Chronology of Microprocessors

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References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2017 April 29.


1998

January
  • IBM announces the 275 MHz PowerPC 750 processor. [1445.32]
January 26
  • Intel releases the 333 MHz Pentium II processor with MMX instructions, with a 66 MHz bus. It incorporates 0.25 micron CMOS manufacturing process. It is packaged in a Single Edge Contact cartridge for the Slot 1 interface. It contains 512 kB of Level 2 cache, operating at 167 MHz. Code-name during development was Deschutes. Price is US$722 in 1000 chip quantities. [29.24] [798.29] [946.54]
(month unknown)
  • Digital Equipment announces it plans to release a 1 GHz Alpha 21264 processor in two years. [947.35]
  • Intel announces MMX2, with 70 new processor instructions that perform one operation simultaneously on multiple floating point data items. [952.46]
  • Cyrix renames the 6x86MX processor as the MII. [1233.136]
February
  • IBM announces new PowerPC 750 processors created using a 0.20-micron process. [1445.32]
April 2
  • Intel introduces the Mobile Pentium II processor, in speeds of 233 and 266 MHz. It features 66 MHz memory bus, and a bus to the Level 2 cache at half the processor clock speed. Code-name during development was Mobile Deschutes. [1110.45] [1639.142]
April
  • Intel releases the 350 and 400 MHz Pentium II processors, with 100 MHz memory bus interface. They incorporate 7.5 million transistors in 0.25 micron process. The 400 MHz version performs at 832 MIPS. [798.29] [839.9] [940.106] [943] [1124.35] [1233.131]
April 15
  • Intel announces the 266 MHz Celeron processor with 32 kB Level 1 cache. The Celeron is a Pentium II processor with no secondary cache. Name of the processor was chosen with help from Lexicon Branding, Inc. Code-name during development was Covington. [843.30] [942.57] [974.105] [1110.9] [1124.107] [1639.28]
May
  • Advanced Micro Devices launches the 300 MHz AMD K6 processor with 3DNow technology and 100 MHz bus. [940.106]
  • IDT releases the WinChip 2 processor, with 3DNow multimedia technology. [1195.44]
May 26
  • Advanced Micro Devices releases the K6-2 processor, featuring 266, 300, or 333 MHz speed, 100 MHz bus and cache, 3DNow! instructions, and incorporating 9.3 million transistors. [974.105] [1233.133] [1639.28] (June [2228.48])
June 29
  • Intel announces the 400 MHz Pentium II Xeon processor. It incorporates a dedicated 400 MHz bus between the processor and the secondary cache chips with up to 2 MB memory. [799.35] [168.68] [1639.28]
July
  • Market share of PC processors: Advanced Micro Devices 5%. [1233.132]
August
  • Intel releases the 450 MHz Pentium II processor. [1233.131]
August 24
  • Intel releases the 300 MHz and 333 MHz Celeron processors with 128 kB Level 2 cache. Code-name during development was Mendocino. The 153.9 mm2 die incorporates 19 million transistors in a 0.25-micron process. Prices are US$149 and US$192 in 1000-unit quantities. [843.30] [974.104] [159.25] [1124.107] [1178.76] [1559] [1640.10]
August 27
  • Advanced Micro Devices releases the 350 MHz K6-2 processor. Price is US$317 in 1000-unit quantities. [1559]
September 1
  • IBM begins shipping 400 MHz PowerPC 740 and 750 processors. They involve a 0.22-micron manufacturing process with copper traces. Price for the PowerPC 750 is US$605 in quantities of 1000. [1559]
September 16
  • Intel releases a low-power 266 MHz Pentium MMX processor designed for portable computers. [1559]
September 22
  • Advanced Micro Devices releases the 300 MHz K6 processor. Price is US$229 each in volume quantities. [1559]
September
  • Microprocessor market share among < US$1000 desktop PCs: AMD K6-2: 68%, Intel Celeron: 16%, Cyrix MII: 16%. [893.10]
September 25
  • National Semiconductor announces it will terminate its processor manufacturing agreement with IBM by the end of the year. As a result, IBM will lose access to Cyrix 6X86 designs, compatible with Intel x86 processors. [1559]
October 13
  • At the Microprocessor Forum, Advanced Micro Devices gives details of its K7 processor. Initial speed will be 500 MHz, with 200 MHz system bus, multiprocessing capability, and 512 kB to 8 MB secondary cache. [1559]
October 14
  • At the Microprocessor Forum, Intel gives more details of its 64-bit processor code-named Merced. It features new instruction set, new cache memory architecture, three-level cache hierarchy, new floating-point unit, A release date of mid-2000 is the current target. [1559]
October
  • Hewlett-Packard introduces the PA-RISC 8500 processor. [1559]
November 2
  • Sun Microsystems releases the 400 MHz UltraSparc II and 360 MHz UltraSparc IIi processors. Prices are US$4249 and US$1400 in volume. [1559]
November 5
  • Fujitsu announces it will release a line of computers using its own 64-bit Sparc processor, called Sparc64-GP. The processor incorporates 17.6 million transistors, and will be availble initially at speeds of 250 and 275 MHz. [1559]
November 8
  • Intel begins airing a commercial on American television entitled "Homer's Smarter Brain", featuring Homer Simpson of The Simpsons, who has his brain replaced by a Pentium II processor, turning him into a professor. [1559]
November
  • Market share of PC processors: Advanced Micro Devices 21%. [1233.132]
November 16
  • Advanced Micro Devices releases the AMD K6-2 processor at speeds of 366, 380, and 400 MHz. Bus speeds are 66, 95, and 100 MHz respectively, and volume prices are US$187, US$213, and US$283. [938.74] [1559]
(month unknown)
  • Motorola officially introduces the G4 processor. It features AltiVec technology (allowing calculations performed on up to 16 data elements simultaneously), multiprocessor capability. Speed should be 400 MHz when it ships in mid-1999. Code-name of the processor is Apollo. [1078] [1872.20]
October-December
  • Intel-compatible microprocessor market share during October to December: Intel 76%. [1444.9]
Year
  • Market share of personal computer processors during the year: Advanced Micro Devices 12%. [1752.116]

