PowerPC microprocessor begins to sample
Motorola is sampling the MPC601 microprocessor, the first of the PowerPC
family, later to include the 603, 604, and 620. The chips are the results
of a joint IBM-Motorola project, outgrowths of the IBM RS6000
architecture. At 66 MHz, projected performance (in an unspecified system
configuration, but surely with good cache) is 60 SPECint92 and 80
SPECfp92. The 2.8 million transistors include a 32-Kbyte primary cache,
for both data and instructions, on an 11 x 11-mm die. Although aimed at,
and priced for, low to midrange desktop systems, the chip includes
multiprocessor hooks for higher-end systems. (50-MHz version, $280 ea/20,
000; 66-MHz version, $374 ea/20,000–samples now, large qty, 3rd qtr.)
Motorola, Inc., Austin, TX Information 800-845-MOTO
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