AST BEEFS UP i486 SX DESKTOP PC OFFERINGS WITH 33MHz MODELS AT BREAKTHROUGH
PRICE/PERFORMANCE RATIOS 

Multibrand Strategy Offers Users High-Performance and Low-Cost Alternatives
from $1,595

IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 21, 1992 -- AST Research today added i486 SX, 33MHz
personal computers to its Power Premium and Bravo desktop families,
expanding its choice of value-oriented solutions to the market. The AST
systems, which incorporate the Intel 486 SX 33MHz microprocessor --
positioned as the new industry-standard for entry-level business computing
-- deliver i486 SX performance at prices compatible to earlier i386DX
technology.

AST also announced the Power Premium 4/66d, featuring the 66MHz Intel486
DX2 microprocessor, rounding out the choice of processing speeds in the
Power Premium desktop

"The addition of Intel's 33MHz i486 SX processing category, which offers
exceptional price/performance Ratios, is certain to be well accepted in
the corporate environment," said Larry Fortmuller, director of high
performance systems. "We chose to offer it in both our higher-performance
Power Premium line and the new-generation Bravo family to satisfy the
buying criteria of the maximum number of users."

The new systems, available next month, increase the number of
microprocessor offerings to eight in the Power Premium family and six in
the Bravo family. They are offered in the following models with suggested
retail prices starting as low as $1,595:

Power Premium 4/33s (i486 SX, 33MHz) 
*  Model 3V (base model) includes 8KB internal memory cache, 4MB of memory,
one 3.5-inch 1.44MB floppy drive, integrated Premium VGA, AST FlashBIOS,
EISA and lMB of video RAM. Suggested list price: $2,195.

*  Model 83V includes an 80MB hard drive, 8KB internal memory cache, 4MB of
memory, one 3.5-inch 1.44MB floppy drive, integrated Premium VGA, AST
FlashBIOS, EISA and lMB of video RAM. Suggested list price: $2,495 

*  Model 213W (bundled configuration) includes a 210MB hard drive, 8KB
internal memory cache, 8MB of RAM, one 3.5-inch 1.44MB floppy drive,
integrated Premium VGA, AST FlashBIOS, EISA, lMB of video RAM, factory
installed DOS 5.0 and Windows 3.1, Microsoft mouse and mouse pad.
Suggested list price: $3,095.

Power Premium 4/66d (i486 DX2, 66MHz)

*  Model 3V/8 (base model) includes 8MB of RAM, one 3.5-inch 1.44MB floppy
drive, integrated Premium VGA, AST FlashBIOS, EISA and lMB of video RAM.
Suggested list price: $3,195.

*  Model 213W (bundled configuration) includes 8MB of RAM, 210MB hard
drive, factory installed DOS 5.0 and Windows 3.1, Microsoft mouse and a
mouse pad. Suggested list price: $3,895 . Bravo 4/33s (i486 SX, 33MHz)

*  Model 3 (base model) includes 2MB of memory, 3.5-inch 1.44MB floppy
drive and DOS 5.0. Suggested list price: $1,595. 

*  Model 3n (network ready) includes 2MB of memory, 3.5-inch 1.44MB floppy
drive, DOS 5.0 and on-board Ethernet. Suggested list price: $1,715.

*  Model 123B (bundled configuration) includes 4MB of RAM, 3.5-inch 1.44MB
floppy drive, 120MB hard drive, lMB of video RAM, Super VGA non-interlaced
display, DOS 5.0, Windows 3.1, Microsoft mouse, mouse pad and free
one-year on-site service. Suggested list price: $2,245.

*  Model 213W includes 8MB of memory, 3.5-inch 1.44MB floppy drive, 210MB
hard drive, DOS 5.0, Windows 3.1, Microsoft mouse and mouse pad. Suggested
list price: $2,495. 

