SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 9, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Magma(r) Design Automation Inc. (Nasdaq:LAVA), a provider of chip design software, today announced the availability of new versions of Quartz(tm) DRC and Quartz LVS physical verification tools, with enhancements that include significantly faster runtime and the ability to read files directly from third-party physical verification tools. The new file-reading ability reduces the effort and cost associated with adopting the Quartz products. With this new release, Magma has made it easier for users to take advantage of the Quartz tools' advanced technology to dramatically accelerate verification.

Quartz DRC and Quartz LVS are architected to process integrated circuit (IC) designs of any size, at any technology node, in the least amount of time. Magma's is the first truly scalable physical verification solution, able to provide turnaround time that is up to an order of magnitude faster than existing solutions by leveraging existing compute resources. The Quartz tools are fully compatible with third-party IC implementation flows and can read file formats used by traditional physical verification tools. When integrated with Magma's Talus(r) platform for digital implementation, Quartz DRC and Quartz LVS offer additional time savings by eliminating the need to stream data between the implementation system and the physical verification tool.

The latest release of the Quartz DRC/LVS products also offers an enhanced power/ground short-detection capability that pinpoints the exact location of shorts rather than just the path, as well as provides the ability to detect multiple shorts with a single run. This makes shorts easier to correct and speeds full-chip debug.

Design services consultancy Fastrack Design, a long-time user of Magma software, has qualified the new Quartz DRC/LVS release for Fastrack's Talus-based design flow and found it to provide 3X faster runtime than its existing verification tools. The new versions also enabled Fastrack to streamline its flow, further improving overall turnaround time.

"As a design service provider, we spend a significant amount of time and effort ensuring that we can support multiple foundries' design rules and customers' legacy designs," said Moazzem Hossain, president and CEO of Fastrack Design. "The Quartz DRC and Quartz LVS tools' direct compatibility with third-party physical verification tools eliminates the need for additional translation, scripting or setup, making it faster and easier for us to provide the necessary support."

"The ability of semiconductor companies to survive and thrive in the current economy is dependent on decreasing turnaround time and development costs while improving designer productivity," said Suk Lee, general manager of Magma's Custom Design Business Unit. "Full compatibility with third-party physical verification tools, increased performance and faster runtime make Quartz DRC and Quartz LVS must-have tools for today's advanced designs."

About Magma

Magma's software for designing integrated circuits (ICs) is used to create complex, high-performance chips required in cellular telephones, electronic games, WiFi, MP3 players, DVD/digital video, networking, automotive electronics and other electronic applications. Magma's EDA software for IC implementation, analysis, physical verification, circuit simulation and characterization is recognized as embodying the best in semiconductor technology, enabling the world's top chip companies to "Design Ahead of the Curve"(tm) while reducing design time and costs. Magma is headquartered in San Jose, Calif., with offices around the world. Magma's stock trades on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol LAVA. Visit Magma Design Automation on the Web at www.magma-da.com.

Magma is a registered trademark. Quartz and "Design Ahead of the Curve" are trademarks, of Magma Design Automation Inc. All other product and company names are trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective companies.

Forward-looking Statements:

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including statements that Quartz DRC and Quartz LVS are compatible with third-party physical verification tools, and provide increased performance and faster runtime, and other statements about the features and benefits of Magma's software, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including but not limited to the ability of Magma's products to produce the desired results and Magma's ability to keep pace with rapidly changing technology. Further discussion of these and other potential risk factors may be found in Magma's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (www.sec.gov). Magma undertakes no additional obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

CONTACT:  Magma Design Automation Inc.


          Monica Marmie, Director, Marketing Communications 


          (408) 565-7689


          
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