
        Az INTEL 32-bites microprocessorcsald arhitekturlis vgigtkintse.
        Sorry about the bad fax scanning.
                                            By Dunkelzahn

        (Kicsit elszllt felette az id, de sebaj. Mostmr igazn nem akarom
        cskkenteni a cikkek szmt - John Zer)



   ͻ
                                                                            
            Intel's 32-Bit Microprocessor Architecture Overview             
                                                                            
   ͼ

        The Intel family of 32-bit microprocessors provides users with the
        widest choice of applications and software environments.  It runs all
        of today's most popular operating systems -- DOS*, UNIX*, NeXTstep*
        486, and OS/2*.  And it supports all the leading graphical user
        interfaces (GUIs), such as Windows* 3.0 and Windows NT*, Presentation
        Manager, X Windows, DESQview*, OSF/Motif*, SCO/UNIX and Open Desktop.

        Each of these operating environments bring new capability to the
        desktop. Object-oriented modular software, end-user programming tools,
        networked databases, and new data types such as full motion video
        require more and more processing power.  And portable systems require
        intelligent battery power management without sacrificing compatibility
        with desktop systems.

        The Intel architecture has evolved to meet the increasing computing
        requirements of these advanced applications.  The Intel486(TM) and
        Intel386(TM) SL microprocessors are the standard for running today's
        applications.

        Hundreds of hardware manufacturers are producing everything from
        palmtop computers to notebooks, laptops, desktops, and servers that are
        based on the Intel486 and Intel386 SL architectures.  Some systems
        feature handwriting and speech recognition, multimedia, and networked
        videoconferencing.

        With an installed base of over 75 million systems, the Intel
        architecture has attracted hundreds of thousands of software developers
        and resulted in the world's largest software base: worth more than $50
        billion.  The Intel architecture is an open computing standard, giving
        users the widest selection of hardware and software solutions.

        The 32-bit instruction set of the Intel computing architecture is well-
        suited for developing everything from traditional PC personal
        productivity applications to complex, mainframe-class applications.
        Most importantly, the Intel486 architecture can run all the software
        written for systems based on earlier Intel386, 80286 and 8088
        microprocessors.

        No other architecture provides access to as many applications,
        operating systems and GUIs.  No other architecture has as many
        developers creating new applications or manufacturers building systems.
        No other architecture offers as many distribution channels for systems
        and software, including mail-order, value-added-resellers (VAR), super
        stores, direct manufacturer sales, systems and LAN integrators,
        consumer electronics stores and department stores.

        There are currently six different implementations of the Intel
        architecture: the Intel386 SL microprocessor for portable computers;
        the Intel486 SX microprocessor for affordable and upgradable entry-
        level business workstation performance; and the Intel486 DX and
        Intel486 DX2 microprocessors for midrange and high performance business
        workstations, servers and even mainframe-class machines.  The mature
        Intel386 DX and Intel386 SX microprocessors are sold in low cost
        systems for the home market.

        Systems based on the Intel architecture also offer the best
        price/performance ratio, with a lower price per Million Instructions
        Per Second (MIPS) than traditional mainframes, minicomputers and
        technical workstations.

        MIS departments that standardize on the Intel architecture for all
        their computing needs streamline and reduce internal support
        requirements rather than fragmenting these efforts with multiple
        architectures.  Corporations that standardize on the Intel architecture
        are not only assured of access to today's best technology, but
        tomorrow's as well.  Because of the size and efficiency of the market,
        every good idea or technical breakthrough will eventually be available
        on the Intel architecture.

        Although they may not consider themselves power users, business people
        are demanding more from their computers.  Nearly every upgrade of every
        application adds more features, more code, and more demands on the
        processor.  Business computer users need the performance, graphics and
        networking capabilities once reserved for engineering workstations and
        minicomputer networks but without giving up their business software or
        compatibility with other computers in the office.


    INTEL486 DX MICROPROCESSOR

        Systems based on Intel486 microprocessors help people work together --
        in workgroups, local and enterprise wide networks, and other shared
        resource configurations.  These groups share more than printers.  They
        share databases and work assignments, editing and commenting on
        communal projects and communicating via electronic mail and computer-
        based facsimile.  Others are moving mission-critical applications, such
        as payroll, inventory management, and on-line transaction processing
        applications, from conventional mainframes and minicomputers to single
        or multiprocessor systems based on the Intel486 DX CPU.

