SANTA CLARA, CA, Nov. 4, 2009 (Marketwire) --

SANTA CLARA, CA -- (Marketwire) -- 11/04/09 -- Atheros Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATHR), a global leader in innovative technologies for wireless and wired communications, today announced the industry's most power-efficient and smallest Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) and Fast Ethernet controllers for PC applications, the AR8151 and AR8152. These newest additions to the Atheros ETHOS(TM) portfolio provide PC customers with Ethernet solutions expressly designed to reduce overall system energy consumption, while exceeding the size and RBOM requirements for next-generation PCs. In fact, the Atheros AR8151 is the industry's smallest and greenest Gigabit Ethernet controller to comply with the new IEEE 802.3az Energy Efficient Ethernet draft specification.

Currently, eight of the top ten PC OEMs are shipping products featuring Atheros ETHOS technology. With the AR8151, Atheros intends to build on this momentum in the Ethernet market by providing PC customers with a highly competitive solution that exceeds the most stringent power and size requirements for today's PCs, while delivering Gigabit performance. Built to enhance the user experience in consumer entertainment-class and SMB notebooks, and desktop PCs, the AR8151 readily supports simultaneous operation of data, voice and video applications in homes and offices. Atheros' Fast Ethernet controller, the AR8152, also brings ETHOS technology innovations to the expanding, value-class PC market, including netbook, notebook, nettop and desktop PC platforms.

Atheros Green ETHOS Technology Combined with 802.3az Energy Efficient Ethernet Compliance Deliver Unparalleled Power Savings

Power efficiency is the single most important performance consideration facing PC makers today. PC manufacturers want to meet the Energy Star 5.0 requirement for "plugged in" operation and also minimize battery drain in notebooks and netbooks to support extended mobile operation. To help customers address these demands, all Atheros GbE and Fast Ethernet controllers deliver the power advantages of Atheros Green ETHOS(TM) technology, which are achieved through a variety of innovative, proprietary techniques.

Maximizing power efficiency in plugged-in mode, the AR8151 complies with the IEEE 802.3az draft specification to consume less than 60mW in idle mode. By adhering to this standard, the AR8151 delivers more than 85 percent savings over non-compliant solutions.