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The new AMD-K5-PR100 processor delivers the performance of a 100-MHz Pentium based on performance rating (P-Rating) tests using the industry-standard Ziff-Davis Winstone 96 benchmark.
The AMD-K5-PR100 processor is the latest in AMD's family of independently developed microprocessors. As a plug-in replacement for the Pentium 100, the AMD-K5 enables PC manufacturers to take advantage of prevailing fifth-generation system designs and infrastructure. This Pentium hardware compatibility eliminates system redesign and development cost and speeds time to market. Subsequent members of the AMD-K5 family will deliver increasingly higher performance levels, as measured by the P-Rating.
"Right now, the sweet spot in the business market is focused around the PR100 performance level," said Aaron Goldberg, executive vice president of Computer Intelligence InfoCorp. "In fact, the bulk of business desktop PCs shipped this year will be 100 MHz and below, with users moving to higher performance by the end of the year."
"The AMD-K5-PR100 processor is the only real alternative for PC manufacturers who want to market value-based Windows-compatible systems that enhance their own brand identity while expanding the size of the market," said Rob Herb, vice president of strategic marketing for AMD's Computation Products Group.
Compatible by Design
AMD has a long history of
delivering compatible processor solutions for personal computing, having
supplied more than 85 million x86 processors since 1982, including some 40
million Windows-compatible CPUs in the last four years. The AMD-K5 processor
builds on this heritage by ensuring compatibility with the Microsoft Windows
standard.
"Because the AMD-K5 processor is a plug-in replacement for the Pentium, it protects substantial corporate investments in Windows business productivity software," said Herb.
The AMD-K5-PR100 processor is licensed by the Microsoft Windows Hardware Quality Labs to carry the Windows 95 logo and has received compatibility certification from XXCAL, Inc., an independent testing laboratory. The AMD-K5 processor is not only compatible with Windows but also with the installed base of x86 software, including Novell® Netware®, OS/2 Warp, and more than 60,000 other software packages.
Process Technology and Architectural Features
The AMD-K5
processor is a 4.3-million transistor device manufactured at Fab 25 in Austin,
Texas, using AMD's 0.35-micron, CMOS process technology. The AMD-K5 processor's
fifth-generation performance is derived from AMD's K86(TM) superscalar core architecture, which combines highly efficient
instruction throughput with complete x86 instruction-set compatibility.
Instructions are issued four times per clock cycle through six execution units
using out-of-order execution and branch prediction techniques. The result is a
superscalar processor capable of running not only the installed base of 16-bit
x86 software but also complex 32-bit operating systems and applications.
Third-party Support
Chipset products for the AMD-K5
processor are currently available from several members of AMD's FusionPC(SM) Alliance support program, including Cirrus Logic, VLSI
Technology, Opti, VIA, and many others. BIOS support is provided by a wide range
of third-party suppliers, including American Megatrends, Inc., Award Software,
and Phoenix. AMD reference design support is also available to PC manufacturers
to enhance time to market.
Availability and Pricing
The AMD-K5-PR100 processor is
available now. It is offered in a 296-pin SPGA (staggered pin grid array)
package, priced at $84 each in 1,000-piece quantities.
About AMD
AMD is a global supplier of integrated
circuits for the personal and networked computer and communications markets. A Fortune 500 company, AMD produces processors, flash memories,
programmable logic devices, and products for communications and networking
applications. Founded in 1969, AMD is based in Sunnyvale, California, and has
sales and manufacturing facilities worldwide. The company had revenues of $2.5
billion in 1995 (NYSE: AMD).