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Gaining On Intel: K6-2 Processor Speeds Up -- AMD Steps Up Competition In Chip Market
Marcia Savage
Sunnyvale, Calif. -- Advanced Micro Devices Inc. now offers chips with clock speeds just a grade away from competitor Intel Corp.'s fastest Pentium II processor.
At Comdex/Fall held in Las Vegas last month, Sunnyvale-based AMD unveiled the latest versions of its K6-2 processor with 3DNow technology, which have clock speeds of 400MHz, 380MHz and 366MHz. Intel's fastest Pentium II processor currently operates at 450MHz.
"Our family of processors covers the whole line of Intel, save one [speed grade]," said Thomas Toles, field marketing manager at AMD.
Meanwhile, Compaq Computer Corp. has introduced what it said are the first desktop systems powered by the 400MHz K6-2 processor: the Presario 5190 and the Presario 5100c.
A week after it launched its new processors, AMD notified customers of incompatibility between its faster chips and some versions of Windows 95 that can prevent a system from booting up properly.
The problem is caused by a software timing loop and results in a user having to reboot the system, an AMD spokesman said. But the glitch is limited to a small number of users who have upgraded their CPUs to 350MHz and higher and have an OEM version of Microsoft Corp.'s Windows 95, he said.
However, a software patch is available from AMD's Web site at amd.com, the spokesman said.
All of the new versions of the K6-2 are available now. In 1,000-unit quantities, the 400MHz version costs $283, the 380MHz version costs $213, and the 366MHz version costs $187.
The K6-2 is manufactured based on AMD's 0.25 micron process technology and is packaged in a 100MHz Super 7 platform-compatible, 321-pin ceramic pin grid array (CPGA) with C4 flip-chip interconnection technology.
The K6-2 processor line comes with 3DNow technology, which offers enhanced 3-D and multimedia capabilities.
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