IBM Corp and Motorola Inc are ready with faster versions of the PowerPC 604, adding 133MHz and 120MHz implementations. The 133MHz version is rated at 200 SPECint92 and 200 SPECfp92; the 120MHz implementation at 180 SPECint92 and 180 SPECfp92. This is well ahead of Intel Corp’s latest 133MHz Pentium, also announced last week, which is pegged at 155 SPECint92 and 116 SPECfp92. The new PowerPCs are fabricated in 0.5 micron CMOS, with dual 16Kb data caches and integrating 3.6m transistors; they measure 12.4mm by 15.8mm. Volumes shipments are due sometime next half, with higher clock speed versions also expected. Both IBM and Motorola will be fabricating them. The Somerset laboratory down in Austin, Texas, has already promised that the 604 will reach 225 SPECint92 and 250 SPECfp92 by the end of the year (CI No 2,625). The 100MHz 604 goes to 160 SPECint92 and 165 SPECfp92. The 133MHz Pentium is the second part done in its new 0.35 micron, 3.3V manufacturing process. At 155 SPECint92 and 116 SPECfp92, it has over twice the performance of the original 60MHz Pentium. Intel says Pentium revenues exceeded those of 80486 processors in the first quarter of 1995 and that it is on track for the volume run rate to cross over some time this year. The new part is $935 for 1,000 and more. Meantime, Apple Computer Inc is expected to reduce the speed at which the faster of the new PowerPC 604 chip runs to 132MHz in its forthcoming Power Mac 9500/132 so that it can set the processor bus to 44MHz, which it says will enable it to reduce complexity and cost of other components on the logic board.