        Coordinating and serving many users simultaneously demand substantial
        processing power and high throughput capability.  Achieving this
        performance requires more than a fast clock rate.  Using a RISC integer
        core, the Intel486 DX CPU can execute frequently used instructions in a
        single clock cycle.

        The Intel486 DX microprocessor integrates a significantly enhanced
        version of the Intel386 integer unit, an optimized Intel387(TM) DX Math
        CoProcessor (MCP), a cache controller, and 8 kbytes of cache memory.
        The CPU and the built-in MCP can communicate via wider internal data
        bases, share on-chip caching, and eliminate I/O cycles necessary for
        passing data between the CPU and an external device.

        The result: four times more performance than an Intel386 DX CPU with an
        external Intel387 DX MCP.



    INTEL486 DX2 MICROPROCESSOR

        The Intel486 DX2 microprocessor is the second generation of the
        Intel486 microprocessor family.  Designed to run internally at 50 MHz,
        the Intel486 DX2 processor features an efficient and cost effective
        system interface to provide high performance at midrange prices.  The
        Intel486 DX2 makes the power of 50 MHz technology affordable for
        business users.

        The Intel486 DX2 CPU is functionally identical to the first generation
        Intel486 DX microprocessor.  It incorporates a CPU, FPU, an 8 Kbyte
        cache and a memory management unit.  In addition, the Intel486 DX2
        processor also incorporates new Intel speed doubler technology.  With
        this technology, the microprocessor runs at 50 MHz while it interfaces
        with mature 25 MHz system technology.  This allows computer
        manufacturers to combine the high performance of the 50 MHz core with
        the low cost and ease of design of 25 MHz systems.  Later this year,
        Intel will introduce a 66 MHz Intel486 DX2 with a 33 MHz bus.


    INTEL486 SX MICROPROCESSOR

        The Intel486 SX microprocessor is the low-cost entry to powerful
        Intel486 CPU based computing for users who want Intel486 CPU based
        system performance at an Intel386 CPU based system price.  It comes
        complete with on-chip cache, memory management, and the same one-clock-
        per-instruction RISC integer core as the Intel486 DX microprocessor.

        An important distinction is that Intel486 SX CPU based systems are
        upgradable with an OverDrive(TM) performance upgrade socket.  Today,
        the performance of Intel486 SX CPU based systems can be enhanced with
        an Intel487(TM) SX Math CoProcessor.  It improves floating point
        performance on math-intensive applications, such as spreadsheets,
        graphics and Computer Aided Design (CAD) applications.

        Later this year, Intel will introduce a new family of powerful upgrades
        for Intel486 CPU based systems, called OverDrive processors, based on
        the same speed doubling technology of the Intel486 DX2 microprocessors.
        OverDrive processors will improve overall system performance by up to
        70%.  The upgrade increases both integer and floating point
        performance, providing a visible performance boost for all
        applications.  OverDrive processors will be sold through retail
        channels, easy to install and completely compatible with all of today's
        software.


    INTEL386 SL MICROPROCESSOR

        Portable PC users demand desktop performance and compatibility without
        compromising long battery operation, small size, or low weight.

        The Intel386 SL CPU includes a unique architecture extension called
        system management mode (SMM), that will be included in future Intel
        microprocessors.   In the Intel386 SL CPU, SMM is used to manage system
        power consumption, without affecting performance or software
        compatibility, offering significantly more battery life than other
        solutions.  This feature also supports "suspend and resume" in any
        operating mode, including a Windows environment.

        The Intel386 SL microprocessor has integrated the cache, bus and memory
        controllers on the CPU which reduces the size of motherboards.  This
        gives system manufacturers the space to add new features or reduce
        system weight and size.


    INTEL386 DX AND SX MICROPROCESSORS

        The mature Intel386 DX and Intel386 SX CPUs are sold in low cost
        systems by mass merchandisers for the home market.

        The Intel386 DX microprocessor has been a standard for 32-bit systems
        since its introduction in 1985.  This was the first Intel
        microprocessor to feature multitasking, a full 32-bit architecture, and
        vastly improved memory management.  It was the last Intel processor
        designed with purely CISC technology.

        The standard for entry-level systems is the Intel386 SX microprocessor.
        Much as the Intel486 SX microprocessor is the gateway to higher
        performance computing, this low-cost processor is a practical entry-
        point to 32-bit computing.

