AMD Am486
Am486DX2-66
Developer	AMD
Manufacturer	AMD
Type	Microprocessors
Introduction	1991 (announced) April 1993 (launch)
Production	1992
Architecture	80486
ISA	IA-32
Word size	32 bit 4 octets 8 nibbles
Process	700 nm 0.7 μm 7.0e-4 mm , 500 nm 0.5 μm 5.0e-4 mm , 440 nm 0.44 μm 4.4e-4 mm , 350 nm 0.35 μm 3.5e-4 mm
Technology	CMOS
Clock	33 Mhz-120 MHz
Package	PGA-168, QFP-208
Socket	Socket 1, Socket 2, Socket 3
Succession
←	→
Am386	Am5x86

Am486 was a family of 32-bit 4th-generation x86 microprocessors introduced by AMD in 1993. Am486 chips were 100%-compatible with Intel's 80486, but offered very equivalent performance for cheaper prices.

History

Just like AMD's Am386, Am486 was also delayed after expensive and lengthy litigation with Intel. The first models of the Am486 (Am486DX) were finally introduced in April of 1993. AMD manufactured their first Am486s at their Submicron Development Center (SDC) in Sunnyvale, CA on a 0.7 µm process. By the end of 1993 AMD revenue of the Am486 reached $250M taking a total of 20% share of the market. By 1995 that share peaked at 40%.

AMD's last models (Am486DX4's) for this family were clocked at up to 120 MHz which gave AMD a significant performance advantage compared to Intel's earliest Pentium chips (which were only clocked at around 60 MHz). The Am486DX4 lower price (compared to Intel's DX4) and socket-comparability ensured strong sale for quite some time after their introduction.

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