The MediaGX

CPU A central processing unit (CPU), also called a central processor, main processor or just processor, is the electronic circuitry that executes instructions comprising a computer program. The CPU performs basic arithmetic, logic, controlling, a ...

is an x86-compatible processor that was designed by

Cyrix Cyrix Corporation was a microprocessor developer that was founded in 1988 in Richardson, Texas, as a specialist supplier of floating point units for 286 and 386 microprocessors. The company was founded by Tom Brightman and Jerry Rogers. In ...

and manufactured by

National Semiconductor National Semiconductor was an American semiconductor manufacturer which specialized in analog devices and subsystems, formerly with headquarters in Santa Clara, California. The company produced power management integrated circuits, display dr ...

following the two companies' merger. It was introduced in 1997. The core is based on the integration of the

Cyrix Cx5x86 The Cyrix 5x86 was a line of x86 microprocessors designed by Cyrix and released on June 5 of 1995. Cyrix, being a fabless company, had the chips manufactured by IBM. The line came out about 5 months before the more famous Cyrix 6x86. The Cyri ...

CPU core with hardware to process video and audio output (XpressRAM, XpressGRAPHICS, XpressAUDIO). Following the buyout of Cyrix by National Semiconductor and the sale of the Cyrix name and trademarks to

VIA Technologies VIA Technologies Inc. (), is a Taiwanese manufacturer of integrated circuits, mainly motherboard chipsets, CPUs, and memory. It was the world's largest independent manufacturer of motherboard chipsets. As a fabless semiconductor company, VIA ...

, the core was developed by National Semiconductor into the Geode line of processors, which was subsequently sold to

Advanced Micro Devices Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD) is an American multinational semiconductor company based in Santa Clara, California, that develops computer processors and related technologies for business and consumer markets. While it initially manufact ...

. Whether this processor belongs in the fourth or fifth generation of x86 processors can be considered a matter of debate as the processor was based on the 5x86 (a scaled down version of the

Cyrix 6x86 The Cyrix 6x86 is a line of sixth-generation, 32-bit x86 microprocessors designed and released by Cyrix in 1995. Cyrix, being a fabless company, had the chips manufactured by IBM and SGS-Thomson. The 6x86 was made as a direct competitor to In ...

). While the 5x86 was intended to compete with the

Intel Intel Corporation is an American multinational corporation and technology company headquartered in Santa Clara, California. It is the world's largest semiconductor chip manufacturer by revenue, and is one of the developers of the x86 ser ...

Pentium Pentium is a brand used for a series of x86 architecture-compatible microprocessors produced by Intel. The original Pentium processor from which the brand took its name was first released on March 22, 1993. After that, the Pentium II and P ...

line, the 5th generation x86, it was designed to interface with a 4th generation (

80486 The Intel 486, officially named i486 and also known as 80486, is a microprocessor. It is a higher-performance follow-up to the Intel 386. The i486 was introduced in 1989. It represents the fourth generation of binary compatible CPUs following t ...

) motherboard and had only the 486's instruction set, lacking the ability to run software requiring the

's new instructions. The MediaGX CPU was mostly used for subcompact

laptops A laptop, laptop computer, or notebook computer is a small, portable personal computer (PC) with a screen and alphanumeric keyboard. Laptops typically have a clam shell form factor with the screen mounted on the inside of the upper li ...

. It was also used in the CTX EzBook V92C266, Compaq Presario 1220 and

1230 Year 1230 ( MCCXXX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Byzantine Empire * March 9 – Battle of Klokotnitsa: Byzantine forces under Theodore Komn ...

laptops, Compaq Presario 2100 and

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desktops,

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Cassiopeia Fiva MPC-100 series subnotebook and MPC-501 tablet PCs, and many others, as well as in high-performance embedded applications such as the Pinball 2000 arcade

pinball Pinball games are a family of games in which a ball is propelled into a specially designed table where it bounces off various obstacles, scoring points either en route or when it comes to rest. Historically the board was studded with nails call ...

system and

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arcade platforms.

