Hong Kong, December 3, 2013 – Altera Corporation (Nasdaq: ALTR) today launched the Arria 10 Edition of its Quartus II software, which supports development tools for 20nm FPGAs and SoCs for the first time in the industry. Based on TSMC's 20nm process technology, Arria 10 FPGAs and SoCs are effectively revolutionizing the mid-range FPGA and SoC categories by delivering a 15 percent performance gain over current high-end FPGAs while simultaneously reducing power consumption by up to 40 percent compared to previous mid-range devices. Customers can immediately develop systems based on Arria 10 FPGAs and SoCs with the industry's fastest compile times using the performance-proven and familiar Quartus II design environment.

"Over the past six months, early adopters have successfully designed Arria 10 FPGAs and SoCs using Quartus II software. Today, we are pleased to be able to provide this software support to all users seeking the fastest path to 20nm devices," said Premal Buch, Vice President of Software Engineering at Altera. "Quartus II software utilizes advanced algorithms that leverage the latest multicore computing technologies. This software architecture enables Altera to extend Quartus II software support to its next-generation product family and consistently deliver the industry's fastest compile times."

Customers can immediately start designing advanced functional components for next-generation systems using Quartus II software Arria 10 Edition. Users can use this software to design, simulate, and compile Arria 10 FPGAs and SoCs. This version of the software includes advanced timing models and final pinouts for board layout implementation. The Quartus II software Arria 10 edition supports multiple FPGA and SoC devices, including mid-range Arria 10 devices with maximum density reaching 1.15M LE (logic elements).

Arria 10 FPGAs and SoCs provide twice the system integration of mid-range competing devices, including variable-precision digital signal processing (DSP) blocks with up to 1.15M LEs, over 3,300 18x19 multiplexers, embedded hard IP, and embedded processor systems featuring an optional 1.5GHz dual-core ARM® Cortex™-A9 processor. Arria 10 FPGAs and SoCs also deliver three times higher system performance, including support for PCIeGen3 x8, 2666 Mbps DDR4, and hybrid memory up to 15Gbps, as well as bandwidth four times greater than the current generation, including 28Gbps transceivers. Arria 10 FPGAs and SoC devices are powered by Altera's Enpirion optimized power solution, which combines high efficiency, a small footprint, and low-noise performance into an integrated product at the industry's highest level.

Arria 10 FPGAs and SoCs are optimized for systems requiring high-performance capabilities while facing strict cost and power budget constraints. These mid-range devices utilize an advanced 20nm process and provide features tailored to the requirements of various end markets, including communications, broadcasting, computing, and storage.

Arria 10 FPGAs and SoCs provide cost-optimized, high-performance, single-chip solutions for mobile backhaul applications to customers in the wireless communications market by integrating control plane processors, network processors, switches, and IO extensions into a single FPGA. This device also supports the latest wireless standards such as CPRI. Customers in the wired transmission and networking segments will have early access to features such as PCIe Gen3 x8, 28Gbps transceivers, 100G Ethernet and 100G Interlaken, and support for the latest serial memory standards.

Arria 10 FPGAs and SoCs provide broadcast and studio equipment developers with the best power, space, and cost-effective solutions for integrating video and image processing, including 4K, 3D, and codecs. Customers can immediately begin developing next-generation broadcast and studio equipment that supports the latest Ultra High Definition (UHD) video technology.

The era of cloud computing places a heavy burden on today's computing and storage systems by requiring them to access more data in a shorter amount of time while simultaneously minimizing power consumption. Arria 10 FPGAs and SoCs are ideal solutions for next-generation storage systems, as they lower customer operating costs through high-performance capabilities and low power consumption.