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ALi Announces Support for AMD AM5X86 and Cyrix 5x86 CPUs in its FINALi 486 Chip Set

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The introduction of the FINALi 486 chip set by ALi (Acer Laboratories Inc.) has marked a significant milestone in the development of lower-cost home PC platforms that maintain performance parity with more expensive Pentium-based PCs. This announcement continues the movement toward lower-cost home PC platforms that maintain performance parity with more expensive Pentium-based PCs. By supporting the new AMD AM5X86 and Cyrix 5x86 CPUs, ALi engineers have enabled system manufacturers to create high-performance, cost-effective solutions for multimedia home PC systems.

Key Takeaways:

  • ALi's FINALi 486 chip set is designed to support the new AMD AM5X86 and Cyrix 5x86 CPUs, providing a high-performance, cost-effective solution for multimedia home PC systems.
  • The combination of the FINALi 486 and the 133 MHz AMD AM5X86 or 100/120 MHz Cyrix 5x86 will provide Pentium-class performance at a 486 price.
  • ALi engineers had to design-in support for Linear Address Mode, a key element in the design of 5x86 CPUs, to realize full performance from the new 5x86 class CPUs.
  • The FINALi 486 chip set provides high PCI throughput and allows utilization of higher performance memories including EDO DRAM and Burst SRAM.
  • FINALi 486 is a two-chip core logic solution which includes the M1487 and M1489, offering integrated IDE, integrated keyboard controller, integrated Real Time Clock (RTC), and direct PCI interface.
  • Dr. S.J. Lee, ALi Vice President of Technology, noted that the high performance of the FINALi 486, along with either the AMD AM5X86 or Cyrix 5x86, provides an excellent alternative for low-cost, multimedia platforms.

Statistics:

  • The price of the FINALi 486 chip set, including the M1487 and M1489, is $13.00 in volume quantities.
  • The M1489 is supplied in a 208-pin PQFP package, and the M1487 in a 160-pin PQFP.
  • ALi employs 203 people and will realize revenues of more than $80 million in 1995.
  • The company supports its products in the North American Market through its advance engineering center in San Jose, California.

Sources:

  • BUSINESS WIRE, "ALi (Acer Laboratories Inc.) Announces Support for New AMD AM5X86 and Cyrix 5x86 CPUs in Its Recently-Released FINALi 486 Chip Set," Nov. 13, 1995.
  • Acer Laboratories Inc. press release, "ALi Announces Support for AMD AM5X86 and Cyrix 5x86 CPUs in its FINALi 486 Chip Set," Nov. 13, 1995.

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