NEC Electronics' Microprocessors Earn Prestigious Microprocessor Report Analysts' Choice Award Nominations

VR7701, VR4131 and Dynamically Reconfigurable Processors Nominated for Awards in 'Best High-Performance Embedded Processor,' 'Best Low-Power Embedded Processor' and 'Best Extreme Processor' Categories

SANTA CLARA, Calif., DUSSELDORF, Germany and KAWASAKI, Japan, January 23, 2003 - NEC Electronics Corp. and its wholly owned subsidiaries, NEC Electronics America, Inc. and NEC Electronics (Europe) GmbH today announced that its 64-bit MIPS®-based VR7701™, VR4131™ and dynamically reconfigurable processors have been nominated for the prestigious Microprocessor Report Analysts' Choice Award for Best High-Performance Embedded Processor, Best Low-Power Embedded Processor and Best Extreme Processor, respectively. With its Analysts' Choice Awards, Microprocessor Report recognizes the top microprocessors of the past year based on performance, integration, innovation and practical features like price, power and development tool support.

In the nomination published on December 9, 2002, Microprocessor Report's editor-in-chief, Peter Glaskowsky, praised NEC Electronics' high-performance VR7701 processor for "excellent price," the VR4131 chip for being "the lowest-power, two-way superscalar processor" and the dynamically reconfigurable processor for delivering "the best performance among [the] nominees for communications applications."

"We are honored that Microprocessor Report has recognized the outstanding advantages of our VR7701, VR4131 and dynamically reconfigurable processors with these prestigious nominations," said George Wang, general manager, standard LSI solutions strategic business unit, NEC Electronics America, Inc. "This recognition highlights NEC Electronics' ongoing efforts to deliver key architecture extensions and innovative new solutions to serve a wide range of embedded systems applications." Microprocessor Report will announce the Analysts' Choice Award winners at a dinner ceremony in mid-February.

About NEC Electronics' VR Series Microprocessors

NEC Electronics' VR Series™ 64-bit MIPS-based microprocessors provide comprehensive solutions for embedded system designers. Developed around the MIPS architecture, all of the VR Series microprocessors are backward code-compatible and highly scalable. With its extensive line of microprocessors at many price/performance points, NEC Electronics can deliver complete solutions for the Internet world. The VR4131 product delivers the broad peripheral support and low power consumption required by portable information devices. The VR7701 processor provides support for applications at the core of the Internet such as blade servers, switches, routers and network storage. NEC Electronics is committed to providing complete design environment support for its VR Series microprocessors by offering a wide range of companion chipsets, development platforms and a comprehensive set of development tools. For more information, click here

About the Dynamically Reconfigurable Processor Hardware Development Platform

The dynamically reconfigurable processor-1 development chip as unveiled was fabricated on an 8-layer aluminum (Al) process, runs at up to 133 megahertz (MHz) and integrates approximately 22 million transistors within a 696-pin TBGA package. The development chip supports a variety of externally available interfaces such as PCI™ and synchronous DRAM, CAM and SRAM memory interfaces, enabling a wide range of system applications.

About NEC Electronics America, Inc.

NEC Electronics America, Inc., headquartered in Santa Clara, California, is a wholly owned subsidiary of NEC Electronics Corporation, a leading provider of semiconductor products encompassing advanced technology solutions for the broadband and communications markets; system solutions for the mobile, PC, automotive and digital consumer markets; and platform solutions for a wide range of customer applications. NEC Electronics America offers solutions ranging from standard products to system-on-a-chip (SoC) solutions, customized products for next-generation designs, a local manufacturing facility in Roseville, California, and the global manufacturing capabilities of its parent company. NEC Electronics America is also the exclusive sales supplier of NEC active-matrix LCD and PDP modules in North America. More information about the products offered by NEC Electronics America, Inc. can be found here

About NEC Electronics (Europe) GmbH

NEC Electronics (Europe) GmbH, headquartered in Duesseldorf, Germany, is a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of semiconductor products in Europe. Committed to meeting customers' cost, performance and time-to-market requirements, the company offers solutions ranging from standard products to system-on-a-chip (SoC) solutions, as well as customized products for next-generation designs. NEC Electronics also offers customers the benefit of state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Ireland, and the global manufacturing capabilities of its parent company, NEC Electronics Corporation. For more information, visit the NEC Electronics website

About NEC Electronics Corporation

NEC Electronics Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of NEC Corporation (NASDAQ: NIPNY) (FTSE: 6701q.l), one of the world's leading providers of Internet, broadband network and enterprise business solutions. NEC Electronics specializes in semiconductor products encompassing advanced technology solutions for the broadband and communications markets, system solutions for the mobile handsets, PC peripherals, automotive and digital consumer markets, and platform solutions for a wide range of customer applications. NEC Electronics Corporation has 24 subsidiaries worldwide including NEC Electronics America, Inc. and NEC Electronics (Europe) GmbH. For additional information, visit the company's website

NEC Electronics Inc., VR Series, VR4131 and VR7701 are either registered trademarks or trademarks of NEC Electronics Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. MIPS is a registered trademark of MIPS Technologies, Inc. PCI is a trademark of the PCI-SIG. All other registered trademarks or trademarks are property of their respective owners.

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