AST INTRODUCES PREMMIA HIGH-PERFORMANCE DESKTOP PC WITH BLAZING LOCAL BUS
VIDEO, ITS BEST DESKTOP PC PRICE/PERFORMANCE VALUE TO DATE

IRVINE, Calif., March 1, 1993 -- AST Research Inc. today introduced the
Premmia personal computer family, designed with a sophisticated local-bus
video subsystem, yielding more than 200 percent faster performance in
Windows environments than its earlier generation Power Premium desktop
systems. The Premmia features AST' s most comprehensive array of
integrated technology providing performance ideal for corporate Windows,
local area network, midrange CAD/CAE or business graphics environments.

High-performance LocalLink graphics subsystem, advanced Intel486 processor
and memory cache design, Intel Pentium processor upgradeability as well as
CPU upgradeability through Intel OverDrive Processor technology, AST
FlashBIOS, increased security features, "personality" modules for
integrated networking and sound capabilities and a 32-bit EISA I/O bus --
Premmia's most notable features -- comprise a performance package
competing with the most advanced systems.

"AST, with record revenues and product shipments ova the past year, will
continue that momentum by providing its resellers with highly competitive
products, such as the Premmia to meet their most sophisticated customer
requirements," said Larry Fortmuller, director of high-performance system
marketing. "The Premmia, successor to AST's high-performance Power Premium
desktop system, offers a level of performance at a price usually
associated with products equipped with lesser technology. "

AST markets its Premmia desktop systems exclusively through the reseller
channel, opting to provide maximum service and support to its customers
with added value at the reseller level. The Premmia is currently available
at suggested retail prices ranging from $2,095 for the base model Premmia
4/33s to $4,195 for the Premmia 4/66d Windows bundle. In conjunction with
this announcement, AST also has lowered prices by $100 on all models of
its current Power Premium systems. 

LocalLink Local-Bus Graphics Subsystem

LocalLink Graphics, AST's unique local bus implementation, uses the mach32
chipset from ATI Technologies Inc. The slot-saving circuitry is integrated
on the motherboard, a cost-effective solution providing AST's best
price/performance ratio for fast graphics throughput. Integrated hardware
features -- BitBLT, Hardware Cursor, hardware Line Draw Engine and
high-speed polygon fill -- handle the most time-consuming tasks directly
in graphics hardware. This results in accelerated performance in graphical
user interface environments and fast drawing speed, particularly valuable
for CAD applications.

With 1MB of video RAM standard, the video processor connects to memory over
a 32-bit interface; boost video RAM to 2MB with an optional 1MB of RAM and
processor-to-video access is pushed to a 64-bit band-width for extremely
high performance gains.

LocalLink uses cost-effective DRAM memory; with 64-bit memory band-width,
the speed of more expensive VRAM alternatives is realized at a fraction of
the cost. Additionally, equipped with maximum video RAM, LocalLink
provides up to 1280 by 1024 virtual desktop, giving users more work space
and the ability to pan around, a feature not available on competitive
solutions. LocalLink supports 256 colors in the 1280 by 1024 mode; 16.8
million colors in 640 by 480 resolution. Additionally, the technology
provides a flicker-free screen and 72Hz refresh rate. 

Advanced i486 Processor and Memory Cache Design

The powerful Premmia lineup includes the Premmia 4/66d and 4/50d, equipped
with the i486 DX2 66MHz and i486 DX2 50MHz clock doubling processors,
respectively. These systems are ideal for the most demanding
processor-intensive applications. At the heart of the Premmia 4/33 is the
i486 DX 33MHz microprocessor which includes cache memory and an integrated
numeric math coprocessor, making it highly suitable as a high-end
workstation. The most cost-effective chip from Intel, the 33MHz i486 SX,
drives the Premmia 4/33s. 

Upgradeable Cache

Optional cache memory modules plug right onto the Premmia motherboard. The
modules' high-speed, synchronous burst-mode RAM provides zero-wait-states
in both read and write function. The modules are available in 128KB, 256KB
and 512KB capacities and are one of the most cost-conscious ways to get
full performance from the Intel486 chip. 

True Processor Upgradeability

Introduced as the 486 system for today's computing applications, the
Premmia can take users to tomorrow's more sophisticated computing levels
with an optional processor upgrade card featuring the Pentium processor
and 256KB of second-level cache. The 64-bit wide bus architecture of the
Pentium processor achieves performance that is almost double of the 66MHz
i486 DX2 chip. The Premmia also is part of the Intel OverDrive Ready
program with an easy-access convenient 238-pin ZIF socket built in,
available to house OverDrive Processor technology. 

