🚀 go-pugleaf

twong@civil.ubc.ca (Thomas Wong) writes:
> In article <1992Apr15.191222.25016@intelhf.hf.intel.com> jmaster@pcocd2.intel.com writes:
> >There is a 50 Mhz 486 chip.  50 MHz inside and out.
> >
> >There is the DX2 series that will INTERNALLY (to the chip) double the frequency
> >from 25 or 33 MHz to 50 or 66 MHz (respectively).  External timings however are
> >25 or 33 Mhz.  Just pull the old chip out, put this one in.  Now there is a
> >new setup using a doubler chip, and I don't know much of anythign about this 
> >setup.  It does NOT use the Weitek socket (If I understand this correctly).
> >The board manufacturers will have to put a second socket on board.
> >
> 
> Didn't I read somewhere that Intel is coming out with a chip that can
> sit in the Weitek socket? So that it can offload work from the main
> cpu? And doubles the speed of the system? This is meant as an upgrade
> offer for the existing 486s out there. Didn't anyone else read something
> like this? Thanks.
> 
> Thomas.
> 

The upgrade path that Intel is recommending is for the motherboard 
manufacturers to provide an upgrade socket on the motherboard.
This socket is different than the Weitek socket.  Intel plans to put
the 486DX2 in two different packages.  One package has the identical
pinout to the 486DX.  The other package has a pinout compatible with
their specification for the upgrade socket.  This upgrade socket
strategy started with systems built around the 486SX.  The upgrade
socket in these systems allowed an end users to upgrade to the 486DX.

If you have a 486DX system that has a socketed 486DX, a compatible BIOS,
and enough ventilation to keep the DX2 cool, then you could buy the
486DX2 and replace your 486DX with it.  You can also try selling your
spare 486DX.  

I have not heard of an Intel 486 that is pin compatible with the Weitek 
socket.  

Mark Keisling
mdk@col.hp.com