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WinChip
IDT WinChip Marketing sample
General information
Launched1997; 28 years ago (1997)
Discontinued1999; 26 years ago (1999)
Marketed byIDT
Designed byCentaur Technology
CPUID code0540h, 0541h, 0585h, 0587h, 058Ah, 0595h
Performance
Max. CPU clock rate180 Mhz to 266 Mhz
FSB speeds60 MT/s to 100 MT/s
Cache
L1 cache64 KiB (C6, W2, W2A and W2B)
128 KiB (W3)
L2 cacheMotherboard dependent
L3 cachenone
Architecture and classification
Technology node0.35 μm to 0.25 μm
MicroarchitectureSingle, 4-stage, pipeline in-order execution
Instruction setx86-16, IA-32
Physical specifications
Cores
  • 1
Packages
Sockets
Products, models, variants
Core names
  • C6
  • W2, C6+
  • W2A
  • W2B
  • W3
Brand name
  • WinChip
History
SuccessorCyrix III

The WinChip series is a discontinued low-power Socket 7-based x86 processor that was designed by Centaur Technology and marketed by its parent company IDT.

Overview

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Design

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The design of the WinChip was quite different from other processors of the time. Instead of a large gate count and die area, IDT, using its experience from the RISC processor market, created a small and electrically efficient processor similar to the 80486, because of its single pipeline and in-order execution microarchitecture. It was of much simpler design than its Socket 7 competitors, such as AMD K5/K6, which were superscalar and based on dynamic translation to buffered micro-operations with advanced instruction reordering (out of order execution).

Use

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WinChip was, in general, designed to perform well with popular applications that did few floating point calculations, if any. This included operating systems of the time and the majority of software used in businesses. It was also designed to be a drop-in replacement for the more complex, and thus more expensive, processors it was competing with. This allowed IDT/Centaur to take advantage of an established system platform (Intel's Socket 7).

Later developments

[edit]

WinChip 2, an update of C6, retained the simple in-order execution pipeline of its predecessor, but added dual MMX/3DNow! processing units that could operate in superscalar execution.[1] This made it the only non-AMD CPU on Socket 7 to support 3DNow! instructions. WinChip 2A added fractional multipliers and adopted a 100 MHz front side bus to improve memory access and L2 cache performance.[2] It also adopted a performance rating nomenclature instead of reporting the real clock speed, similar to contemporary AMD and Cyrix processors.

Another revision, the WinChip 2B, was also planned. This featured a die shrink to 0.25 μm, but was only shipped in limited numbers.[3]

A third model, the WinChip 3, was planned as well. This was meant to receive a doubled L1 cache, but the W3 CPU never made it to market.[3]

Performance

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Although the small die size and low power-usage made the processor notably inexpensive to manufacture, it never gained much market share. WinChip C6 was a competitor to the Intel Pentium and Pentium MMX, Cyrix 6x86, and AMD K5/K6. It performed adequately, but only in applications that used little floating point math. Its floating point performance was simply well below that of the Pentium and K6, being even slower than the Cyrix 6x86.[4]

Decline

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The industry's move away from Socket 7 and the release of the Intel Celeron processor signalled the end of the WinChip. In 1999, the Centaur Technology division of IDT was sold to VIA. Although VIA branded the processors as "Cyrix", the company initially used technology similar to the WinChip in its Cyrix III line.[5]

Data

[edit]

Winchip C6 (0.35 μm)

[edit]
IDT WinChip C6
IDT WinChip C6 die shot
  • All models supported MMX[6]
  • The 88 mm2 die was made using a 0.35 micron 4-layer metal CMOS technology.[6]
  • The 64 Kib L1 Cache of the WinChip C6 used a 32 KB 2-way set associative code cache and a 32 KB 2-way set associative data cache.[6]
Processor
model		 Frequency FSB Mult. L1 cache TDP CPU core voltage Socket Release date Part number(s) Introduction price
WinChip 180 180 MHz 60 MT/s 3 64 KiB 9.4 W 3.45—3.6 V
13 October 1997 DS180GAEM $90
WinChip 200 200 MHz 66 MT/s 3 64 KiB 10.4 W 3.45—3.6 V
  • Socket 5
  • Socket 7
  • Super Socket 7
  • CPGA 296
 13 October 1997 DS200GAEM $135
WinChip 225 225 MHz 75 MT/s 3 64 KiB 12.3 W 3.45—3.6 V
  • Socket 7
  • Super Socket 7
  • CPGA 296
 13 October 1997 PSME225GA
WinChip 240 240 MHz 60 MT/s 4 64 KiB 13.1 W 3.45—3.6 V
  • Socket 5
  • Socket 7
  • Super Socket 7
  • CPGA 296
 November 1997? PSME240GA

