WinChip

Last updated
WinChip
KL IDT WinChip Marketing Sample.jpg
IDT WinChip Marketing sample
General information
Launched1997;27 years ago (1997)
Discontinued1999;25 years ago (1999)
Marketed by IDT
Designed by Centaur Technology
CPUID code0540h, 0541h, 0585h, 0587h, 058Ah, 0595h
Performance
Max. CPU clock rate 180 Mhz to 266 Mhz
FSB speeds60  MT/s to 100 MT/s
Cache
L1 cache 64 KiB (C6, W2, W2A and W2B)
128 KiB (W3)
L2 cacheMotherboard dependent
L3 cachenone
Architecture and classification
Technology node 0.35 μm to 0.25 μm
Microarchitecture Single, 4-stage, pipeline in-order execution
Instruction set x86-16, IA-32
Physical specifications
Cores
  • 1
Package(s)
Socket(s)
Products, models, variants
Core name(s)
  • C6
  • W2, C6+
  • W2A
  • W2B
  • W3
Brand name(s)
  • WinChip
History
Successor(s) Cyrix III

The WinChip series was a low-power Socket 7-based x86 processor designed by Centaur Technology and marketed by its parent company IDT.

Contents

Overview

Design

The design of the WinChip was quite different from other processors of the time. Instead of a large gate count and die area, IDT, using its experience from the RISC processor market, created a small and electrically efficient processor similar to the 80486, because of its single pipeline and in-order execution microarchitecture. It was of much simpler design than its Socket 7 competitors, such as AMD K5/K6, which were superscalar and based on dynamic translation to buffered micro-operations with advanced instruction reordering (out of order execution).

Use

WinChip was, in general, designed to perform well with popular applications that did few (if any) floating point calculations. This included operating systems of the time and the majority of software used in businesses. It was also designed to be a drop-in replacement for the more complex, and thus more expensive, processors it was competing with. This allowed IDT/Centaur to take advantage of an established system platform (Intel's Socket 7).

Later developments

WinChip 2, an update of C6, retained the simple in-order execution pipeline of its predecessor, but added dual MMX/3DNow! processing units that could operate in superscalar execution. [1] This made it the only non-AMD CPU on Socket 7 to support 3DNow! instructions. WinChip 2A added fractional multipliers and adopted a 100 MHz front side bus to improve memory access and L2 cache performance. [2] It also adopted a performance rating nomenclature instead of reporting the real clock speed, similar to contemporary AMD and Cyrix processors.

Another revision, the WinChip 2B, was also planned. This featured a die shrink to 0.25 μm, but was only shipped in limited numbers. [3]

A third model, the WinChip 3, was planned as well. This was meant to receive a doubled L1 cache, but the W3 CPU never made it to market. [3]

Performance

Although the small die size and low power-usage made the processor notably inexpensive to manufacture, it never gained much market share. WinChip C6 was a competitor to the Intel Pentium and Pentium MMX, Cyrix 6x86, and AMD K5/K6. It performed adequately, but only in applications that used little floating point math. Its floating point performance was simply well below that of the Pentium and K6, being even slower than the Cyrix 6x86. [4]

Decline

The industry's move away from Socket 7 and the release of the Intel Celeron processor signalled the end of the WinChip. In 1999, the Centaur Technology division of IDT was sold to VIA. Although VIA branded the processors as "Cyrix", the company initially used technology similar to the WinChip in its Cyrix III line. [5]

Data

Winchip C6 (0.35 μm)

IDT WinChip C6 KL IDT WinChip C6.jpg
IDT WinChip C6
IDT WinChip C6 die shot IDT WinChip C6 die.JPG
IDT WinChip C6 die shot
Processor
model		Frequency FSB Mult. L1 cache TDP CPU core voltage Socket Release datePart number(s)Introduction price
WinChip 180180 MHz60 MT/s 364 KiB 9.4 W3.45—3.6 V13 October 1997DS180GAEM$90
WinChip 200200 MHz66 Mt/s364 KiB10.4 W3.45—3.6 V
  • Socket 5
  • Socket 7
  • Super Socket 7
  • CPGA 296
13 October 1997DS200GAEM$135
WinChip 225225 MHz75 MT/s364 KiB12.3 W3.45—3.6 V
  • Socket 7
  • Super Socket 7
  • CPGA 296
13 October 1997PSME225GA
WinChip 240240 MHz60 MT/s464 KiB13.1 W3.45—3.6 V
  • Socket 5
  • Socket 7
  • Super Socket 7
  • CPGA 296
November 1997?PSME240GA

WinChip 2 (0.35 μm)

IDT WinChip2 KL IDT WinChip2.jpg
IDT WinChip2
Processor
model		Frequency FSB Mult. L1 cache TDP CPU core voltage Socket Release datePart number(s)Introduction price
WinChip 2-200200 MHz66 MT/s 364 KiB 8.8 W3.45—3.6 V3DEE200GSA
3DFF200GSA
WinChip 2-225225 MHz75 MT/s364 KiB10.0 W3.45—3.6 V
  • Socket 7
  • Super Socket 7
  • CPGA 296
3DEE225GSA
WinChip 2-240240 MHz60 MT/s464 KiB10.5 W3.45—3.6 V
  • Socket 5
  • Socket 7
  • Super Socket 7
  • CPGA 296
3DEE240GSA
WinChip 2-250250 MHz83 MT/s364 KiB10.9 W3.45—3.6 V
  • Super Socket 7
  • CPGA 296
 ?

