AMD samples 100MHz 486; fourth quarter production

Electronic News, Sept 26, 1994 by Jim DeTar

SUNNYVALE, CALIF.--Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) last week revealed it has begun sampling its 100MHz 486 MPU and confirmed volume production of the new device is expected to commence during this fourth quarter (EN, Sept. 5). Although the company would not provide sample pricing, an AMD spokesman said the 100MHz 486 device will be priced less than the Intel Pentium 66MHz device, and AMD asserted in a statement that its "clock-tripled 100MHz 486 device enables the design of PCs with equivalent performance to entry-level Pentium systems and 40 percent higher than similarly-configured 486DX2-66-based PCs."

A clock-doubled 486 began shipping last month. AMD's new 486 is built using the firm's proprietary 0.5-micron, 3.3-Volt CMOS process, combining 3.3V operation with 5V I/O tolerance. IBM is expected to soon move its Cyrix-designed 486 parts to a 0.5-micron process, plus it plans to manufacture and sell other MPUs of Cyrix design including the Pentium-class M1 to complement its "Blue Lightning" offerings (EN, June 20).

In discussing its 100MHz 486 plans, AMD also touted a relationship with Microsoft. Bob McConnell, VP of AMD's PC Products division, said "Systems based on 100MHz 486 microprocessors will provide end-users excellent price/performance running mainstream Windows applications." Also, Compaq Computer (which has an AMD sourcing agreement) last week commented that "100MHz 486 systems represent a significant market opportunity and we're delighted there will be an additional source of supply."

Separately, AMD today will advance seven devices to higher speed grades ranging from 10 nanoseconds to 20ns within its "Performance" and "SuperSet" architecture MACH family of complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs). The MACH family is fabricated using a 0.65-micron, double-metal CMOS electrically erasable technology, with the exception of the MACH120, which uses a 0.8-micron process. All products are in volume production and available now, the company said, priced ranging from $9.25 to $54.20 in quantities of 1,000.

"All of these upgrades were a result of process improvements, not design modifications," said Chris Henry, director of marketing for AMD's Programmable Logic division. "New designs for our next generation Performance and SuperSet Plus architectures are now in progress."

AMD has also extended its Am27Cxxx EpROM line with higher speed versions of its 1, 2 and 4-Megabit parts in both x8 and x16 versions with speeds as fast as 70ns. The company has been in the high-speed EpROM business for years with its 35ns Am27H256 and other devices, but the faster Am27Cxxx parts are designed to address the bulk of today's applications. In addition to its speed upgrades, AMD now offers TSOP packaging options for the 128K x 8 and 256K x 8 EpROM devices in all speed ranges. All new parts are available priced starting at $3.75 in quantities of 1,000.