    ARCHITECTURE OVERVIEW AT A GLANCE

        Intel486 DX Microprocessor 50 MHz
            Introduced:                June 24, 1991
            Clock Speed:               50 MHz
            Dhrystone V1.1 MIPS:       40.7
            SPEC Integer Rating:       27.9
            Internal Bus:              32-bit
            External Bus:              32-bit
            Transistors:               1.2 Million
            Circuit Line Size:         0.8 Micron
            Math Coprocessor Support:  On chip
            Typical Applications:      Servers and Multiprocessing


        Intel486 DX Microprocessor
            Introduced:                April 10, 1989
            Clock Speeds:              25, 33 MHz
            Dhrystone V1.1 MIPS:       33 MHz:  27
                                       25 MHz:  20
            SPEC Integer Rating:       33 MHz:  18.2
                                       25 MHz:  13.3
            Internal Bus:              32-bit
            External Bus:              32-bit
            Transistors:               1.2 Million
            Circuit Line Size:         1 Micron
            Math Coprocessor Support:  On chip
            Typical Applications:      High Performance Desktops and Servers

        Intel486 DX2 Microprocessor
            Introduced:                March 3, 1992 (50 MHz)
            Clock Speeds:              50 MHz   (66 MHz Available 2H92)
            Dhrystone V1.1 MIPS:       50 MHz:  40.5
            SPEC Integer Rating:       50 MHz:  25.4
            Internal Bus:              32-bit
            External Bus:              32-bit
            Internal Bus Speed:        66, 50 MHz
            External Bus Speed:        33, 25 MHz
            Transistors:               1.1 Million
            Circuit Line Size:         0.8 Micron
            Math Coprocessor Support:  On chip
            Typical Application:       Midrange and High Performance Desktops,
                                       Servers


        Intel486 SX Microprocessor
            Introduced:                April 22, 1991
            Clock Speeds:              16, 20, 25 MHz
            Dhrystone V1.1 MIPS:       25 MHz:  20
                                       20 MHz:  17
                                       16 MHz:  13
            Internal Bus:              32-bit
            External Bus:              32-bit
            Transistors:               1,185,000
            Circuit Line Size:         1 Micron
            Math Coprocessor Support:  Intel487(TM) Math CoProcessor
            Typical Application:       Entry Level Desktops


        Intel386 SL Microprocessor
            Introduced:                October 15, 1990
            Clock Speeds:              20, 25 MHz
            Dhrystone V1.1 MIPS:       25 MHz:  6
                                       20 MHz:  5
            Internal Bus:              32-bit
            External Bus:              16-bit
            Transistors:               855,000
            Circuit Line Size:         1 Micron
            Math Coprocessor Support:  Intel387(TM) Math CoProcessor
            Power Management:          On-Chip
            Typical Application:       Notebooks, Notepads

        Intel386 DX Microprocessor
            Introduced:                October 17, 1985
            Clock Speeds:              16, 20, 25, 33 MHz
            Dhrystone V1.1 MIPS:       33 MHz:  11
                                       25 MHz:   9
                                       20 MHz:   7
                                       16 MHz:   5
            Internal Bus:              32-bit
            External Bus:              32-bit
            Transistors:               275,000
            Circuit Line Size:         1 Micron (Introduced at 1.5)
            Math Coprocessor Support:  Intel387(TM) Math CoProcessor
            Typical Application:       Low Cost Desktops

        Intel386 SX Microprocessor
            Introduced:                June 18, 1988?
            Clock Speed:               20, 16 MHz
            Dhrystone V1.1 MIPS:       20 MHz:  4
                                       16 MHz:  3
            Internal Bus:              32-bit
            External Bus:              16-bit
            Transistors:               275,000
            Circuit Line Size:         1 Micron
            Math Coprocessor Support:  Intel387(TM) Math CoProcessor
            Power Management:          Specialized Software Drivers
            Typical Application:       Low Cost, Entry Level Desktops and
                                       Portables




        *Intel486, Intel386, Intel487 and Intel387 are trademarks of Intel.
        OS/2 and Presentation Manager are trademarks of IBM Corp.  NeXTstep is
        registered trademark of NeXT Computer, Inc.  DESQview is a trademark of
        Quarterdeck Office Systems. Windows and Windows NT are trademarks of
        Microsoft Corp.  OSF/Motif is a trademark of The Open Software
        Foundation.  OPEN LOOK and UNIX are registered trademarks of UNIX
        System Laboratories.




   

   March 20, 1992            Intel FaxBACK # 9013                       Page 6

