Am5x86

The Am5x86 processor is an x86-compatible CPU announced in November of 1995 by AMD for use in 486-class computer systems.[1] It began shipping in December of 1995, with a base price of $93 per unit in bulk quantities.[2] Before being released, it was in development under the codename "X5".[3]

Am5x86
An early Am5x86-P75 for Socket 3, model ADW
General information
LaunchedNovember 1995
Discontinued1999
Marketed byAMD
Designed byAMD
Common manufacturer(s)
  • AMD
Performance
Max. CPU clock rate133 MHz to 160 MHz
FSB speeds33 MHz to 50 MHz
Cache
L1 cache4-way associative 16 KiB unified code and data, write-back or write-through.
L2 cacheMotherboard dependent
L3 cachenone
Architecture and classification
Technology node0.35 μm
Instruction setx86 (IA-32)
Physical specifications
Cores
  • 1
Package(s)
Socket(s)
History
Predecessor(s)Am486
Successor(s)AMD K5

Specifications

The Am5x86 (also known as the 5x86-133, Am5x86, X5-133, and sold under various 3rd-party labels such as the Kingston Technology "Turbochip"[4]) is an Enhanced Am486 processor with an internally set multiplier of 4, allowing it to run at 133 MHz on systems without official support for clock-multiplied DX2 or DX4 486 processors. Like all Enhanced Am486, the Am5x86 featured write-back L1 cache, and unlike all but a few, a generous 16 kilobytes rather than the more common 8 KB.[2] A rare 150 MHz-rated OEM part was also released by AMD.

Since having a clock multiplier of four is not part of the original Socket 3 design (and that the 486 only have a single CLKMUL pin anyway), AMD made the 5x86 accept a 2x setting from the motherboard and instead operate at a rate of 4x.[5] When using an Am5x86, the motherboard must be set to the 2x setting. The chip will actually physically fit into an older 486 socket such as a socket 1 or 2 or the original 168-pin 80486 socket, but doing this requires a replacement voltage regulator, since the AMD chip runs at 3.45 volts.

The combination of clock speed and the relatively large 16 KB write-back L1 cache allows the 5x86 to equal or slightly exceed an Intel Pentium 75 MHz processor in integer arithmetic in benchmarks.[6] Real world performance varies, however, with later Windows operating systems and many FPU-sensitive games favoring the Pentium 75 MHz. Because it is based on a pure 486 design, it is compatible with older systems, something its slightly faster rival, the Cyrix Cx5x86, has trouble with. The CPU is commonly overclocked to 160 MHz, thereby giving performance similar to that of a Pentium 90 MHz system. There are four main versions of the socketed version of this CPU, manufactured in different locations. There is the common ADW variety, as well as the later ADY, ADZ and BGC. The later models were the preferred versions of the chip, because they were rated for higher temperatures and thus more forgiving of overclocking.

The Am5x86 made the first-ever use of the controversial PR rating.[7] Because the 5x86 is the equal of a Pentium 75 MHz processor in benchmarks, AMD later marketed the chip as "Am5x86-P75".[8]

Sales of the Am5x86 were an important source of revenue for AMD at a time when lengthy delays in bringing the AMD K5 to production were threatening the company's profitability.[9][10]

AMD manufactured the Am5x86 processor for ordinary PC systems until 1999. It was popular for entry-level desktop systems, appeared in many different notebook models, and also sold separately as an upgrade processor for older 486 systems. Several companies made upgrade kits with an AMD 5x86 with a voltage regulator and socket converter, which allows its use on virtually every socketed 486 motherboard ever produced. Several companies also provided upgrades for older 486 notebooks by replacing soldered 486 CPUs. The chips were even used on later Acorn RiscPC "PC card" second processors. The RiscPC's OpenBus memory interface was only 32 bit, which meant that the Pentium could not be easily interfaced to it. Intel's expensive Pentium Overdrive for 486 systems is a troublesome CPU, with many compatibility issues, and so is not used. The 5x86 therefore provided the acme of RiscPC Windows performance.

