AST REINFORCES QUICK-TO-MARKET STRATEGY BY INCORPORATING NEW INTEL 440FX
PCI CHIP SET INTO BRAVO COMMERCIAL DESKTOPS

NEW ROBUST, FEATURE-RICH BRAVO SYSTEMS WILL PACK FORMIDABLE PUNCH

IRVINE, Calif., May 6, 1996 -- Continuing its strategy of being
first-to-market with leading-edge technology, AST Computer today announced
its plans to incorporate the Intel 440FX PCIset into its line of PentiumR
Pro processor-based Bravo commercial desktops. The new Intel chip set will
be incorporated into new ASTR Bravo PCs, targeted to ship by the end of
this quarter.

Combining Bravo PCs with the 440FX PCIset and Pentium Pro processors
enables AST to provide its business desktop users with high-powered,
low-cost solutions for Microsoft Windows NT&#153; environments.

"Our Bravo PCs personify our commitment to be first-to-market with the
latest technology at truly aggressive prices. The new Intel 440FX PCIset
allows users to further push the limits of PC performance by taking
advantage of today's demanding and data-intensive applications, as well as
those of tomorrow's 32-bit environments," stated AST's Dan Sheppard, vice
president, worldwide desktop marketing.

With the introduction of these new high-power Pentium Pro processor-based
systems, AST will carry on its legacy of firsts that began in January of
this year with the introduction of the Bravo MS-T 6150 commercial desktop
system. AST was first to deliver Pentium Pro 150MHz processor-based
systems to the channel. Last month, AST claimed the honor of again being
first-to-market with the incorporation of Intel's fourth generation PCI
chip, 430HX, into the spring line of Bravo MS commercial desktops.

"The commercial desktop world is vastly different from two years ago when
systems were purchased for the needs of the moment," Sheppard added.
"Today, the corporate interest in Windows NT and the 32-bit world is
exploding. Combining the latest in Intel core logic technology and Pentium
Pro processors with our award-winning Bravo PCs gives our customers a
best-in-class performance."

BRINGING SCALABILITY TO THE DESKTOP

The new Intel 440FX PCIset brings new levels of chip set integration to
Pentium Pro processor-based commercial desktops through improved I/O
performance and Concurrent PCI processing architecture. According to
Intel, Concurrent PCI provides increased bandwidth to better support a
host of areas as well as processing for host-based applications, providing
users with an enhanced computer experience.

"Our customers are migrating to 32-bit software environments such as
Windows NT for higher performance and greater network control and
manageability," Sheppard noted. "Commercial users are hungry for maximum
performance and features such as increased bandwidth, improved video and
audio performance, as well as disk system throughput - Intel's 440FX
PCIset helps deliver this performance."

MEETING TODAY'S NEEDS WITH TOMORROW IN MIND

AST strongly believes that users and resellers today are extremely savvy
about what they want - and they want power and performance without a
compromise in technology or value. They want a return on investment (ROI)
that doesn't sour in a year's time.

"Our new Bravo systems will fulfill these needs and also allow users to
move toward the twenty-first century without having to worry about their
PCs quickly becoming obsolete," Sheppard added.

CORPORATE BACKGROUND

AST Research Inc., a member of the Fortune 500 list of America's largest
industrial and service companies, is one of the world's leading personal
computer manufacturers. The $2.468 billion company develops a broad
spectrum of desktop, mobile and server PC products that are sold in more
than 100 countries worldwide. AST systems meet a wide range of customer
needs, from corporate business applications to advanced home and home
office use. Corporate headquarters is located at 16215 Alton Parkway, P.O.
Box 57005, Irvine, Calif. 92619-7005. Telephone (714) 727-4141 or (800)
876-4278. Fax (714) 727-9355. Information about AST, its products and
services can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.ast.com.
 
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