Cyrix to ramp up production using a .25 micron process..............
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Story posted at 3 p.m. EST/noon PST, 1/12/98
National plans Cyrix MPU capacity
to produce 10 million units in 1998
By J. Robert Lineback
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--National Semiconductor Corp. here is gearing up
to increase the production of Cyrix 6x86MX processors. It is moving the
processor to a new 0.25-micron process technology and planning to have in
place enough manufacturing capacity worldwide to ship 10 million 6x86MX
chips to PC makers this year.
Today, National announced it has successfully produced functioning
6x86MX processors on a quarter-micron process in a pilot fab in Santa
Clara. In the summer, National plans to start volume production of
6X86MX processors in its plant located in South Portland, Maine. The chip
will be the first Cyrix Corp. product fabricated by National following its
$530 million acquisition of the Richardson, Tex.-based MPU supplier (see
Nov. 17 story).
While National is moving to produce Cyrix processor in its fab, the Santa
Clara-based company said it plans to continue its foundry agreement with
IBM Inc.'s Microelectronics Division, which has been producing 6x86MX
processors for more than a year.
National also said it has foundry agreements with Asian manufacturers, and
in 1998, the company expects to be able to ship 10 million 6x86MX
processors to customers using a combination of internal and external fab
capacity.
"The Cyrix 6x86MX offers the best price/performance combination in the
industry," said Brian Halla, chief executive officer of National. "The
6x86MX's superior architectural design, compact size, and low power
consumption make it ideal for the rapidly-growing sub-$1,000 and $1,500
mid-range desktop PC marketplaces."
The quarter-micron process technology will reduce the 6x86MX chip size
from 150 square millimeters to 88 square millimeters.
"This is a very exciting milestone for both National and Cyrix," said Kevin
McDonough, vice president and general manager of Cyrix. "The integration
of Cyrix's state-of-the-art microprocessor design with National's
world-class manufacturing capability is proceeding smoothly, allowing us to
dramatically increase production and reduce the costs of the 6x86MX
processor in record time."
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