WinChip 2A (0.35 μm)

IDT WinChip2A KL IDT WinChip2A.jpg
IDT WinChip2A
IDT WinChip2A die shot IDT WinChip 2A die.JPG
IDT WinChip2A die shot
Processor
model		Frequency FSB Mult. L1 cache TDP CPU core voltage Socket Release datePart number(s)Introduction price
WinChip 2A-200200 MHz66 MT/s 364 KiB 12.0 W3.45—3.6 VMarch 1999?3DEE200GTA
WinChip 2A-233233 MHz66 MT/s3.564 KiB13.0 W3.45—3.6 V
  • Socket 5
  • Socket 7
  • Super Socket 7
  • CPGA 296
March 1999?3DEE233GTA
WinChip 2A-266233 MHz100 MT/s2.3364 KiB14.0 W3.45—3.6 V
  • Super Socket 7
  • CPGA 296
March 1999?3DEE266GSA
WinChip 2A-300250 MHz100 MT/s2.564 KiB16.0 W3.45—3.6 V
  • Super Socket 7
  • CPGA 296
3DEE300GSA

WinChip 2B (0.25 μm)

IDT WinChip2 W2B KL IDT WinChip2 W2B.jpg
IDT WinChip2 W2B
Processor
model		Frequency FSB Mult. L1 cache TDP CPU core voltage Socket Release datePart number(s)Introduction price
WinChip 2B-200200 MHz66 MT/s 364 KiB 6.3 W2.7—2.9 V3DFK200BTA
WinChip 2B-233200 MHz100 MT/s264 KiB6.3 W2.7—2.9 V
  • Super Socket 7
  • PPGA 296

WinChip 3 (0.25 μm)

Processor
model		Frequency FSB Mult. L1 cache TDP CPU core voltage Socket Release datePart number(s)Introduction price
WinChip 3-233200 MHz66 MT/s 3128 KiB  ? W2.7—2.9 V
WinChip 3-266233 MHz66 MT/s3.5128 KiB8.4 W2.7—2.9 V
  • Socket 7
  • Super Socket 7
  • CPGA 296
Samples onlyFK233GDA
WinChip 3-300233 MHz100 MT/s2.33128 KiB8.4 W2.7—2.9 V
  • Super Socket 7
  • CPGA 296
Samples onlyFK300GDA
WinChip 3-300266 MHz66 MT/s4128 KiB9.3 W2.7—2.9 V
  • Socket 7
  • Super Socket 7
  • CPGA 296
WinChip 3-333250 MHz100 MT/s2.5128 KiB8.8 W2.7—2.9 V
  • Super Socket 7
  • CPGA 296
WinChip 3-333266 MHz100 MT/s2.66128 KiB9.3 W2.7—2.9 V
  • Super Socket 7
  • CPGA 296

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athlon</span> Brand of microprocessors by AMD

Athlon is the brand name applied to a series of x86-compatible microprocessors designed and manufactured by AMD. The original Athlon was the first seventh-generation x86 processor and the first desktop processor to reach speeds of one gigahertz (GHz). It made its debut as AMD's high-end processor brand on June 23, 1999. Over the years AMD has used the Athlon name with the 64-bit Athlon 64 architecture, the Athlon II, and Accelerated Processing Unit (APU) chips targeting the Socket AM1 desktop SoC architecture, and Socket AM4 Zen (microarchitecture). The modern Zen-based Athlon with a Radeon Graphics processor was introduced in 2019 as AMD's highest-performance entry-level processor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AMD K6</span> Computer microprocessor

The K6 microprocessor was launched by AMD in 1997. The main advantage of this particular microprocessor is that it was designed to fit into existing desktop designs for Pentium-branded CPUs. It was marketed as a product that could perform as well as its Intel Pentium II equivalent but at a significantly lower price. The K6 had a considerable impact on the PC market and presented Intel with serious competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pentium (original)</span> Intel microprocessor

The Pentium is a x86 microprocessor introduced by Intel on March 22, 1993. It is the first CPU using the Pentium brand. Considered the fifth generation in the 8086 compatible line of processors, its implementation and microarchitecture was internally called P5.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duron</span> Series of CPUs by AMD

Duron is a line of budget x86-compatible microprocessors manufactured by AMD and released on June 19, 2000. Duron was intended to be a lower-cost offering to complement AMD's then mainstream performance Athlon processor line, and it also competed with rival chipmaker Intel's Pentium III and Celeron processor offerings. The Duron brand name was retired in 2004, succeeded by the AMD's Sempron line of processors as their budget offering.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyrix</span> American microprocessor developer

Cyrix Corporation was a microprocessor developer that was founded in 1988 in Richardson, Texas, as a specialist supplier of floating point units for 286 and 386 microprocessors. The company was founded by Tom Brightman and Jerry Rogers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athlon 64</span> Series of CPUs by AMD