Sun Microsystems Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Sun for short) was an American technology company that sold computers, computer components, software, and information technology services and created the Java programming language, the Solaris operating system, ZFS, t ...

used MediaGXm in the Dover

JavaStation The JavaStation was a Network Computer (NC) developed by Sun Microsystems between 1996 and 2000, intended to run only Java applications. The hardware is based on the design of the Sun SPARCstation series, a very successful line of UNIX workstation ...

History

The MediaGX was launched on February 20, 1997. Compaq would be using the chip in some of their computers such as the Presario 2000, which went on sale for $999. This was due to a partnership between Cyrix and Compaq. The MediaGX was first available in speeds of 120 and 133 MHz with pricing of $79 and $99. The 150 MHz version of the MedixGX was available by June of 1997. This version of the chip would be used in the Presario 2120. The 150 MHz chip would cost $99 each in bulk quantities with the 133 and 120 MHz costing $88 and $60.

Virtual Subsystem Architecture

Virtual Subsystem Architecture (VSA) emulates a presence of the real hardware

VGA Video Graphics Array (VGA) is a video display controller and accompanying de facto graphics standard, first introduced with the IBM PS/2 line of computers in 1987, which became ubiquitous in the PC industry within three years. The term can now ...

(XpressGRAPHICS) and Sound Blaster (XpressAUDIO). The access to the hardware resources traps via

BIOS In computing, BIOS (, ; Basic Input/Output System, also known as the System BIOS, ROM BIOS, BIOS ROM or PC BIOS) is firmware used to provide runtime services for operating systems and programs and to perform hardware initialization during the b ...

and emulates in the System Management Mode (SMM), enabling it to execute transparently to the operating system, drivers and applications.http://datasheets.chipdb.org/Cyrix/MediaGX/gxmdb_v20.pdf#page=103

Media GX

* Manufacturing process: 0.4 μm * Cache: L1 16 KB unified * Core speed: 120, 133, 150 MHz * Bus speed: 33 MHz

Media GXi

Cyrix MediaGXi is an improved version of the MediaGX. * Manufacturing process: 0.35 μm * Cache: L1 16 KB unified * Core speed: 120, 133, 150, 166, 180 MHz

MediaGXm

The MediaGXm is an improved MediaGX with an implementation of the

MMX MMX may refer to: * 2010, in Roman numerals Science and technology * MMX (instruction set), a single-instruction, multiple-data instruction set designed by Intel * MMX Mineração, a Brazilian mining company * Martian Moons eXploration, a Japane ...

enhanced instruction set. * Manufacturing process: 0.35 μm 4-layer metal CMOS process * Core speed: 180–266 MHz * Bus speed: 33 MHz * Cache: ** L1 cache size 16 KB write-back 4-way set associative unified I/D cache. ** Or 12-Kbyte unified L1 Cache and 4K scratchpad for SMM & Graphics. * Integrated peripherals: ** PCI controller ** Display controller and 2D graphics accelerator ** Hardware MPEG-1 supports fullscreen video playback ** 16-bit audio subsystem Sound Blaster 16/Pro compatible ** 64-bit

SDRAM Synchronous dynamic random-access memory (synchronous dynamic RAM or SDRAM) is any DRAM where the operation of its external pin interface is coordinated by an externally supplied clock signal. DRAM integrated circuits (ICs) produced from the ...

controller * V core: 2.9 V * V I/O: 3.3 V * Package: 320-pin Ceramic PGA; 352-ball BGA * System chipset: Cx5520 352-pin BGA National Semiconductor offered this processor under the name Geode GXM.

Disadvantages

The MediaGX platform does not provide for external Level-2 cache memory, typical for motherboard designs of the period. All of the cache must be on the processor die. MediaGX processors can only run on motherboards specifically designed for the same model of the processor due to tight integration between the processor and its companion chipset. The graphics, sound, and PCI bus ran at the same speed as the processor clock also due to tight integration. This made the processor appear much slower than its actual rated speed. However, the graphics system is able to use the main system memory providing for significant cost savings on the basic systems and embedded controllers in the market for this platform.

References

* Gwennap, Linley (10 March 1997). "MediaGX Targets Low-Cost PCs". '' Microprocessor Report''.

External links

GXM Product Folder
at National Semiconductor (archived version 2007)
AMD Geode Solutions

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