Low-Cost, High-Performance Personality Modules

A specific connector for integrating Ethernet on the motherboard with a
low-cost "personality" module has been designed in to provide high-end
board functions which saves a valuable EISA slot. Additional future
"personality" modules have been defined as Ethernet/audio, to provide
sound and audio or voice annotation over a network, and Tokenring. 

AST FlashBIOS with Walk-n-Lock

With AST FlashBIOS, large network environments can be updated in a fraction
of the time it takes to physically replace a ROM chip that contains BIOS.
A network administrator can "Flash" over the network by putting the image
of the new BIOS on the file server and have every machine connected to the
system updated as log-in occurs.

Walk-n-Lock, designed to increase security on individual systems, allows
users to preset a time frame in which the system will automatically be
password protected when there is no keyboard activity. It locks out the
mouse and keyboard and blanks out the screen.

"The Walk-n-Lock feature allows a user to walk away from a system with the
assurance that no one will tamper with her machine and simply key in her
password to return to work wherever she left off, " said Fortmuller. 

Advanced Security and Asset Management

Additional password protection is available to system administrators for
system setup. User-defined asset tag information, factory-installed serial
numbers and BIOS revision dates can all be monitored and/or updated over
the network. The system also provides an unsuccessful log-in count to
identify unauthorized access attempts. 

Feature-Packed Motherboard

The highly integrated Premmia motherboard has four SIMM sockets that
support industry-standard 72-pin JEDEC memory. Using 32MB SIMMS, up to
128MB of RAM can be installed without the addition of an add-in board. An
IDE hard drive interface supporting two disk drives; support for up to
three floppy-type devices; and two serial, one parallel and one
PS/2-compatible mouse port are built into the system board. This
high-level of integration increases reliability and adds functionality
while saving valuable expansion slots. 

Premmia Models and Pricing

The Premmia 4/66d, 4/50d, 4/33 and 4/33s are equipped with 8MB of RAM
standard with the exception of the Premmia 4/33, Model 3 (base model) and
Premmia 4/33s, Model 3, which feature 4MB of RAM standard. System RAM can
be expanded to 128MB. Each unit includes a 3.5-inch 1.44MB floppy drive.

The Premmia systems come in three models: Model 3, the base configuration;
Model 173W which includes a 170MB high-performance IDE hard drive,
factory-installed Microsoft Windows 3.1, DOS 5.0, a PS/2-compatible mouse
and AST mousepad; and Model 343W which is the same as Model 173W except
for a 340MB hard drive. Suggested list prices are:

System             Model 3     Model 173W     Model 343W 
Premmia 4/33s      $2,095       $2,745          $3,195 
Premmia 4/33       $2,595       $3,245          $3,695 
Premmia 4/50d      $2,795       $3,345          $3,795 
Premmia 4/66d      $3,195       $3,745          $4,195 

Service and Support

The Premmia's three-year warranty program combines the convenience of
on-site service during the first year of ownership and an additional two
years of carry-in service at no cost. AST offers low cost upgrades for
on-site service during the second and third years. For localized service,
AST has more than 1,400 Authorized service Providers. Complementing the
warranty program is AST's newly announced 24-hour, 7-days-per-week
toll-free technical hotline. Additional technical information can be
obtained through AST's Info-FAX and worldwide 24-hour on-line bulletin
board service. 

Corporate Background

Ranked number 431 on the Fortune 500 list of America's largest industrial
companies, AST Research Inc. is a prominent market share holder of
desktop, file server and notebook computers. Revenue for calendar year
1992 totalled more than $1.1 billion.        AST's product lines include
the Premmia, Bravo and Advantage! desktop systems, Premium SE servers,
PowerExec notebook and LAN Magazine's "Product of the Year" Manhattan
symmetric multiprocessor system. The company is represented in 100
countries and operates 34 international subsidiaries and sales offices.

AST reported record sales of $346.3 million for the second quarter of
fiscal year 1993, ended Jan. 2, 1993, representing a 64 percent increase
in unit shipments over the comparable prior year quarter. Fiscal year 1992
revenues were $944.1 million, compared to sales of $688.5 million for
fiscal year 1991. AST corporate headquarters is located at 16215 Alton
Parkway, Irvine, Calif. 92718. Telephone: (714) 727-4141, (800) 876-4278.
Fax: (714) 7279355.

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