The chip remained in production for a long time, as it was a popular choice for use in embedded controllers. One derivative of the 5x86 family is the core used in the AMD Élan SC520 family of SoC 00200microcontrollers marketed by AMD.[11] This powers the original Cisco PIX 501 model.[12]

  • An Am5x86-P75 model ADZ
    An Am5x86-P75 model ADZ
  • A late Am5x86-P75 for Socket 3, model W16BGC
    A late Am5x86-P75 for Socket 3, model W16BGC
  • Surface-mounted Am5x86-P75, model V16BHC
    Surface-mounted Am5x86-P75, model V16BHC
  • AMD Am5x86 die shot
    AMD Am5x86 die shot
  • AMD Élan SC520 system on a chip based on the Am5x86 core
    AMD Élan SC520 system on a chip based on the Am5x86 core

Models
CPUModel numberFrequencyL1 CacheFSBMult.VoltagePackage/Socket TypeRelease dateIntroduction price
Am5x86-P75 X5-133 ADH133 MHz16 KiB33 MHz43.45 VPGA-168 Socket 1
PGA-168 Socket 2
PGA-168 Socket 3		6 November 1995$93
X5-133 ADY
X5-133 ADW
X5-133 ADZ
X5-133 BGC
X5-133 W16BGC
X5-133 V16BGC3.3 V
X5-133 W16BHC3.45 VSurface mounted
208-pin SQFP on PGA-168
X5-133 V16BHC3.3 V
X5-133 SFZ
Am5x86-P75+ X5-150 ADW150 MHz50 MHz33.45 VPGA-168 Socket 1
PGA-168 Socket 2
PGA-168 Socket 3
Am5x86-P100 X5-160 ADZ160 MHz40 MHz4
Reference Guide

Data from[13][14][15]

References
  1. Crothers, Brooke (20 November 1995). "AMD targets Pentium with Am5x86". InfoWorld. Vol. 17, no. 47. InfoWorld Media Group, Inc. p. 25. ISSN 0199-6649. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  2. Crothers, Brooke (6 November 1995). "Vendors muscle in on Pentium; AMD, Cyrix, and TI plan faster, cheaper processors". InfoWorld. InfoWorld Media Group, Inc. p. 44. ISSN 0199-6649. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  3. "Intel Rivals Prepare Faster Chips". InfoWorld. Vol. 17, no. 44. InfoWorld Media Group, Inc. 30 October 1995. p. 3. ISSN 0199-6649. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  4. "Triple Your PC's Speed For Only $295". InfoWorld. InfoWorld Media Group, Inc., Kingston Technology. 5 June 1995. p. 96. ISSN 0199-6649. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  5. Mueller, Scott (2003). Upgrading and Repairing PCs. Que. p. 133. ISBN 9780789727459.
  6. Conference Proceedings. Vol. 27. Association for Computing Machinery. 1999. p. 95. ISBN 9781581131444.
  7. Lilly, Paul (April 14, 2009). "A Brief History of CPUs: 31 Awesome Years of x86". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 2016-04-11. Retrieved 2021-08-07.
  8. "What the Numbers Mean". PC Mag. Vol. 15, no. 14. Ziff Davis, Inc. August 1996. p. 132. ISSN 0888-8507. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  9. "AMD's K5 Delayed". Dataquest: DQ. 1995. p. 19. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  10. "AMD's K5 Faces Another Delay". InfoWorld. InfoWorld Media Group, Inc. 2 October 1995. p. 20. ISSN 0199-6649. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  11. Élan™SC520 Microcontroller User's Manual (PDF). AMD. p. 23.
  12. Newman, Daniel (2003). "Basics of the PIX Firewall". CCSP CSPFA Exam Cram 2 (Exam Cram 642-521). Pearson IT Certification. p. 6.
  13. Shvets, Gennadiy (25 July 2016). "AMD 80486 microprocessor". CPU-World. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  14. "The AMD 5x86 Processor". cpu-collection.de. 2011. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
  15. "AMD 5x86 CPU Sammlung | cpu-galerie.de".
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