AMD announces world's fastest 486 device -- 120 MHz; enhanced 486 products for portable and desktop PCs.

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 5, 1995--Advanced Micro Devices today announced the availability of enhanced members of its Am486 microprocessor family, including a 120 MHz version, the industry's highest performance 486 device.

Personal computers powered by AMD's 120 MHz 486 microprocessor offer performance equivalent to or greater than similarly configured 75 MHz Pentium systems at a lower overall system cost. AMD's new, enhanced 486 products are optimized for the energy-efficient desktop and portable personal computer market segments.

"Our 120 MHz Am486 microprocessor continues AMD's history of offering the highest performance and best value in each generation of x86 microprocessors," said Larry Hollatz, vice president of AMD's Personal Computer Products Division. "With this product, AMD is offering its customers fifth-generation performance at a fourth-generation price.

"The 486 market is very robust. These enhanced 486 devices are being demanded by our customers for high-performance, low-cost systems. We are increasing production to meet high customer demand," concluded Hollatz.

Enhanced Am486 Product Features

The new clock-tripled, Microsoft Windows-compatible processors feature writeback cache memory and 2-pin, industry-standard System Management Mode (SMM). The enhanced Am486 devices support the Windows 95 operating system.

"AMD's high performance Am486s, combined with Windows 95, provide a powerful combination for any user," said Carl Stork, director, Windows Hardware Program, Microsoft Corporation.

Members of AMD's enhanced 486 microprocessor family include the "stop-clock/auto halt" feature that allows all CPU activity to be halted, reducing power consumption by more than 3 watts. These power-saving features allow high-speed microprocessors to be accommodated in today's portable systems without excessive battery drain.

The new Am486 devices also support Microsoft's Advanced Power Management (APM) specifications. APM provides software support for system power management.

The writeback cache memory structure boosts the performance of portable systems and maintains high system performance in entry level desktop PCs while reducing system cost by eliminating the need for expensive SRAM L2 cache memory.

The enhanced Am486 processors, like all AMD 486 devices, are compatible with Microsoft Windows, OS/2, Novell Netware and UNIX operating systems. The family is supported by a broad range of chipset and BIOS suppliers through AMD's Fusion PC Alliance program, ensuring quick time to market. Vendors supporting the enhanced Am486 microprocessor family include chipset suppliers such as Acer Laboratories, ACC Micro, EFAR Microsystems, Green Logic, Opti, PicoPower, SiS, Symphony Labs, VIA and VLSI Technologies. BIOS support is provided by American Megatrends, Award, MR BIOS and Phoenix.

Availability

Samples of AMD's enhanced family of 486 microprocessors, including the 120 MHz device, are available now in a standard 168- pin PGA package and in a reduced-size 208-pin SQFP package for portable systems. Production shipments of the new Am486 microprocessors will begin during Q3, 1995.

About AMD

AMD is the world's second-leading supplier of Windows-compatible microprocessors for personal computers and has shipped more than 75 million microprocessors since 1982 and more than 30 million in the last three years.

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., is the fourth-largest U.S. merchant-supplier of integrated circuits. Focusing on the personal and networked computing and communications markets, AMD produces microprocessors and related peripherals, memories, programmable logic devices, and circuits for telecommunications and networking applications. AMD has sales offices worldwide and manufacturing facilities in Sunnyvale, Calif.; Austin, Texas; Bangkok, Thailand; Penang, Malaysia; Singapore; Basingstoke, England; and Aizu-Wakamatsu, Japan.

WORLD WIDE WEB: Press announcements and other information about AMD are available on the Internet via the World Wide Web. Type http://www.amd.com at the URL prompt. -0-

NOTE TO EDITORS: Sales information may be obtained by calling 800/222-9323 or 408/749-5703. Please do NOT use editor contact or corporate telephone numbers for sales information.

Am486 is a registered trademark of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.

GENERAL NOTICE: Product names used in this publication are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective companies.

CONTACT: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.

David Frink, 512/602-4360

Tom Kehoe, 512/602-6882