Am386
Sign in to saveThe Am386 CPU is a 100%-compatible clone of the Intel 80386 design released by AMD in March 1991. It sold millions of units, positioning AMD as a legitimate competitor to Intel, rather than being merely a second source for x86 CPUs (then termed 8086-family).
Key facts
- CPU.numcores
- 1
- CPU.code
- 23936
- CPU.name
- Am386
- CPU.image
- Am386DX-40.jpg
- CPU.image_size
- 200px
- CPU.caption
- An AMD 80386DX-40 in a 132-pin PQFP, soldered onboard
- CPU.produced start
- 1991
- CPU.slowest
- 20
- CPU.slow unit
- MHz
- CPU.fastest
- 40
- CPU.fast unit
- MHz
- CPU.fsb slowest
- 20
- CPU.fsb slow unit
- MHz
- CPU.fsb fastest
- 40
- CPU.fsb fast unit
- MHz
- CPU.size from
- 1.5 μm
- CPU.size to
- 0.8 μm
- CPU.soldby
- AMD
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
10 sectionsContents
- History and design
- Am386DX data
- Am386DE data
- AM386 SX
- Am386SX data
- Am386SE data
- Embedded Am386 processors
- i387 coprocessor
- References
- External links
The Am386 CPU is a 100%-compatible clone of the Intel 80386 design released by AMD in March 1991. It sold millions of units, positioning AMD as a legitimate competitor to Intel, rather than being merely a second source for x86 CPUs (then termed 8086-family).
==History and design== thumb|Wafer of an Am386 processor with Intel copyright notice right|thumb|Die (integrated circuit)|Die of AMD Am386DX While the AM386 CPU was essentially ready to be released prior to 1991, Intel kept it tied up in court. Intel learned of the Am386 when both companies hired employees with the same name who coincidentally stayed at the same hotel, which accidentally forwarded a package for AMD to Intel's employee. AMD had previously been a second-source manufacturer of Intel's Intel 8086, Intel 80186 and Intel 80286 designs, and AMD's interpretation of the contract, made up in 1982, was that it covered all derivatives of them. Intel, however, claimed that the contract only covered the 80286 and prior processors and forbade AMD the right to manufacture 80386 CPUs in 1987. After a few years in the courtrooms, AMD finally won the case and the right to sell their Am386 in March 1991. This also paved the way for competition in the 80386-compatible 32-bit CPU market and so lowered the cost of owning a PC.