Advanced Micro Devices appears to be putting back the launch of its 486 microprocessors from January 30 (CI No 1,838) to later this year – could AMD be awaiting the verdict in March of a Californian court as to whether AMD’s chips violate Intel copyrights? Developed with the same design methodology as the Am386 microprocessor family, Am486 devices will be plug-in replacements for the 486 microprocessors currently used in IBM-compatible personal computers. In addition, the Am486 microprocessor family will have a fully static design that reduces power consumption and offers 3-volt operation, says Advanced Micro. The first members of the family will include 25MHz, 33MHz and 50MHz versions of the Am486DX device in pin grid array and 25-MHz versions of the Am486SX device in pin grid array and surface mount packages. AMD chairman WJ Sanders said that his company will also serve as an alternate source at competitive prices for the compromised i486SX, which has an intentionally disabled maths co-processor. The company intends to serve these demands by offering a 25-MHz Am486DX microprocessor in surface mount packaging at a 20% premium over the Intel 486SX-25 microprocessors. AMD will begin shipping engineering samples of Am486 family products during the summer of 1992, with production and shipment commencing in the fourth quarter of this year. The new products will be manufactured at AMD’s Sunnyvale facility.