1999

January 4
  • Intel releases 366 and 400 MHz Celeron processors, priced at US$123 and US$158 each, respectively, in 1000-unit quantities. [1233.131] [1559]
January 7
  • Intel confirms that its next-generation processor, code-named Katmai, will be called the Pentium III. [1559]
January 13
  • Advanced Micro Devices introduces the low-power K6-2 processors, designed for notebook use. They include 3DNow technology, and a 100 MHz processor bus. Speeds and prices are 266 MHz (US$106), 300 MHz (US$187), and 333 MHz (US$299) each in quantities of 1,000. [843.30] [871.98] [1559]
January
  • Advanced Micro Devices launches the 400 MHz AMD K6-2 processor with 3DNow technology. [937.32]
January 25
  • Intel announces the new mobile Pentium II processors, with integrated 256 kB L2 cache. Code-name during development was Dixon. Speeds are 300, 333, and 366 MHz. [871.41] [1265.4] [1559]
  • Intel announces the 266 to 300 MHz mobile Celeron processors for notebook computers, with integrated Level 2 cache. [871.98] [1265.4] [1559]
February 15
  • The International Solid-State Circuits Conference is held in San Francisco, California, over three days Toshiba and Sony Computer Entertainment announce specifications of a new processor. It has two integer pipelines, two vector math units, dedicated MPEG-2 decoding subsystem, 128-bit chip, 250 MHz operation, and 125 MHz bus to memory. [1014.13] [2057.35] [2146.26]
February 22
  • Advanced Micro Devices releases the 400 MHz K6-III processor. It features 3DNow! graphics instructions, Direct X 6.0 support, 64 kB Level 1 cache, 256 kB on-chip Level 2 cache. The processor incorporates 21.3 million transistors in a 0.25-micron process. Code-name during development was Sharptooth. [974.105] [1178.76] [1233.133] [1559]
February 24
  • At the Intel Developer's Forum in Palm Springs, California, Intel demonstrates a Pentium III processor operating at 1002 MHz, the fastest standard desktop processor speed to date. [1559]
February 26
  • Intel announces the Pentium III processor. Initial speeds are 450 and 500 MHz. The processor introduces 70 new Streaming SIMD Extensions (SSE). Each processor has a unique identity code that can be accessed over the Internet. Code-name for the processor during development was Katmai. [974.105] [1178.75] [1279.43] [1425.31] [1559] [1635.52] [1897.131] (January [1013.92])
March
  • Intel releases the Pentium III Xeon processor. [974.105]
  • Intel releases the 433 MHz Celeron processor, with 128 kB L2 cache. [1425.31]
March 31
  • Processor unit shares in the PC market: Advanced Micro Devices 46.7%, Intel 42.2%, Cyrix 11%. [1178.74]
April 5
  • Advanced Micro Devices releases the 475 MHz K6-2 processor. Price is US$213 in 1000-unit quantities. [1559]
April
  • Cyrix releases the MII processor. [974.105]
May 24
  • Advanced Micro Devices releases the Mobile AMD-K6-III-P processor, in speeds of 350, 366, and 380 MHz. Prices are US$249, US$316, and US$349 respectively, in 1000-unit quantities. [1559]
June 14
  • Intel releases first processors made with 0.18 micron manufacturing process, 400 MHz Pentium II and Celeron processors. [1559]
June 22
  • At the PC Expo trade show in New York, Samsung and Alpha Processor demonstrate a computer running a 1 GHz Alpha processor using normal cooling methods. Alpha Processor announces a 750 MHz Alpha 21264 processor, to be released in July. [1559]
June 23
  • Advanced Micro Devices announces that it will market the processor code-named K7 as the Athlon processor. The company announces it has started shipping 500 to 600 MHz processors to computer manufacturers. [1559]
June 30
  • Via Technology of Taiwan and National Semiconductor of California announce that Via will buy National's Cyrix division. [1183.48] [1559]
(month unknown)
  • John Dvorak quote in PC Magazine on the name Athlon for a processor: "It sounds more like a pair of sneakers. Or perhaps a new ointment.". [1194.83]
July 13
  • Intel announces it has completed the design of the 64-bit processor code-named Merced. [1559]
August 9
