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PROCESSORS
This table is not exhaustive, but it tries to illustrate the main groups of processors and, most of all, show the computers they were used in.
- It basically covers their evolution up until the mid ‘90s (until Pentium MMX).
- It includes a current processor as to show the difference and relevance of companies in the ‘80s, such as Acorn.
- It starts with the first Intel processors, moves along to the 8080, which has a deep connection with the Z80 of Spectrum and progresses into the 8086 and the following ones that became more known.
This was research work carried out by our Museum in December 2019, with references from the Internet, focused mainly on the cpu-world and Wikipedia websites.
ZILOG
- The Z80 was an evolution of Intel 8080. Manufactured by Zilog and other manufacturers such as NEC, SGS, Mostek, Sharp, …
- The Sinclair ZX80 and the ZX81 both used the Z80 at 3.25 MHz.
- The Z80A variant at 3.5 MHz was used on the various models of the ZX Spectrum.
- The Cambridge Z88 uses the Z80A at 3.2768 MHz.
AMD
- Under Intel’s authorisation, Advanced Micro Devices produced, starting in 1982, processors of the x86 kind.
- After 1984 it started manufacturing its’ clones, the Am286, the Am386 and the Am486.
- In 1996 it launched its’ first x86 processor, built from scratch: the K5 (Amd5K86). It could be compared to the Pentium and, later, the K6 and K6-2 could be compared to the Pentium II.
Cyrix
- It started of by manufacturing mathematical co-processors for 286 and 386.
- In 1992 Cyrix released its’ first processors, called 486S/DLC and that were compatible with the 386.
- After 1993 it kept launching other models, now compatible with the 486 (such as the Cx486S, the Cx486DX, the Cx486DX2 and the Cx486DX4).
- After that, the company still released the 5×86 and the 6×86, in 1995.
- In 1997 the company merged with National Semiconductor, until it was later sold to VIA Technologies. AMD bought, after that, some remaining goods.
- Nowadays there are no new products from this brand.
