AMD unveils K6-2 Plus, K6-III Plus mobile CPUs

AMD announced yesterday that it is developing mobile-oriented versions of its popular K6-2 and not-so-popular K6-III processors. Based on its 0.18 micron process, the new chips will feature a built in power-saving mechanism, codenamed Gemini. AMD didn't reveal how many Watts the technology will conserve. Gemini allows users to switch the chips into one of three different states to best balance an application's need for speed against the host PC's battery life. Users will be able to choose maximum performance, maximum battery life or some point between the two through their computer's BIOS settings. Phoenix is supporting Gemini in its own BIOS code -- whether other BIOS providers will do the same isn't yet known. Gemini will one day be able to switch states on the fly, as Intel's equivalent, SpeedStep, can -- in the first generation of K6-2 Plus and K6-III Plus parts it won't. Like the desktop K6-III, the mobile version will feature on-chip L2 cache, as will the new K6-2, dubbed the K6-2 Plus. The latter will contain 128K of L2; the K6-III Plus will have 256K. Both chips will operate at over 500MHz, AMD said, but declined to be more specific. AMD also said it is planning a desktop version of the K6-2 Plus, to be unveiled next month. However, there are no plans to produce a desktop K6-III Plus. Since the key change in the K6-2 Plus is the addition of the on-die cache, and the desktop K6-III already has this, a K6-III Plus for desktops would be largely unnecessary. That said, you'd have thought AMD would want to release a desktop K6-III Plus if only for marketing purposes -- unless, of course, it reckons it's still not going to be able to sell them... The K6-2 Plus is set to ship in the first quarter of next year and is aimed at the low-cost notebook market. Unsurprisingly, the K6-III Plus is AMD's mid-range to high-end portable part. Both will be followed by a mobile Athlon in the second half of 2000, possibly with second-generation Gemini technology. ® Related Story AMD intros EasyNow PC platform