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Conference noted::ibmpc-95

Title:IBM PCs, clones, DOS, etc.
Notice:Intro in 1-11, Windows stuff in NOTED::MSWINDOWS please
Moderator:TARKIN::LINND
Created:Tue Jan 03 1995
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3023
Total number of notes:28404

2972.0. "Watch this space. AMD Pentium replacement w/MMX. Announced!" by JULIET::HARRIS_MA (Networks Sales Exec) Mon Mar 31 1997 20:17

    AMD is set to announce (for immediate shipment) their new K6-family
    including 166mhz versions. These INCLUDE Intel licensed MMX, and have
    64k on-board cache. They are most like a Pentium II, but fit standard
    Socket-7's. AMD claims it will perform more like a Pentium Pro or
    Klamath, but look like a regular Pentium. AMD will also post a listing
    of compatible systems and motherboards on the same day as announcement:
    		APRIL 2, 1997
    
    Intel's Pentium-166MMX is $354 today (retail, qty:1). I expect the new
    AMD to be less... 
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2972.1Stand back and watch the fun!WRKSYS::TATOSIANThe Compleat TanglerTue Apr 01 1997 06:3914
    And you can expect 200, 233, and 250 mhz variations released within the
    next couple of months...
    
    Some of the benchmarks being reported are kicking serious sand in the
    face of the P5/MMX as well as the Klamath...
    
    Abit and ASUS have both strongly hinted that their current crop of
    430-TX and -HX modules will be able to support K6 through the 233 at
    least - and perhaps running the external bus at up to 83mhz (!) using 
    60ns EDO (!!) which could mean a 250 running 3X 83mhz (!!!)
    
    Woof! 
    
    /dave (I *love* seeing Intel take even a small lump in the noggin' ;^)
2972.2NETCAD::GENOVAWed Apr 02 1997 18:374
    
    Isn't competition grand.  Go AMD!!
    
    /art
2972.3QUARK::LIONELFree advice is worth every centWed Apr 02 1997 19:265
Well, I went to an AMD presentation on the K6, and was not really impressed -
it was mostly vague "we're better" claims.  One gotcha is that they can't
support SMP with the K6.

				Steve
2972.4Looks good, but will it work in YOUR motherboard?JULIET::HARRIS_MANetworks Sales ExecWed Apr 02 1997 20:419
    Actually, www.amd.com, looks real good. Should be 40% cheaper from what
    I hear (vs. Intel same speed). The downside is the only motherboards
    certfied by AMD are: Atrend, FIC, Gigabyte, Holco (shuttle) and
    Microstar. Specific models are gievn at their web site.
    
    So, don't run out yet and buy a new AMD200MMX K6 chip. It may not plug
    into what you already have.
    
    Mark
2972.5WRKSYS::TATOSIANThe Compleat TanglerThu Apr 03 1997 01:0117
    I've checked around and there are a couple of ASUS distributors that
    have verified that the AMD K6 works fine on the ASUS P55T2P4 board
    (that board has jumpers that support the higher-than-P55C core voltages).
    
    The only (minor) issue is the currently *released* bios for that board
    will not report the chip speed correctly (but the latest beta bios
    corrects that). 
    
    As for the "no SMP support gotcha": big deal. SMP for the P55C is a
    non-starter for 99% of the Pentium-class user community anyway (most of
    which are running Win/WfWg or Win95 - none of which are SMP-aware
    anyway)...
    
    If you're interested in some unofficial comparative test results, see
    http://www.jump.net/~lcs/k6.html
    
    /dave
2972.6Prices falling...JULIET::HARRIS_MANetworks Sales ExecFri Apr 04 1997 18:0011
    Oops... two new datapoints.
    
    1. Intel's next planned price cuts are set for April 27th. They will
    happen on schedule and it appears the 166's and below will get nice
    hefty cuts.
    
    2. AMD's pricing on the streets is NO WHERE NEAR the 25-40% lower than
    Intel's as promised. The AMD166MMX was $350 yesterday, and the
    Intel166MMX was $354.
    
    Mark
2972.7price cuts? did someone say cuts??LEDER1::BENDELFri Apr 04 1997 19:158
    Curious..how do you know about the planned Intel CPU price cuts coming?
    And.....any information on how significant the cuts will be?
    
    I'm very interested...because I was planning on buying an Intel P100
    at the show in manchester a week from Sunday, would waiting save me
    money?
    
    
2972.8WRKSYS::TATOSIANThe Compleat TanglerSat Apr 05 1997 01:4012
    re: .7
    
    I think the approximate time for the next Intel cut was mentioned when
    they made their last official cut in the early fall (and announced that
    they'd skip the "winter" cuts). I've been waiting myself for the April
    cuts to ratchet our systems up a couple of notches.
    
    As for whether the P100 pricing will be greatly affected: the street
    price for even the BOXED P100 is already at or below $100 for the chip,
    so I'd be surprised if you'll see a *remarkable* change there. 
    
    /dave
2972.9What does it mean overall?VARDAF::CHURCHDave Church@VBE (DTN 828-6125)Mon Apr 07 1997 07:177
    As I ordered a P5-200 [with MMX] a week ago I'm sort of interested in
    the price cuts and what this could mean... 
    
    When you're looking at a total package including [say a 17"] screen
    just how much does these CPU price cuts affect the overall price?
    
    Dave
2972.10Top-Dog will add $500.JULIET::HARRIS_MANetworks Sales ExecMon Apr 07 1997 15:5922
    RE: last few.
    
    Actually, Intel skipped the November96 price cuts last year, but DID do
    their February97 cuts, and at that time, indicated that their next
    quarterly cuts would be carried out in April. My local Intel team gave
    me the exact April 27th date.
    
    As for CPU cost translating to overall system cost, every vendor does
    it differently. Some take a baseline system, determine their profit,
    and then simply 'passthru' the incremental above the baseline CPU.
    Others, simply add up the total of all components, multiple by their
    "1+margin", and then yield a overall system cost.
    
    In just about all cases, you can expect to pay AT LEAST the difference
    in STREET price of the CPU alone, when you upgrade from a baseline a system
    configuration purchased as a whole unit. 
    
    Finally, the cost of a MMX200 is about $600 and a P100 is about $100.
    SO, rule of thumb is the difference between 'barely enough' and 'Top-Dog
    Performer' is about $500.
    
    Mark