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Cyrix 6x86™ Processor
Frequently Asked Questions
General
Compatibility
Motherboard
Performance
Processor Voltages and Identification
Purchase and Support
Software and Systems
Thermal and Heatsink
General
- Q. What is the Cyrix 6x86™ processor?
- A. The sixth-generation 6x86 processor, formerly the M1, is a high-performance superscalar, superpipelined, x86 processor.
- Q. How does it differ from the Pentium® processor?
- A.
Most significant are the architectural differences which result in the
6x86 processor's superior performance gains. While both the 6x86 and
Pentium® processors are superscalar and contain an 80-bit floating
point unit and a 16-KByte primary cache, other architectural features
are found only on the 6x86. The 6x86 processor's integer and floating
point units are optimized for maximum instruction throughput by using
advanced architectural techniques including register renaming,
out-of-order completion, data dependency removal, branch prediction and
speculative execution. These design innovations eliminate many data
dependencies and resource conflicts to achieve high performance.
- Q. Can I use the Cyrix 6x86 processor as an upgrade for my 586 computer?
- A. Cyrix doesn't sell the 6x86 processor as an upgrade processor.
Compatibility
- Q. Is the 6x86 processor compatible with existing software?
- A. Yes. The 6x86 is compatible with x86 software and all popular x86 operating systems including Windows® 95,
Windows, Windows NT, OS/2, DOS, Solaris and UNIX. Additionally, the
6x86 processor has been certified Windows 95 compatible by Microsoft.
While we cannot test every x86 application available, the Software Compatibility List
is updated frequently to provide an index of hundreds of applications
and programs that have been tested on systems using the Cyrix 6x86
processor.
- Q. Is the Cyrix 6x86 processor certified for Windows 95?
 A.
Yes. Cyrix tested the 6x86 processor on hundreds of x86 software
applications to ensure compatibility with new and existing software.
Additionally, the 6x86 processor (up to and including the PR200+
processor performance class) has been certified Windows 95 compatible
by Microsoft. We're licensed by Microsoft to use the "Designed for
Windows 95" logo.
- Q. Can the 6x86 processor run 16-bit and 32-bit software?
- A. Yes. The 6x86 was designed to run existing 16-bit software as well as the latest 32-bit software.
Motherboards
- Q.Which motherboards work with the 6x86?
- A. Refer to the Cyrix recommended 6x86 motherboard list for information on Cyrix certified motherboards for all 6x86 performance classes.
- Q.What board MHz setting do I use for each P-rating?
- A.PR120+ = 50MHz CPU bus with a 2X clock (50/100MHz)
PR133+ = 55MHz CPU bus with a 2X clock (55/110MHz)
PR150+ = 60MHz CPU bus with a 2X clock (60/120MHz), same as Pentium-120
PR166+ = 66MHz CPU bus with a 2X clock (66/133MHz), same as Pentium-133
PR200+ = 75MHz CPU bus with a 2X clock (75/150MHz)
- Q.The motherboard has several voltage settings. Which one is right for the 6x86?
- A.It depends on which CPU you have. The markings on top of chip will indicate which voltage setting is appropriate.
- Q.How do I know my motherboard can support the 55/110 MHz 6x86-PR133?
- A.The board or documentation should have jumper settings defined for 55/110MHz. Refer to the Cyrix recommended 6x86 motherboard list for a complete list of platforms that support the PR133+.
- Q.I have found other motherboards that work with the 6x86 but are not on your recommended list. Why not?
- A.It
could be one of several things: the manufacturer has not given us a
sample, has not approved the listing, or it is going through testing
now, but has not completed the test suite. Check back -- the list is
updated several times a month.
Performance
- Q. What are the performance results for the 6x86 processor?
- A. We list full, competitive 6x86 performance results
for several industry benchmarks. The tests show that the 6x86 processor
outperforms higher-megahertz Pentium processors in each performance
class.
- Q. What is this new performance, or P-rating, system Cyrix is using?
- A.
The P-rating system was jointly developed by Cyrix, IBM
Microelectronics, SGS-Thomson Microelectronics, and Advanced Micro
Devices. The P-rating system allows end-users to base purchases on
relative PC performance levels rather than just the clock speed (MHz)
of the processor. The new evaluation system relates the results of
industry-standard benchmarks to what is achieved by an Intel Pentium
processor of a given frequency. For example, a processor with a PR150
rating would have performance comparable to a 150 MHz Pentium
processor, regardless of its actual clock speed.
- Q. Why was the P-rating developed?
- A.
Clock frequency (MHz), while important, is no longer an accurate or
consistent measure of CPU performance. Architectural differences
between processor designs add another variable to the equation. With
the P-rating in place, a PC buyer can easily evaluate all personal
computer processors for a given performance category -- without
scrutinizing the architectural merits of the different processors.
MicroDesign Resources (MDR) Labs conducted independent performance testing o[an error occurred while processing this directive]
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