Despite the continuing legal battles between Intel Corp and Advanced Micro Devices Inc over the Am386 chip technology, the Sunnyvale, California-based erstwhile second source for the iAPX-86 family has launched the family in the UK, claiming that it doubles portable computer battery life without affecting processor performance. The Am386 microprocessors, Am386DXLV and Am386SXLV, with full 80386 and 80386SX architectures, operate at 3.3V, plus or minus 10%. The range includes a 25MHz and 20MHz Am386SXLV and a 25MHz Am386DXLV. The devices will be available in production quantities in December, and the company says that the 25MHz Am386SXL is being used by Everex Systems Inc in its Tempo SXL-25 notebook. At the same time, Advanced Micro has announced a series of One Time Programmable memory devices, the Am27LV512 and Am27LV020, which are said to lower power comsumption and extend battery life, as with the Am386 family. They operate at 3.3V with a 10% margin for error, and are claimed to have an access time of 200nS. The devices come in 32-pin plastic leaded chip carriers, and the 300nS Am27LV512 costs UKP8.20 in quantities of 100, as does the 250nS version. The 300nS Am27LV020 costs UKP19.60, UKP21.60 for the 250nS device and UKP23.40 for the 200nS offering. The 2M-bit Am27LV020 device will ship this quarter with a 3.3V 1-Mbit memory to be introduced in the first quarter 1992. Meanwhile, Advanced Micro and Intel are swapping writs, currently over the copyright of both the microcode in the 80386 microprocessor and control program stored on the chip. However, damages are to be set by the end of the year in the case arising out of the breakdown of the 10-year technology agreement between Advanced Micro and Intel, which was eventually won, at least in part, by AMD. If the court decision favours Advanced Micro, it could render Intel’s other suits moot, as a settlement could include damages as well as technology rights. Advanced Micro is counter-suing with allegations of attempts to monopolise the market.
