| The
Cyrix 6x86 (1996) executes the same set of instructions,
but partly out of order, making for faster processing
at the same clock speed as the Pentium. Cyrix also built
a version with graphics and audio on-chip called the MediaGX
(1998).
The Intel
Pentium III processor, which was introduced in 1999,
incorporates 9.5 million transistors. It was designed
to enhance the use of the Internet with streaming audio
and high quality video.
AMD’s
Athlon chip managed to outperform Intel’s fastest
P6 CPU when it was introduced in 1999. The AMD 3Dnow
technology was designed to improve the 3D graphics of
games, but was later found to speed up calculations
for supercomputers. AMD’s chips are beginning
to make great inroads into Intel’s market and
are shipping
in record numbers,and with leaner design - it’s
a matter of “watch this space”. |
