For Release: September 15, 1999

For More Information, please contact:
Joy Hsu
949-261-2800
joy.hsu@sonnettech.com

Sonnet Announces 500 MHz G3 Upgrades
for G3, PCI, and “Upgrade-challenged” Power Macs

PARIS, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 15, 1999 – Sonnet Technologies, the leading
manufacturer of performance upgrade products for Apple Macintosh
computers, announces for immediate shipment the 500 MHz G3 upgrade cards
for the PCI and G3 Power Macintoshes. This new speed tops the robust Sonnet
line of Encore G3, Crescendo G3/PCI, and Crescendo G3/L2 upgrade cards. All
the new cards are configured with 1MB 2:1 ratio backside cache, and earn
impressive MacBench 4.0 processor scores of 1700 to 1800.

Encore G3 500 MHz
The Encore G3 500 MHz for G3 Power Macs is designed with unique
auto-configuration hardware. . This exclusive design adjusts the bus speed
multiplier to run the card at 500 MHz without requiring jumpers, switches,
or control panels. Whether upgrading a 66 MHz bus speed platinum G3 or a
100 MHz bus speed Blue & White G3, the Sonnet Encore G3 500 MHz upgrade
card auto-configures its multiplier (7.5x and 5x respectively). The cards
have been repeatedly praised by resellers and customers alike as simple to
plug into any G3 machine and easy to transfer from one machine to another.
“We find the Sonnet Encore G3 upgrade cards to be easier to install than
any other card on the market, and tech support issues from customers are
virtually nonexistent,” commented Larry O’Connor, President and CEO of
Other World Computing.

Sonnet’s full line of Encore G3 cards, including the latest 500 MHz speed,
are compatible with the following Macintosh models:

– G3 All-in-one
– G3 Blue & White
– G3 Desktop
– G3 Mini Tower
– G3 Server

Crescendo G3/PCI 500 MHz
The Crescendo G3 500 MHz for PCI Power Macs is a single-board solution
engineered to work flawlessly. Sonnet’s Crescendo G3 500 MHz card uses a
10x multiplier built into the latest IBM Power PC G3 processors. The 500
MHz board, available now, is about 10% faster than Sonnet’s recently
announced 450 MHz G4 upgrade card, which will be available in the fourth
quarter. (450 MHz is the maximum G4 speed attainable in these 50 Mhz-bus
machines due to the G4’s 9x maximum bus multiplier.) A 500 MHz G3 is the
better performance choice for most users.

The Crescendo G3 500 MHz card, along with the rest of the Crescendo G3/PCI
line of products runs in all of the following Macintosh models:
– Power Mac 7300/7500/7600/8500/8600/9500/9600
– Workgroup Server 7350, 8550, 9650
– Daystar Genesis
– PowerCenter, PowerCenter Pro, PowerCurve, PowerTower, PowerTower Pro,
PowerWave
– UMAX J700/S900

Crescendo G3/L2
Sonnet’s breakthrough 500 MHz cards reach out to 20th Anniversary Macintosh
owners as well. The 500 Mhz card, which also works in the Power Mac 5500
and 6500, expands Sonnet’s offerings which previously ranged from 250 to
400 MHz for these machines.

Pricing

Encore G3 500/1MB for G3 Power Macs $899.95
Crescendo G3/PCI 500/1MB for PCI Power Macs $999.95
Crescendo G3/L2 500/1M for “Upgrade-challenged” Macs $999.95

About Sonnet Technologies, Inc.
Sonnet Technologies, Inc. is headquartered in Irvine, California, and is
the worlds leading Macintosh upgrade company. Founded in 1986, Sonnet
upgrades more Macintosh models with processor upgrade cards than any other
company. Sonnet G3 and G4 processor upgrade products are easy to install,
are backed by a three-year warranty, include free technical support, and
require no switches, jumpers, or control panels. To locate an authorized
reseller or purchase product, visit the Sonnet Technologies web site at
(http://www.sonnettech.com), or call the company at 1-800-786-6260 (USA and
Canada) or 1 949-261-2800.