SAN JOSE, CA (Dec. 6, 2000) -- Initio Corp. today announced the Initio INIC-1420, Initio's first fully functional link controller to provide the IEEE 1394 FireWire interface to UDMA 66 and ATAPI peripheral designs. The INIC-1420 single-chip controller enables data rates in excess of 40MB/sec. and allows original-equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to design advanced peripherals -- disk, tape, CD-recordable/rewritable and DVD drives -- with the speed and connectivity of FireWire.

The INIC-1420 is one of the first FireWire link controllers on the market with full firmware support. This support helps original-equipment manufacturers (OEMs) achieve quicker time to market for FireWire-interface drives used in digital video and redundant array of inexpensive drive (RAID) applications.

Single-Chip FireWire Device with Full Firmware Support
The INIC-1420 is the next-generation FireWire link controller from Initio, building on the company's INIC-1410 device that was introduced in 1999 and has been shipping to leading drive OEMs. The INIC-1420 integrates a 1394 core with the UDMA 66 and ATAPI interfaces into a single chip. The Serial Bus Protocol-2 (SBP-2)-compliant firmware is stored in an external Flash ROM, independent of the host operating system. Supporting data transfers in excess of 40MB/sec., the INIC-1420 supports four and three DMA modes.

"Drive makers and their customers have been restricted in their effort to realize the full potential of FireWire in applications such as digital video and RAID systems," said Eric Wilson, director of business development at Initio Corp. "With the INIC-1420, FireWire drives now can meet the intended bandwidth requirement for which the interface was designed."

Ideal Interconnect, Array of Features
The INIC-1420 provides an ideal interconnect between proven drive designs and the FireWire interface. The device allows peripherals to communicate directly with each other without burdening the host unit, permits scalable networks supporting multiple speeds and enables true plug-and-play solutions. The device's array of key features include:

• Performs 1394a cycle master
• Supports asynchronous transfers at 100, 200 and 400 Mb/sec.
• PIO mode 0-4, DMA mode 0-2, UDMA 66 mode 0-2
• Supports SBP-2, which includes ATA, RBC & MMC-2 command sets
• Supports industry-standard PHY through external port
• Local bus interface to expansion ROM, NVRAM, and 8-bit processor
• Separate command-in/command-out and page-table buffers

Seamless integration of variety of drive types:

• disk
• CD-ROM
• CD-recordable/rewritable
• DVD-ROM/RAM/rewritable
• magneto-optical
• removable media

Availability and Pricing
The INIC-1420 will sample in Q4'00 and be available in 100-pin LQFP package for $9 in volume quantity. Contact Initio Corp. at 408/577-1919 or 800/99INITIO (800/994-6486).

Initio Corp. (initio.com) is a privately held maker of input/output solutions for the information-technology industry.