The Athlon 64 is a ninth-generation, AMD64-architecture microprocessor produced by Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), released on September 23, 2003. It is the third processor to bear the name Athlon, and the immediate successor to the Athlon XP. The Athlon 64 was the second processor to implement the AMD64 architecture and the first 64-bit processor targeted at the average consumer. Variants of the Athlon 64 have been produced for Socket 754, Socket 939, Socket 940, and Socket AM2. It was AMD's primary consumer CPU, and primarily competed with Intel's Pentium 4, especially the Prescott and Cedar Mill core revisions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AMD K6-III</span> Microprocessor series by AMD

The K6-III was an x86 microprocessor line manufactured by AMD that launched on February 22, 1999. The launch consisted of both 400 and 450 MHz models and was based on the preceding K6-2 architecture. Its improved 256 KB on-chip L2 cache gave it significant improvements in system performance over its predecessor the K6-2. The K6-III was the last processor officially released for desktop Socket 7 systems, however later mobile K6-III+ and K6-2+ processors could be run unofficially in certain socket 7 motherboards if an updated BIOS was made available for a given board. The Pentium III processor from Intel launched 6 days later.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sempron</span> Marketing name by AMD

Sempron has been the marketing name used by AMD for several different budget desktop CPUs, using several different technologies and CPU socket formats. The Sempron replaced the AMD Duron processor and competed against Intel's Celeron series of processors. AMD coined the name from the Latin semper, which means "always", to suggest the Sempron is suitable for "daily use, practical, and part of everyday life". The last Semprons were launched in April 2014. The brand was retired with the launch of the AMD A-Series APUs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geode (processor)</span> Series of x86-compatible processor

Geode was a series of x86-compatible system-on-a-chip (SoC) microprocessors and I/O companions produced by AMD, targeted at the embedded computing market.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athlon 64 X2</span> Series of CPUs by AMD

The Athlon 64 X2 is the first native dual-core desktop central processing unit (CPU) designed by Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). It was designed from scratch as native dual-core by using an already multi-CPU enabled Athlon 64, joining it with another functional core on one die, and connecting both via a shared dual-channel memory controller/north bridge and additional control logic. The initial versions are based on the E stepping model of the Athlon 64 and, depending on the model, have either 512 or 1024 KB of L2 cache per core. The Athlon 64 X2 can decode instructions for Streaming SIMD Extensions 3 (SSE3), except those few specific to Intel's architecture. The first Athlon 64 X2 CPUs were released in May 2005, in the same month as Intel's first dual-core processor, the Pentium D.

The AMD Family 10h, or K10, is a microprocessor microarchitecture by AMD based on the K8 microarchitecture. The first third-generation Opteron products for servers were launched on September 10, 2007, with the Phenom processors for desktops following and launching on November 11, 2007 as the immediate successors to the K8 series of processors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyrix III</span> 2000 line of x86-compatible microprocessors

Cyrix III is an x86-compatible Socket 370 CPU. VIA Technologies launched the processor in February 2000. VIA had purchased both Centaur Technology and Cyrix. Cyrix III was to be based upon a core from one of the two companies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phenom II</span> Family of AMD multi-core 45 nm processors

Phenom II is a family of AMD's multi-core 45 nm processors using the AMD K10 microarchitecture, succeeding the original Phenom. Advanced Micro Devices released the Socket AM2+ version of Phenom II in December 2008, while Socket AM3 versions with DDR3 support, along with an initial batch of triple- and quad-core processors were released on February 9, 2009. Dual-processor systems require Socket F+ for the Quad FX platform. The next-generation Phenom II X6 was released on April 27, 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athlon II</span> Family of central processing unit models

Athlon II is a family of AMD multi-core 45 nm central processing units, which is aimed at the budget to mid-range market and is a complementary product lineup to the Phenom II.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "PROCESSOR Version A Data Sheet" (PDF). January 1999. Archived from the original on March 22, 2003. Retrieved 2 November 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ↑ Hare, Chris. "Processor Speed Settings". Archived from the original on 28 April 2007. Retrieved 24 April 2007.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "IA-32 implementation: Centaur WinChip 2". SandPile.org. Archived from the original on 27 April 2007. Retrieved 29 April 2007.
  4. ↑ Pabst, Thomas (9 October 1997). "The IDT WinChip C6 CPU". Tom's Hardware. Retrieved 29 April 2007.
  5. ↑ Witheiler, Matthew (5 January 2001). "The New VIA Cyrix III: The Worlds First 0.15 Micron x86 CPU". AnandTech. Retrieved 29 April 2007.
  6. 1 2 3 "IA-32 implementation: Centaur WinChip". Sandpile. Retrieved 13 May 2007.
  7. 1 2 3 "PROCESSOR Data Sheet for WinChip 2 version B" (PDF). April 1999. Archived from the original on October 13, 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. 1 2 3 "PROCESSOR Data Sheet" (PDF). April 1999. Archived from the original on June 14, 2001. Retrieved 2 November 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.