FasMath                 replacement coprocessor for Intel sockets
Cyrix Math Coprocessor Replaces Intel Models
 
Microbytes Daily News Service
Copyright (c) 1989, McGraw-Hill, Inc.
Cyrix claims its new FasMath coprocessor offers up to 10 times
the performance of standard coprocessors, uses less power, and is
software- and pin-compatible with Intel's math coprocessors.
 
The speed increases are due to Cyrix's implementation of
floating-point primitive operations in hardware rather than in a
microprogrammed sequencer, Cyrix says. This speeds up such
applications as floating-point operations, square root
operations, and elementary and transcendental functions.
 
FasMath is compatible by using the IEEE-754-1985 architecture
with an 80-bit internal format for storage and computation, Cyrix
claims. Programming is binary and function compatible with those
defined for the Intel numeric coprocessor, and all 117 floating
point instructions are implemented.
 
Fabrication is in CMOS and FasMath operates at clock rates of 20,
25, and 33 MHz. But because FasMath runs in automatic idle mode
when not executing floating point operations, it dissipates 35
milliWatts of power at 20-MHz clock speeds.
 
Price: 20 MHz, $745; 25 MHz, $925; 33 MHz, $1200.
 
Contact: Cyrix Corp., 1761 International Pkwy., Suite 135,
Richardson, TX 75981, (214) 234-8387.
 
                              --- Roger K. Adams
 
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