WinChip 2 (0.35 μm)

[edit]
IDT WinChip2
  • All models supported MMX[3] and 3DNow![3]
  • The 95 mm2 die was made using a 0.35 micron 5-layer metal CMOS technology.[3]
  • The 64 Kib L1 Cache of the WinChip 2 used a 32 KB 2-way set associative code cache and a 32 KB 4-way set associative data cache.
Processor
model		 Frequency FSB Mult. L1 cache TDP CPU core voltage Socket Release date Part number(s) Introduction price
WinChip 2-200 200 MHz 66 MT/s 3 64 KiB 8.8 W 3.45—3.6 V
3DEE200GSA
3DFF200GSA
WinChip 2-225 225 MHz 75 MT/s 3 64 KiB 10.0 W 3.45—3.6 V
  • Socket 7
  • Super Socket 7
  • CPGA 296
 3DEE225GSA
WinChip 2-240 240 MHz 60 MT/s 4 64 KiB 10.5 W 3.45—3.6 V
  • Socket 5
  • Socket 7
  • Super Socket 7
  • CPGA 296
 3DEE240GSA
WinChip 2-250 250 MHz 83 MT/s 3 64 KiB 10.9 W 3.45—3.6 V
  • Super Socket 7
  • CPGA 296
 ?

WinChip 2A (0.35 μm)

[edit]
IDT WinChip2A
IDT WinChip2A die shot
  • All models supported MMX[1] and 3DNow![1]
  • The 95 mm2 die was made using a 0.35 micron 5-layer metal CMOS technology.[3]
  • The 64 Kib L1 Cache of the WinChip 2A used a 32 KB 2-way set associative code cache and a 32 KB 4-way set associative data cache.[1]
Processor
model		 Frequency FSB Mult. L1 cache TDP CPU core voltage Socket Release date Part number(s) Introduction price
WinChip 2A-200 200 MHz 66 MT/s 3 64 KiB 12.0 W 3.45—3.6 V
March 1999? 3DEE200GTA
WinChip 2A-233 233 MHz 66 MT/s 3.5 64 KiB 13.0 W 3.45—3.6 V
  • Socket 5
  • Socket 7
  • Super Socket 7
  • CPGA 296
 March 1999? 3DEE233GTA
WinChip 2A-266 233 MHz 100 MT/s 2.33 64 KiB 14.0 W 3.45—3.6 V
  • Super Socket 7
  • CPGA 296
 March 1999? 3DEE266GSA
WinChip 2A-300 250 MHz 100 MT/s 2.5 64 KiB 16.0 W 3.45—3.6 V
  • Super Socket 7
  • CPGA 296
 3DEE300GSA

WinChip 2B (0.25 μm)

[edit]
IDT WinChip2 W2B
  • All models supported MMX[7] and 3DNow![7]
  • The 58 mm2 die was made using a 0.25 micron 5-layer metal CMOS technology.[3]
  • The 64 Kib L1 Cache of the WinChip 2B used a 32 KB 2-way set associative code cache and a 32 KB 4-way set associative data cache.[7]
  • Dual-voltage CPU: while the processor core operates at 2.8 V, the external input/output (I/O) voltages remain 3.3 V for backwards compatibility.
Processor
model		 Frequency FSB Mult. L1 cache TDP CPU core voltage Socket Release date Part number(s) Introduction price
WinChip 2B-200 200 MHz 66 MT/s 3 64 KiB 6.3 W 2.7—2.9 V
3DFK200BTA
WinChip 2B-233 200 MHz 100 MT/s 2 64 KiB 6.3 W 2.7—2.9 V
  • Super Socket 7
  • PPGA 296

WinChip 3 (0.25 μm)

