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Press Release

Editorial Contact:
David Szabados
Adaptec, Inc.
(408) 957-2051
[email protected]

ADAPTEC'S ULTRA160 SCSI TECHNOLOGY SELECTED FOR HEWLETT PACKARD'S NEXT-GENERATION OF PC WORKSTATIONS

MILPITAS, Calif., - October 7, 1999 - Adaptec, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADPT) today announced that its Ultra160 SCSI technology has been selected by Hewlett Packard for its next-generation XU800 PC workstations. Hewlett Packard will use Adaptec's Trident (model AIC-7892) Ultra160 SCSI chip that delivers 160MB/sec. performance. Ultra160 SCSI is the fastest, most reliable, and compatible I/O technology available today.

"By using Ultra160 SCSI technology within our workstations, we're providing new levels of I/O performance and reliability that our customers demand," said Dave Du Pont, manager of Kayak product marketing at Hewlett Packard. "As software development, CAD/CAM, financial, and web authoring applications grow, the need for using a faster I/O subsystem, such as Adaptec's Ultra160 SCSI technology, is clear."

"Ultra160 SCSI technology is the best choice for workstations concerned with gaining the fastest performance possible today as well as maintaining backward compatibility with SCSI peripherals," said Lee Caswell, director of Adaptec's OEM Solutions Group. "HP's adoption of Ultra160 technology means that HP will continue to provide its customers with workstations on the cutting-edge."

Hewlett Packard XU800 PC workstations with Ultra160 technology are expected to be available in about six weeks. Adaptec's Trident I and II Ultra160 ASICs are currently available to OEM customers.

About Ultra160 SCSI
The rapidly increasing data transfer rates of disk drives, faster networks using technologies such as Gigabit Ethernet, and the rapidly increasing data storage found within corporate servers and web servers have created an urgent need for faster bus throughput. Ultra160 SCSI fills these needs with its high performance characteristics, its reliability, and its compatibility that protects user's current and future investment.

Ultra160 SCSI technology contains three core new features: double-edge clocking, cyclical redundancy checking (CRC), and domain validation. Double-edge clocking doubles the data transfer rate and provides 160MB/sec. speeds without use of additional internal clocking, reducing the risk of incompatibilities with older devices. CRC offers higher levels of data reliability by ensuring complete integrity of transferred data through the use of error checking and reporting. Domain validation intelligently negotiates the data transfer rate to ensure each device on the SCSI channel communicates at the highest rate possible.

Ultra160 SCSI is easy to implement due to complete backward compatibility with every generation of SCSI devices. Ultra160 SCSI can use standard Ultra2 LVD cabling and termination, making it a natural SCSI transition choice. For more information about Ultra160 SCSI technology and partners, visit https://www.Ultra160-SCSI.com.

About the Trident I and Trident II ASICs
The Trident I (AIC-7892) is a single channel Ultra160 ASIC that delivers 160MB/sec. data transfer rates. The Trident II (AIC-7899) is a dual-channel ASIC that delivers a combined 320MB/sec. data transfer rate. Both 64-bit/66MHz models are completely backward compatible in 32-bit systems and with Adaptec's exclusive SpeedFlex technology. SpeedFlex allows both slower legacy devices (such as CD-ROMs, tape drives, and scanners) and high-performance Ultra160 devices to share the same SCSI channel and still perform at their optimal speeds.

About Adaptec
Adaptec moves the world's information with host bus adapter, RAID, and software products that speed data to and from computers, peripherals, and networks. Founded in 1981 and with headquarters in Milpitas, Calif., Adaptec is a global design, manufacturing, sales, service, and distribution company. More information on Adaptec and its products is available at https://www.adaptec.com.

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