Last Week's News

August 13, 1999

TWO MORE TAIWANESE MOTHERBOARDS FOR ATHLON?

I have received reports from my trusted sources that two Taiwanese motherboard makers are readying their own mobos for Athlon. These are the Elite Group and the Redfox motherboard makers. However, the two Taiwanese firms have not yet officially announced their own mobos for Athlon.

Redfox has gained immense popularity here in the Philippines particularly their Super 7 motherboards due to its sweet price. But don't think for a moment that Redfox mobos perform in direct proportion to its price coz they too can give more expensive mobo's a run for their money in speed.

Like Redfox, Elite too has found many supporters as it introduced the first real Super 7 motherboard here in the Philipines with their P5SDB+, although it is priced a little higher than those from Redfox.

TRIDENT TO SUPPORT ATHLON

Trident Microsystems has announced support for AMD Athlon and confirmed it is developing an integrated 3D graphic-core logic chips for AMD's new processor. Here's a bit of the Trident statement:

Santa Clara, California. August 11, 1999: Trident Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ : TRID) today confirmed that the company is developing Integrated 3D Graphics/Core-logic devices for the AMD Athlon™ microprocessor for first half 2000.The new line of Integrated 3D Graphics/Core-logic chips for the AMD Athlon processor will expand Trident’s leadership in the integrated architectures and broaden Trident’s support for AMD CPUs. The recently announced CyberBlade i7 entering OEM production is aimed primarily at the Mobile AMD-K6®-2 processor-based notebook market, reflecting the company’s recent emphasis on the portable market.

August 11, 1999

Whew! there seems to be a deluge of info on the Athlon following its lauch and the lifting of the NDA's. Below are just some of the recent development concerning the new speed king in the x86 hill.

Eat your heart out Intel, AMD launches Athlon 650 processor!

Although Intel has tried to soften the impact of the Athlon launching by introducing the Pentium III 600 earlier, AMD now countered by announcing the release of the Athlon 650 to further sew up its claim of having the world's fastest processor.

I have ripped the AMD release and if you want more details, you can read it here.

AMD official benchmarks

I have also received in my e-mail the official AMD benchmarks results for the Athlon and I have devoted a page here for those who want to know the details.

Microsoft softwares to support Athlon

Yes, the Great Stan--as THE REGISTER would like to call the giant software firm, has announced officially its support for the Athlon line of processors. Here are a few bits from the MS press release:

REDMOND, Wash. - Aug. 9, 1999 - Microsoft Corp. today announced that a broad range of Microsoft® products achieve new levels of performance on systems powered by the new Athlon processor from Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD). Microsoft products that run faster on the AMD Athlon platform include the Windows® 98 and Windows NT® 4.0 operating systems, as well as other Windows technologies such as the DirectX® API. Today leading applications such as Windows Media™ technologies are optimized to achieve high levels of performance with the AMD Athlon processor, and Microsoft is committed to ensuring that application developers will be able to capitalize on the new AMD Athlon processor. In addition, forthcoming products such as Windows 2000 are poised to take ultimate advantage of the new chip.

VIA ANNOUNCES KX133 CHIPSET FOR AMD ATHLONS

With Athlon's introduction, AMD has to make its own Irongate chipset to support their new product. Still AMD managed to convince independent chipmakers to produce their own version of chipsets for Athlons. VIA, which has a history of good relations with AMD has finally announced its chipset for the present king of x86 processors. Here are a few snips from the VIA statement:

TAIPEI, Taiwan, Aug. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- With today's introduction of the VIA Apollo KX133(TM) core logic chipset, VIA Technologies announces support and endorsement for the AMD Athlon(TM) processor. VIA's most highly advanced chipset architecture to date, the VIA Apollo KX133 delivers to AMD Athlon processor-based platforms the advanced performance benefits of a 200MHz front-side bus, PC133 memory support, AGP 4x and ATA-66.

ALi IS NOT FAR BEHIND

Acer Labs Inc. or ALi, the only other chipset maker apart from VIA and SIS to support the Super 7 architecture of the K6-x line of processors, has also formally announced its chipset support for the Athlon:

SAN JOSE, Calif.--Aug. 9, 1999--Acer Laboratories, Inc. (ALi) announced today its plans for a Core Logic Chip Set to support the new AMD Athlon(TM) processor.

The AMD Athlon processor, in combination with this Chip Set from ALi, will bring to the computing enthusiast's and business user's desktop a hardware platform that is unparalleled in computing capabilities.

ALi's Chip Set for the AMD Athlon processor will be a highly integrated solution providing full performance for the AMD Athlon processor at a very competitive price. This product will combine ALi's expertise in Northbridge technology and architecture with its highly integrated Southbridge family to provide exceptional performance to desktop systems. Included in the chipset will be support for PC-133, DDR, 4XAGP, and UDMA 66/100.

COMPAQ LAUNCHES ATHLON-POWERED PRESARIO 5861

Compaq, one of the OEMS who have stood by AMD, has announced the lauch of its Athlon-powered Presario 5861. Here's a glimpse:

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 9, 1999-- Offering consumers the fastest and latest computer technologies, Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE:CPQ - news) today unveiled the Presario 5861 Internet desktop PC, which features the new AMD Athlon processor. The first model to be announced in the Presario 5800 Series, the Presario 5861 will be available within 30 days through Compaq's direct programs -- the ``Built For You'' kiosk program at U.S. retail locations, on the Web at www.compaq.com or by calling 1-800-888-0220.

Like all Presario Internet PCs, the Presario 5861 comes standard with key technologies that make accessing and experiencing the best of the Web as seamless and enjoyable as possible. This includes a choice of three Internet access services, including NetZero(1), the leading ISP in free advertiser-based access; Compaq.NET(2), Compaq's own Internet service; or AOL, the leading brand in consumer Internet service. With NetZero, consumers receive free unlimited Internet access immediately, without any monthly fees or contracts. With either Compaq.NET or AOL, the customer receives a 100-hour trial of free Internet access.

The Presario 5861 comes equipped with an AMD Athlon 600-MHz processor, 128 MB of memory, 13 GB(3) 7200 RPM hard drive and the latest in graphics and audio technologies, such as the 3DfxVoodoo3 3500 graphics card, which provides the ultimate resolution for realistic multimedia and gaming applications.

August 10, 1999

Yes, Pinoys would have Athlons too!

I had just covered an AMD press briefing last Thursday where they announced shipment of the 500, 550 and 600 MHz Athlon. (They had me sign an NDA too, but only until today.)

Official benchmarks were released showing how Athlons have made Pentium III 550 eat dust in every benchmark. These benchmarks are probably available at the AMD site now.

But what is exciting--at least for me--is that AMD reps said they have shipped Athlons to OEMS in Asia. But is there an AMD-affiliated OEM in the Philippines? I knew AMD has an exclusive distributor here in RP and that's the Asiantech Corporation. But OEM? My sources say there is! I can probably supply a name in a few days, after the expiration of these damn NDA's.

But right now, I'm itching to get my hands on an Athlon system. Who knows, I might even score some benchmarks later.

Elite 2-in1 Motherboard Review