[edit]
  • All models supported MMX[8] and 3DNow![8]
  • The 75 mm2 die was made using a 0.25 micron 5-layer metal CMOS technology.[3]
  • The 128 Kib L1 Cache of the WinChip 3 used a 64 KB 2-way set associative code cache and a 64 KB 4-way set associative data cache.[8]
  • Dual-voltage CPU: while the processor core operates at 2.8 volts, the external input/output (I/O) voltages remain 3.3 volts for backwards compatibility.
Processor
model		 Frequency FSB Mult. L1 cache TDP CPU core voltage Socket Release date Part number(s) Introduction price
WinChip 3-233 200 MHz 66 MT/s 3 128 KiB ? W 2.7—2.9 V
WinChip 3-266 233 MHz 66 MT/s 3.5 128 KiB 8.4 W 2.7—2.9 V
  • Socket 7
  • Super Socket 7
  • CPGA 296
 Samples only FK233GDA
WinChip 3-300 233 MHz 100 MT/s 2.33 128 KiB 8.4 W 2.7—2.9 V
  • Super Socket 7
  • CPGA 296
 Samples only FK300GDA
WinChip 3-300 266 MHz 66 MT/s 4 128 KiB 9.3 W 2.7—2.9 V
  • Socket 7
  • Super Socket 7
  • CPGA 296
WinChip 3-333 250 MHz 100 MT/s 2.5 128 KiB 8.8 W 2.7—2.9 V
  • Super Socket 7
  • CPGA 296
WinChip 3-333 266 MHz 100 MT/s 2.66 128 KiB 9.3 W 2.7—2.9 V
  • Super Socket 7
  • CPGA 296

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

WinChip

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The WinChip is a discontinued series of low-power, Socket 7-compatible x86 microprocessors designed by Centaur Technology and manufactured by Integrated Device Technology (IDT), introduced in 1997 as a budget alternative to Intel's Pentium MMX processors. Developed during the late 1990s Socket 7 era, the WinChip series emerged from Centaur's efforts to create efficient, cost-effective CPUs for value-oriented PCs, emphasizing low power consumption and compatibility with existing motherboards without requiring BIOS updates. The initial model, known as the WinChip C6, featured a 0.35-micron process, clock speeds ranging from 150 to 240 MHz, a 32-bit architecture, and a thermal design power of approximately 10-13W, making it suitable for compact and energy-efficient systems. It included MMX instruction support for multimedia tasks and operated at 3.52V, delivering integer performance comparable to the Pentium MMX at similar clock speeds while consuming less power. Subsequent iterations improved upon the C6's single-pipeline design, which drew architectural influences from earlier 486 processors but incorporated modern features like superscalar execution. The WinChip 2, released in 1998, adopted a 0.25-micron process with a smaller 58 mm² die, dual 32 KB on-chip caches (instruction and data), and clock speeds up to 300 MHz on bus frequencies of 60-100 MHz, while maintaining 3.3V or 3.52V operation and power draw as low as 8.8W in normal mode. It added branch prediction, dynamic power management, and full compatibility with MMX instructions, with variants like the WinChip 2 3D supporting AMD's 3DNow! extensions for enhanced graphics performance. Later revisions, including the WinChip 2A (with fractional clock ratios for better bus efficiency) and 2B, further refined (FPU) performance and MMX handling, achieving up to 10% speed gains over the original in certain workloads. In benchmarks, the WinChip series performed competitively in business applications and integer tasks against contemporaries like the and 6x86MX, matching or exceeding them in power efficiency, though it lagged in FPU-intensive and 3D gaming scenarios due to its simpler . Priced affordably for entry-level systems, the processors were packaged in 296-pin CPGA or 320-pin BGA formats and targeted small form-factor PCs. Production ended around 1999 when acquired from IDT, shifting focus to newer architectures like the and eventual VIA-branded CPUs. The series is remembered for pioneering low-power x86 designs in the pre-Celeron era, influencing later efficient processors despite limited .

Background and Development

Origins and Centaur Technology

Centaur Technology was founded in April 1995 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Integrated Device Technology (IDT), with the primary goal of designing low-cost x86-compatible microprocessors to compete in the personal computer market. The initiative stemmed from IDT's strategic investment in semiconductor innovation, providing Centaur with initial funding of approximately $15 million and access to IDT's fabrication facilities while granting the new entity operational autonomy. IDT's CEO, Len Perham, played a pivotal role in supporting the venture, viewing it as an opportunity to diversify beyond IDT's core memory and networking products. The founding team was led by Glenn Henry, who served as president and brought extensive experience as an IBM Fellow and senior vice president at Computer Corporation. Key personnel included Terry Parks as lead architect, with a background in IBM's Blue Lightning project and recent work at ; Darius Gaskins and Al Sato, both co-founders from , who contributed to early engineering and operations. This group, initially operating from home offices without dedicated facilities, rapidly assembled a core team of engineers drawn from various firms to tackle x86 design challenges. In the mid-1990s, held overwhelming dominance in the x86 processor market, capturing over 85% share by 1995 with its lineup, which utilized the interface and commanded premium pricing around $160 per unit for OEMs. This era saw growing demand for budget alternatives amid the shift from 486 to -class systems, as competitors like (with its K5) and (with the 6x86) sought to undercut 's costs while maintaining compatibility with motherboards. Centaur's formation addressed this gap, targeting low-end PCs priced under $1,500 by emphasizing simple, efficient designs over high-performance features. The WinChip project was conceived in 1995 shortly after 's inception, focusing on a native x86 implementation. Development progressed rapidly, achieving first in May 1996—13 months after receiving initial funding—and culminating in the public unveiling of the WinChip at the Fall Forum in 1997. This timeline positioned to enter the market as transitioned toward , with the WinChip series prioritizing low power consumption to appeal to cost-sensitive consumers and OEMs.