Multibrand Product Strategy Provides Maximum Choice 

Pioneering the multibrand product strategy in 1988, AST has been a leader
in providing a variety of hardware platforms to meet the changing needs of
the corporate and general computing environments. The Power Premium
desktop line is AST's answer to high performance, expandability and
upgradability. The Bravo family provides a feature-rich, lower-cost
alternative to meeting a multitude of performance requirements. Power
Premium Delivers High Performance, Expandability The Power Premium, AST's
"optimal" corporate Windows machine, features integrated Premium VGA video
circuitry with BitBLT (Bit Block Transfer) and Hardware Cursor, yielding
the company's fastest video performance. The system's 32-bit EISA bus with
downward ISA compatibility reaches higher performance levels than earlier
16-bit technology. Designed with five available EISA slots and five drive
bays, the Power Premium also features AST's highest level of desktop
expandability. Additionally, AST FlashBIOS, a simplified software BIOS
upgrade, reduces service requirements.

AST's Power Premium comes in a variety of processing speeds, from an i386
SX, 25MHz model through the i486 DX2, 66MHz system. Beginning at the 386
SX system level, AST's Cupid-32 upgrade design gives users the widest
range of upgrade options available. The Power Premium also supports
Intel's chip-level OverDriven' processor upgrade technology. The Power
Premium 4/33s includes a Zero-Insertion Force (ZIF) socket, allowing users
to upgrade to 66MHz speed with ease. 

Bravo Offers Low-Cost, Feature-Rich Alternative

AST's new generation Bravo family, introduced Sept. 8, features
revolutionary lowcost design and manufacturing. A smaller, completely
redesigned motherboard that incorporates fewer chips has resulted in cost
reductions, simplified manufacturing and increased system reliability.

"AST's R&D efforts, engineering design expertise and manufacturing
efficiencies represent an added value to our resellers," said Dan
Sheppard, AST's director of Bravo systems. "By incorporating highly
integrated ASIC components, we can offer our users the highest quality
product at the lowest possible price."

The new Bravo family provides enhanced video performance and superior
quality graphics through integrated Super VGA. This integration yields
faster Windows and GUI functions and eliminates the need for an add-in
card, freeing up an expansion slot. An optional on-board Ethernet
controller also eliminates the need for an additional card, providing ease
in network installation at half the cost of a traditional Ethernet board.
Network drivers support the most popular networking platforms, including
Novell's Netware, Microsoft's LAN Manager, Santa Cruz Operation's SCO
UNIX, Sun Microsystems' NFS, Digital Equipment Corp.'s DECnet and Banyan's
VINES.

The ISA-based Bravo family has a choice of processing speeds from 386 SX,
33MHz through i486 DX2, 66MHz. To enhance system performance, 256KB
external cache is included on Bravo 486 DX2 models, with support for
optional 256KB external cache on the additional 486 systems. The Bravo
4/25s, 4/33s and 4/33 systems can be cost-effectively upgraded to a faster
microprocessor to increase the system's speed. Bravo prices range from
$995 for a base system to $3,045 for a fully configured DX2, 66MHz
bundle.

Sold exclusively through its reseller network, AST Premium and Bravo
systems are backed by a one-year parts and labor warranty and a full range
of service and support programs. A toll-free hot line provides "90-second"
service call response Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. (PDT)
and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. AST On-Line! worldwide electronic
bulletin board service and AST InfoFAX provide up-to-date technical
information and assistance. Also, AST has more than 11,000 trained service
technicians in more than 1,200 Authorized Service Centers nationwide. 

Corporate Background

AST Research Inc., a Fortune 500 company, holds a prominent market share of
desktop, file server and notebook computers. Product lines include the
Premium, Bravo, Advantage!, Premium Exec and recently introduced
Manhattan. The company is represented in more than 100 countries and
operates 39 subsidiaries and sales offices worldwide. AST reported record
sales of $944.1 million for the 1992 fiscal year ended June 27, 1992,
compare to sales of $688.5 million for fiscal year 1991.

AST corporate headquarters is located at 16215 Alton Parkway, Irvine,
Calif. 927139658. Telephone: (714) 727-4141, (800) 876-4278. Fax: (714)
727-9355

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