PC Fundamentals
PC Manufacturers
Objectives:
To introduce the components of a modern desktop PC and examine the advances in processor technology
Identify the components of a modern desktop PC
Outline the role of the central processing unit (CPU) and printed circuit cards
Identify the built-in connectors and input/output (I/O) slots on a typical motherboard
Describe the function of the power supply unit
List the members of Intel's processor family
Distinguish between the Pentium, Pentium II, Celeron, Pentium III, and Pentium 4 processors
Identify the other CPU manufacturers in the PC market
Lesson:
Although the PC processor market has been largely dominated by Intel, there are several
alternative suppliers.In fact, an entire "clone" processor market has sprung up over the past few years.
Successful clone CPU manufacturers concentrated on making cheaper and faster versions
of Intel design-equivalent chips.The detail and functionality of these chips differed little from Intel's original
design.And yet these clone CPUs were sufficiently different to avoid breaching any copyright
or patent agreements.Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) began its business as a second-source supplier of Intel's
x86 chips.Many of AMD's CPU designs are closely related to members of Intel's x86 family,
with some improvements in chip design and performance.AMD's first serious rival to the Pentium was called the AMD-K5.
The AMD-K5 is essentially a clone of the original Pentium.
It plugs into an identical socket and can be used in the same motherboards.
In order to support the AMD-K5, it may be necessary to upgrade your motherboard
BIOS.The K5 boasts a level of performance that is fully comparable to a Pentium of the
same speed rating.AMD introduced the AMD-K6 in 1996.
The K6 differs significantly in design from any Intel chip.
AMD claims that the K6 offers substantial performance benefits over Intel's Pentium
Pro and Pentium II.Just like the K5, AMD's K6 uses a socket 7 connector on the motherboard.
By building from the socket 7 motherboard, AMD could target manufacturers who didn't
offer the new single-edged cartridge (SEC) motherboard associated with the Pentium
II.The SEC cartridge is a distinguishing feature of the Pentium II processor - it's
a printed circuit board unit that houses both the CPU and L2 cache.The SEC cartridge for the Pentium II processor does not fit into the old socket
7 motherboard.Instead, it fits into a slot 1 socket on an entirely redesigned motherboard.
Using AMD technology, Pentium owners could achieve the equivalent of Pentium II
performance by simply installing the K6 chip in place of their old Pentium chip.AMD developed a version of the K6 chip called the K6-II.
Running 100 MHz on the system bus, it incorporates two levels of cache.
In the CPU of the K6-II, you find both an L1 and an L2 cache.
The in-chip L1 cache is 64KB in size and it runs at processor speed.
The L2 cache has a 1MB capacity and it can be found on the motherboard.
Cyrix is a competitor in the processor market.
Cyrix developed a product called the Cyrix 6x86 that equates to the Pentium Pro.
The Cyrix 6x86MX is comparable to the Pentium II.
Both these Cyrix processors are designed to fit the ordinary socket 7 motherboard.
While the design of Cyrix chips is significantly different from Intel and AMD chips,
their performance is comparable.Both Cyrix and AMD have incorporated MMX technology into their processor design.
But for the end-user, there should be little to distinguish the chips other than
their price.