MediaGX

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Cyrix MediaGX, BGA

Introduced in 1997, the MediaGX CPU was an x86 processor manufactured and designed by Cyrix and later after merger manufactured by National Semiconductor. The core is based on the integration of the Cyrix Cx5x86 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, the core was developed by National Semiconductor into the Geode line of processors, which was subsequently sold to Advanced Micro Devices.

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. While the 5x86 was based around Cyrix's competitor to the Intel Pentium line, the 5th generation 6x86, it was designed to interface with a 486 era motherboard and was clearly inferior to the 6x86 at equal clock frequencies.

The MediaGX CPU was mostly used for subcompact laptops and pinball microcontrollers. It was also used in the: CTX EzBook and Compaq Presario 1230, 2100 and 2200 desktops, Casio Cassiopeia Fiva tablet PC, Pinball 2000, and many others. Sun Microsystems used MediaGXm in the Dover JavaStation.

1 Virtual Subsystem Architecture
2 Media GXi
3 Media GXm
4 See also
5 Disadvantages
6 External links

[edit] Virtual Subsystem Architecture

Virtual Subsystem Architecture (VSA) emulates a presence of the real hardware VGA (XpressGRAPHICS) and Sound Blaster (XpressAUDIO). The access to the hardware resources traps via BIOS and emulates in the System Management Mode (SMM), enabling it to execute transparently to the operating system, drivers and applications.

[edit] Media GXi

Cyrix MediaGXi is an improved version of the MediaGX.

[edit] Media GXm

Cyrix MediaGX

There was a Media GXm processor with MMX enhances instruction set.

Manufacturing process: 0.35 micrometre 4-layer metal CMOS process
Core speed: 180..300 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 full screen Video playback
- 16-bit audio subsystem Sound Blaster 16/PRO compatible
- 64-bit SDRAM controller
V core: 2.9V
V I/O: 3.3V
Package: 320-pin Ceramic PGA; 352-ball BGA
System Chipset: Cx5520 352 pin BGA

National Semicoductor offered this processor under the name Geode GXM.

[edit] See also

[edit] Disadvantages

The MediaGX line of processors had its own set of disadvantages. In a non-MediaGX computer the chipset for the (pci, graphics...) ran at the Fsb speed wth its own mini processor. In a MediaGX computer the (pci, graphics) ran with the processor without its own mini processor. This made the processor appear much slower than its actual rated speed.