Chips: AMD Introduces the Industry's Highest-Clock Speed Mobile PC Processor - the K6-2 P - Product Announcement

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, March 15, 1999

AMD Monday introduced the Mobile AMD-K6-2 P processor with 3DNow! technology.

Available in clock speeds of 380 MHz, 366 MHz, and 350 MHz, the new processor has the highest clock speed of any mobile CPU available today.

The AMD-K6-2 P processor family complements AMD's existing low-power Mobile AMD-K6-2 family introduced earlier this year. Both AMD mobile processor families share a number of performance-boosting features, including 3DNow! technology and support for Super7 notebook platforms that implement leading-edge features, such as a 100-MHz frontside bus, 2X AGP graphics, and the largest Level 2 cache (up to 1,024KB) available for notebooks today. Mobile Super7 chipset support is available from ALi, VIA, and Trident.

In a related announcement Monday, Compaq Computer Corporation introduced three high-performance Presario notebook PCs powered by the 380- and 350-MHz Mobile AMD-K6-2 P processors. Compaq is the first major OEM to offer Super7 platform-based notebooks using AMD's new high-performance mobile processors.

"Notebook users can now enjoy higher performance. The Mobile AMD-K6-2 P processor offers the highest clock rate of any mobile CPU and features 3DNow! technology for a compelling 3D multimedia and Internet experience," said S. Atiq Raza, AMD co-chief operating officer and chief technical officer. "It's great news for notebook users that the world's largest PC manufacturer has chosen the highest clock speed notebook processor for the popular Compaq Presario line, giving users an upwardly mobile choice in performance."

"Compaq Presario notebooks are top-selling notebooks in retail because they offer consumers a powerful combination of performance, innovative features, and superior value," said Alex Gruzen, director and general manager of Compaq's Mobile Products Division, Consumer Products Group. "Notebook users get excellent system performance and a compelling mobile computing experience with new Presario notebook models based on Super7 designs and AMD's fastest Mobile AMD-K6-2 P processors."

The new AMD processor-based Compaq notebooks include the Presario 1270 powered by the Mobile AMD-K6-2 P/350; the Presario 1670 using the same 350-MHz processor; and the Presario 1675 based on the AMD-K6-2 P/380 processor, making this Compaq's highest clock speed notebook PC to date.

Each Presario notebook features the Super7 platform design compatible with the 100-MHz Super7 bus specification, a large L2 cache (512KB or 1,024KB depending on the model), as well as Compaq's all-in-one system design with enough bays to incorporate a hard drive, a floppy drive, and a high-speed CD-ROM (or DVD drive for the Presario 1675) in one complete system. The new Presarios also include Compaq's Internet Zone keyboard, enabling easy one-touch Internet access. For more system configuration details, visit Compaq's Web site at www.compaq.com.

The Mobile AMD-K6-2 P processors operate at a core voltage of 2.2 Volts, have an extended case temperature rating of 80 degrees C, and dissipate less than 12 Watts of power running typical applications.

The new AMD mobile processors are available in an industry-standard, Socket 7- and Super7 platform-compatible, 321-pin ceramic pin grid array (CPGA) package.

All AMD-K6-2 processors deliver leading-edge, sixth-generation performance for today's demanding Microsoft Windows compatible home and office applications. These 9.3-million-transistor processors are manufactured on AMD's 0.25-micron, five-layer-metal process technology at AMD's Fab 25 wafer fabrication facility in Austin, Texas.

3DNow! technology, the first innovation to the x86 architecture that significantly enhances floating-point-intensive 3D graphics and multimedia applications, uses SIMD (Single Instruction Multiple Data) and other performance enhancements to enable a superior visual computing experience. Introduced as a key feature of the AMD-K6-2 processor in May 1998, 3DNow! technology has more than a nine-month time-to-market head start over competing CPU-based 3D enhancement technologies.

The worldwide installed base of 3DNow! technology-enhanced PCs is planned to grow to about 14 million systems by the end of this quarter. AMD processors with 3DNow! technology span the complete range of desktop and mobile computing, from sub-$1,000 PCs to high-performance laptops based on the Mobile AMD-K6-2 P processor, and high-end multimedia desktop systems powered by the new AMD-K6-III processor.

Support for 3DNow! technology exists today in the leading industry-standard application programming interfaces (APIs), including Microsoft's DirectX 6.x and SGI's OpenGL APIs. In addition, numerous hardware and software products have been optimized for 3DNow! technology. For a complete list of hardware and software products that support 3DNow! technology, visit the AMD Web site at www.amd.com/products/cpg/k623d/optimized.html.> Mobile AMD-K6-2 P Processor Pricing The Mobile AMD-K6-2 P/380 processor is priced at $169 each in 1,000 unit quantities. The 366-MHz version is priced at $149, and the 350-MHz version is priced at $119, also in 1,000-unit quantities.