Mercury Computer Systems Unveils Multi-GPU Development Platform for Embedded, High-Performance Sensor Stream Computing and Explo

Nov. 17, 2008

SAN DIEGO , Nov. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Mercury Computer Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRCY), a leading provider of embedded, high-performance computing solutions for image, sensor, and signal processing applications, unveiled the GPU-based Sensor Stream Computing Platform today at MILCOM 2008 in San Diego, California .

Graphics processing units, or GPUs, are the computing industry's most powerful, programmable floating-point graphics-rendering engines primarily used in personal computers, workstations, and gaming consoles. With recent architectural advancements, the algorithmic scope to which GPUs can be applied has grown dramatically. For traditional signal processing algorithms like the FFT (Fast Fourier Transform), they provide unprecedented performance, particularly performance per watt. GPUs can now be leveraged against the processing and exploitation requirements of growing markets like signals intelligence and oil & gas exploration, with outstanding results.

Historically, the availability of embedded GPU solutions suited to the stringent requirements of high-performance signal processing has been scarce. However, industry performance benchmarks on implementing GPUs in high-performance signal processing applications have shown that GPUs can obtain 20x performance improvement and more over other processors (see the Georgia Tech Research Institute report at http://gpu-vsipl.gtri.gatech.edu/*). With the Mercury Sensor Stream Computing Platform, embedded stream computing customers can benchmark and evaluate application performance in their choice of GPU environments, and then migrate to a larger deployed solution.

Built on in-depth, unparalleled expertise in algorithm and processor optimization, the VXS-based Mercury Sensor Stream Computing Platform offers unsurpassed scalability in compute power, performance, and thermal management, and allows for much greater, tunable performance for a variety of commercial and defense applications. The Platform leverages a dual dual-core Intel Xeon-based VX6-200 single-board computer (SBC), which offers unprecedented levels of compute performance and a wide selection of I/O interfaces. At the heart of the Platform is the VXS-GSC5200 dual MXM GPU module, which delivers very-high bandwidth performance to each GPU from the host, as well as between GPUs. Each MXM GPU module can drive up to 3 display monitors (1 analog and 2 digital).

"The Mercury Sensor Stream Computing Platform enables customers to deploy the power of GPU image processing in a rugged form factor for defense applications; and in this case, VXS," said Greg Tiedemann , Product Line Director for Advanced Computing Solutions at Mercury Computer Systems. "GPUs are widely used today for a number applications targeted at research and scientific discovery. With the Sensor Stream Computing Platform, our customers can begin to evaluate various compute-intensive applications, obtain peak performance out of their application, and then migrate to a deployed solution

that enables them to put the data exploitation processing on the platform -- and closer to the sensor."

Moving data exploitation processing on the platform and closer to the sensor is especially important, as the time it takes to get information out of today's dissemination architecture is not aligned with the tempo of market requirements -- whether the market is semiconductor inspection or ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance). For ISR in particular, ground-based exploitation takes tremendous amounts of time; data processing bandwidth; and resources, or information analysts, who need to apply multiple looks (sensors) to accurately survey a potential threat, and subsequently exploit the data manually.

On September 15, 2008 , Mercury introduced the Converged Sensor Network(TM) (CSN(TM)), a single, unified architecture that combines sensor signal processing with information management technologies to enable the convergence of multiple sensors, missions, and users in order to deliver transformational access to information in the tactical edge, or battlefield. The Sensor Stream Computing Platform addresses the issues of time, bandwidth, and resources targeted at deployable, rugged applications in the ISR space, and it is well-aligned to enable the CSN Architecture.

Customer shipments of the Mercury Sensor Stream Computing Platform are planned for early 2009. For more information on Mercury's Sensor Stream Computing Platform, visit Mercury in Booth #1734 at MILCOM 2008, at the Convention Center in San Diego, California , November 17-19 ; visit www.mc.com/gpu; or contact Mercury at (866) 627-6951 or at [email protected].

* GPU VSIPL: High-Performance VSIPL Implementation for GPUs, Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia Tech Research Institute, http://gpu-vsipl.gtri.gatech.edu/

Mercury Computer Systems, Inc. - Where Challenges Drive Innovation(TM)

Mercury Computer Systems (www.mc.com)(NASDAQ: MRCY) provides embedded computing systems and software that combine image, signal, and sensor processing with information management for data-intensive applications. With deep expertise in optimizing algorithms and software and in leveraging industry-standard technologies, we work closely with customers to architect comprehensive, purpose-built solutions that capture, process, and present data for defense electronics, homeland security, and other computationally challenging commercial markets. Our dedication to performance excellence and collaborative innovation continues a 25-year history in enabling customers to gain the competitive advantage they need to stay at the forefront of the markets they serve.

Mercury is based in Chelmsford, Massachusetts , and serves customers worldwide through a broad network of direct sales offices, subsidiaries, and distributors.

Forward-Looking Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including those relating to the Sensor Stream Computing Platform. You can identify these statements by our use of the words "may," "will," "should," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "continue," "estimate," "project," "intend," and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general economic and business conditions, including unforeseen weakness in the Company's markets, effects of continued geo-political unrest and regional conflicts, competition, changes in technology and methods of marketing, delays in completing engineering and manufacturing programs, changes in customer order patterns, changes in product mix, continued success in technological advances and delivering technological innovations, continued funding of defense programs, the timing of such funding, changes in the U.S. Government's interpretation of federal procurement rules and regulations, market acceptance of the Company's products, shortages in components, production delays due to performance quality issues with outsourced components, inability to fully realize the expected benefits from acquisitions or delays in realizing such benefits, challenges in integrating acquired businesses and achieving anticipated synergies, and difficulties in retaining key customers. These risks and uncertainties also include such additional risk factors as are discussed in the Company's recent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008 . The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made.

Contacts: Kathleen Sniezek, Public Relations Manager Mercury Computer Systems, Inc. 978-967-1126 / [email protected] Leigh McLeod Media Relations Mercury Computer Systems, Inc. 978-967-1120 / [email protected]

Challenges Drive Innovation, Converged Sensor Network, and CSN are trademarks of Mercury Computer Systems, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

SOURCE Mercury Computer Systems, Inc.

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