CPU Shack - Cyrix 6x86 P133+ P150+ P166+

Cyrix 6x86 Processors Set New Desktop PC Performance Standards

"Best-In-Class" Benchmarks Leapfrog Pentium Processor Numbers

Richardson, Texas -- February 5, 1996 -- Cyrix Corporation (NASDAQ: CYRX) today introduced three new members of its high-performance 6x86™ processor family: the 6x86-P133+, 6x86-P150+ and 6x86-P166+. The 6x86-P150+ and 6x86-P166+ are the first devices independently evaluated by MDR Labs at MicroDesign Resources, a leading industry analyst firm, using a new P-rating system. The test results firmly establish the performance leadership of the 6x86 processor over the Pentium® processor.

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  Ziff-Davis Winstone® 96*  
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 6x86-P166+ processor         86.7   
 166 MHz Pentium processor    82.7   
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 6x86-P150+ processor         81.9   
 150 MHz Pentium processor    77.6   
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* Source: MicroDesign Resources Labs.

"Cyrix continues to deliver the fastest x86 CPUs for the desktop PC market," said Steve Tobak, vice president of corporate marketing at Cyrix. "We're setting the standard for high-performance processing and extending our challenge to Intel with clear 'better-than' performance in all Pentium processor categories. The 6x86 processor offers PC manufacturers the only viable Pentium processor alternative."

Michael Slater, president of MicroDesign Resources and publisher of the Microprocessor Report, said, "The evaluation procedure uses a standardized system configuration and application-based benchmark tests to establish a performance, or 'P,' rating relative to a Pentium processor of a given frequency. This levels the playing field and lets us measure relative processor performance under real-world conditions, regardless of the processor's clock speed or architecture. In our tests, Cyrix 6x86 processors outperformed the Pentium in every class."

Tobak added, "Cyrix will use a 'Pxxx+' naming convention to highlight our 'better-than' performance in each processor class. This will enable PC manufacturers to communicate system performance in a manner easily understood by PC users."

According to Bill Blagdan, Cyrix 6x86 product marketing manager, "The sixth-generation architecture of the 6x86 processor enables a 133 MHz version to outperform Intel's highest performance Pentium processor. Therefore, if a buyer wants the best P166-class system, he or she can look for a system with a 6x86-P166+ rating."

Price and Availability

The 6x86-P133+ (110 MHz) and 6x86-P150+ (120 MHz) processors are in volume production now. The 6x86-P133+ is priced at $326, and the 6x86-P150+ is $451. The 6x86-P166+ (133 MHz) processor is now in limited production and is priced at $621. Volume production is planned for the second quarter of 1996. The 6x86-P120+ (100 MHz), in production since the fourth quarter of 1995, is priced at $251. All prices are for quantities of 1,000.

Cyrix Corporation, headquartered in Richardson, Texas, is a leading supplier of high-performance processors to the personal computer industry. Founded in 1988, the Company designs, manufactures and markets innovative, x86 software-compatible processors for the desktop and mobile computer markets.