Intel Corp is about to shake up the market for cache controller for its 80386 microprocessor with a new single chip controller based on the same submicron, 1m transistor technology as it uses for its advanced 32-bit microprocessors. According to Electronic World News, the controller is due out this week and is called the 82395 SmartCache. It integrates 1,000 cache tags and 16Kb of static RAM with the architecture of Intel’s high end 80486. This means it can outperform cache subsystems with four to six times larger static RAM requirements. Furthermore, because the static RAM is on board while most caches use external S-RAM, the component count is cut from between 16 and 32 components down to one or two devices. Intel claims the 16Kb SmartCache equals the performance of a 128Kb write-back cache memory subsystem – the product looks as if it may well wrongfoot suppliers of application specific memory devices as well as Intel cache controller competitors.The part is available now at $95 for the 25MHz version, $109 for the 33MHz when you buy 1,000 of either.
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