CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


We consent to the  incorporation  by  reference in the  Registration  Statements
(Form S-3 Nos. 33-86930, 33-90392, 33-96620, 33-97490, 333-15519 and 333-55989),
and in the Registration Statements (Form S-8 Nos. 33-41027, 33-80988, 333-13387,
33-80992, 33-94790, 333-13359,  333-34671,  333-13357,  333-55983 and 333-55991)
pertaining to the 1991 Employee Stock  Purchase  Plan, the 1994 Incentive  Stock
Plan, the PMC-Sierra, Inc. (Portland) 1996 Stock Option Plan of PMC-Sierra, Inc.
(formerly Sierra  Semiconductor  Corporation),  and 1998 PMC-Sierra  (Maryland),
Inc.  Stock  Option Plan and in the related  Prospectuses,  of our report  dated
January 22, 1997,  with respect to the  consolidated  financial  statements  and
schedule  of  PMC-Sierra,   Inc.  (formerly  Sierra  Semiconductor  Corporation)
included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 1998.



/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP

San Jose, California
March 25, 1999