, core processing elements and other standard cells, as well as refinement of the design and tape-out flows for this node. 

In order to support the increased complexity and higher bandwidths of network traffic, as well as the migration to IPv6, the industry is quickly transitioning to the fourth generation of knowledge-based processors.  NetLogic Microsystems’ advanced fourth-generation processors lead the industry in performance, breadth and availability.  The solutions from NetLogic Microsystems are capable of achieving an industry leading 1.2 billion decisions per second (BDPS), and incorporates advanced clock switching schemes to achieve an aggregate throughput of 40 gigabits per second.  The NL8256 and previously announced NL8512 processors also achieve new levels of parallel processing performance through a patented dual-core technology and a first-of-its-kind ability to parse decisions into up to 64 unique processing elements.  This capability to execute multiple parallel decisions during a single core clock cycle, combined with NetLogic Microsystems’ highly pipelined synchronous cross-connect bussing scheme, enables customers to deploy 100 Gbps ASIC, Switches, and Network Processors. 

By integrating these advanced capabilities with a unique ultra-low power technology, NetLogic Microsystems has emerged as the worldwide leader in fourth-generation knowledge-based processors.  NetLogic Microsystems’ NL8000 family of fourth-generation knowledge-based processors has already gained broad adoption across a number of quad-play switch and router applications.

“We are pleased to have completely migrated all our knowledge-based processor and NETLite processor families to the 55nm node, which provides our customers with numerous benefits in performance, power and costs,” said Chris O’Reilly, vice president of marketing at NetLogic Microsystems.  “Our advanced innovation and history of first silicon successes in advanced manufacturing nodes have allowed us to accelerate the time from development to first revenue shipment.”

Original equipment manufacturers are increasingly looking to accelerate packet classification and forwarding in their systems as converged and multi-service unified IP networks evolve to provide quad-play services (i.e., the convergence of voice, video, data and wireless mobility) to end customers and as the next-generation networks migrate from IPv4 to complex IPv6 addressing.  The NL8000 processor family’s superior processing performance uniquely addresses these requirements of next-generation networking equipment classification requirements.

About NetLogic Microsystems
NetLogic Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ: NETL), a fabless semiconductor company headquartered in Mountain View, California, designs, develops and markets high-performance knowledge-based processors and high-speed integrated circuits that accelerate the delivery of voice, video, data and multimedia content for advanced enterprise, datacenter, communications and mobile wireless networks.  NetLogic Microsystems’ products include high-performance knowledge-based processors, application-aware content processors, 10-Gigabit Ethernet interconnects and network search engines that are being deployed by Tier 1 original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in leading systems such as routers, switches, wireless infrastructure equipment, network security appliances, datacenter servers, network access equipment and network storage devices.  NetLogic Microsystems' knowledge-based processors and content processors employ an advanced processor architecture and a large knowledge or signature database containing information on the network, as well as applications and content that run on the network, to make complex decisions about individual packets of information traveling through the network. NetLogic Microsystems’ products significantly enhance the performance and functionality of next-generation networks that are designed to deliver high-definition video delivery over the Internet (IPTV), media-rich content over advanced mobile wireless services, voice transmission over the Internet (VoIP) and network security applications.  For more information about products offered by NetLogic Microsystems, call +1-650-961-6676 or visit the NetLogic Microsystems Web site at http://www.netlogicmicro.com.

NetLogic Microsystems, the NetLogic Microsystems logo and NETLite are trademarks of NetLogic Microsystems, Inc.  All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.