IBM Corp yesterday added the first Cyrix Corp-designed parts to its Blue Lightning family of iAPX-86-compatible microprocessors, and the parts will be its first chip-level merchant microprocessors in the family – up to now, it has sold the chips mounted on tiny circuit boards to adhere to the letter – but not the spirit – of the agreement with Intel Corp under which it makes the things. The first are the Blue Lightning DX2 in 25MHz/50MHz and 33MHz/66MHz versions at 5V and 3V at $195 and $239 respectively for 1,000-up, and a 40MHz/80MHz version at 3V, at $295 for 1,000-up. They are sampling now with 5Vs available in volume in August, 3Vs to follow in September.