  • Advanced Micro Devices introduces the Athlon processor, formerly code-named K7. The processor features Enhanced 3DNow! technology. Speeds and prices are 650 MHz (US$849), 600 MHz (US$615), 550 MHz (US$449), 500 MHz (US$249). [974.105] [1179.69] [1559]
August
  • Via Technologies signs a purchase agreement with National Semiconductor to acquire Cyrix, except for the MediaGX processor. [1194.121]
August 30
  • Advanced Micro Devices releases the 500 MHz K6-2 processor. Price is US$167 in 1000-unit quantities. [1559]
September 16
  • Intel introduces the 433 and 466 MHz mobile Celeron processors. Prices are US$159 and US$209 respectively, in 1000-unit quantities. [1559]
September 23
  • Intel tells PC vendors to delay shipments of computers using Pentium III processors with 820 chipsets and Rambus DRAM, due to unresolved application and system crashes. [1112.62]
(month unknown)
  • Intel introduces the Mobile Pentium III processor. Speeds available are 400, 450, and 500 MHz, with 100 MHz bus and 256 kB Level 2 cache. The processors are made using 0.18 micro fabrication. [1103.45] [1104.33]
  • Intel introduces the Xeon processor in speeds of 600, 667, and 733 MHz, with a 133 MHz bus. Price of the 733 MHz chip is US$826 in large quantities. [1104.33]
October 4
  • Intel announces the official name for the 64-bit processor code-named Merced: Itanium. [1103.11] [1559]
October 5
  • At the Microprocessor Forum, Advanced Micro Devices gives first details of its own 64-bit processor, code-named Sledgehammer, backward-compatible with Intel 32-bit x86 architecture processors. [1559]
October 7
  • At the Microprocessor Forum in San Jose, California, Hewlett-Packard announces the 550 MHz PA-RISC 8600 processor, based on and compatible with the PA-RISC 8500 processor. A new feature of the 8600 is the ability to run in exact parallel with another 8600, providing fail-safe execution in the event of one processor failing. [1559]
October
  • At the Microprocessor Forum, Motorola announces it has a PowerPC G4 processor with AltiVec technology running at 700 MHz. [1026.25]
  • At the Microprocessor Forum, Advanced Micro Devices first announces details of HyperTransport, a replacement for the PCI bus. The architecture can be implemented with 2-32 pins, with maximum transfer rate of 3.2 GBps. Code-name during development is Lighting Data Transport. [1268.79]
  • Advanced Micro Devices unveils the 700 MHz Athlon processor. Price is US$849 in large quantities. [1104.33] [1261] [1635.52]
October 25
  • In San Jose, California, Intel introduces new and updated Pentium III processors based on 0.18-micron technology, code-named Coppermine. The processor incorporates 28 million transistors with 0.18-micron technology. Speeds and prices in 1000-unit quantities range from 500 MHz (US$239) to 733 MHz (US$776) for desktop versions, and 400 MHz (US$348) to 500 MHz (US$530) for portable versions. [1104.33] [1140.62] [1261] [1278.114] [1559] [1635.52]
November 29
  • Advanced Micro Devices releases the 750 MHz Athlon processor, fabricated with 0.18-micron technology. Price is US$799 in 1000-unit quantities. [1261] [1278.114] [1559] [1635.52]
  • Advanced Micro Devices releases the 533 MHz K6-2 processor, for US$167 in 1000-unit quantities. [1559]
(month unknown)
  • Intel introduces the 650 MHz Pentium IIIE processor, with 256 kB on-chip cache accessible at full processor speed. [1235.19]
December 20
  • Intel releases the 750 and 800 MHz Pentium III processors. Prices are US$803 and US$851 respectively, in 1000-unit quantities. [1559] [1635.52]
Year
  • Market share of personal computer processors during the year: Advanced Micro Devices 14%. [1752.116]
  • Shipments of ARM processors during the year: 175 million. [1258.97]

End of 1998-1999. Next: 2000.

1958-1979 1980-1989 1990-1992 1993 1994 1995 1996-1997 1998-1999 2000 2001
2002 2003 2004-2005 2006-end


A list of references to all source material is available.

Other web pages of interest:

  • Chronology of Personal Computers
  • This Day in Personal Computer and Video Game History
  • This Day in History

  • Last updated: 2017 April 29.
    Copyright © 2006-2017 Ken Polsson (email: ).
    URL: https://processortimeline.info/
    Link to Ken P's home page.