AMD Rolls Out K6-III-P For Notebooks

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May 24, 1999 (3:31 PM EDT)

Advanced Micro Devices has adapted its K6-III desktop microprocessor for notebook PCs, while claiming the top spot in notebook microprocessor performance.

AMD, in Sunnyvale, Calif., has designed 350-, 366-, and 380-MHz versions of the new chip, dubbed the AMD-K6-III-P. The 380-MHz speed grade is the fastest notebook PC microprocessor available Monday; though rival Intel said it plans to release 400-MHz mobile parts on June 13, according to its customers.

A spokeswoman for AMD said the chips are generallyavailable to OEMs, a marked difference from when a low-power version of the K6 was launched in January 1998. At that time, AMD's manufacturing problems throttled the supply of chips to a single customer, Compaq Computer.

With the release of the K6-III-P, AMD continues to strengthen its relationship with Compaq, which has said it will use the chip in its Presario notebooks.

"AMD is introducing another first in the notebook market," said Dana Krelle, vice president of marketing for AMD's Computation Products Group, in a statement. "The mobile AMD-K6-III-P processor builds on the success we have had with the previous generation mobile AMD-K6-2 processor, and extends our mobile offerings into the high-performance notebook space."

AMD's K6-III-P dissipates 12 watts of power running typical applications, running at 2.2 volts. The 380-MHz mobile K6-III is priced at $349. The 366-MHz version is priced at $316 and the 350-MHz version at $249, all in 1,000-unit lots. All of the chips are currently shipping.