Initial Release and Design Goals

The WinChip C6 processor was initially released on October 13, 1997, with the first models clocked at 180 MHz and 200 MHz. Developed by and manufactured by , it marked the entry of a new low-cost x86-compatible CPU into the market dominated by Intel's MMX and competitors like AMD's K6. The primary design goals of the WinChip C6 centered on delivering strong price-to-performance ratios for budget-oriented systems, specifically targeting sub-$1,000 PCs and sub-$2,000 notebooks. prioritized integer performance to excel in office productivity applications such as word processing and spreadsheets, deliberately de-emphasizing floating-point and capabilities to keep the simple and cost-effective. Full compatibility with existing motherboards was a key objective, allowing seamless integration into legacy Pentium-era systems without requiring hardware upgrades. To achieve market penetration in the entry-level segment, IDT adopted an aggressive OEM pricing strategy, offering the 180 MHz model at approximately $90 per unit and the 200 MHz variant at $135 for quantities of 1,000 units. Early partnerships focused on collaboration with budget motherboard manufacturers, including ECS (Elitegroup Computer Systems), whose models like the P6PVI and P6PVB3 were certified for WinChip C6 integration to enable affordable system builds.

Technical Design

Architectural Features

The WinChip family processors, developed by , employ a 32-bit x86-compatible centered on a custom internal core known as WinCore, which uses a dedicated translation unit to convert complex x86 instructions into simpler RISC-like micro-operations for execution. This prioritizes and low power consumption by avoiding advanced features common in contemporary competitors, such as or deep speculation, while ensuring full compatibility with the x86 instruction set. The core operates as an in-order scalar processor, issuing and retiring one instruction per cycle without superscalar parallelism in the initial implementations, though later variants incorporate limited dual-issue capabilities for specific extensions like MMX. The execution consists of five stages: instruction translation, decode, addressing, execute, and write-back. This shallow pipeline minimizes latency penalties and supports efficient handling of workloads, with the integrated (FPU) following a non-pipelined design in the initial C6 to reduce and power draw, albeit at the cost of lower performance in floating-point intensive tasks compared to rivals like the Intel ; later models added partial pipelining. In-order execution ensures straightforward resource management without the overhead of reorder buffers or , contributing to the processor's emphasis on reliability and cost-effectiveness in embedded or budget desktop applications. Cache hierarchy is limited to on-chip Level 1 (L1) structures, featuring a 32 KB instruction cache and a 32 KB data cache, both 2-way set-associative with 32-byte line sizes and single-cycle access latency, while lacking an integrated L2 cache to rely instead on external motherboard-provided memory subsystems. Translation Lookaside Buffers (TLBs) support virtual memory with 64-entry, 4-way set-associative designs for both instruction and data, augmented by a unified 8-entry page directory cache to optimize address translation overhead. Branch handling lacks dynamic or static prediction hardware except for an 8-entry call/return stack; branches are resolved in the addressing stage, incurring an average of about 2.5 clock cycles per branch but aligning with the design's power-saving goals by avoiding complex prediction hardware. The processors interface via the standard pinout, supporting (FSB) speeds of up to 66 MHz (with compatibility for 60 or 75 MHz in select configurations) and featuring Pentium-compatible signaling, including four 64-bit write buffers for burst transfers. This bus design facilitates plug-and-play integration into existing Socket 7 motherboards without requiring specialized hardware, while the WinCore's micro-operation translation enables omission of redundant x86 hardware for rarely used instructions, further streamlining the layout for enhanced efficiency.

Power Efficiency and Optimizations

The WinChip processors were engineered with a strong emphasis on low-power operation to suit embedded systems, portable devices, and cost-sensitive desktop applications. Operating at core voltages ranging from 2.5V to 3.52V—such as 2.5V core with 3.3V I/O in the C6+ variant and 2.8V core with 3.3V I/O in later models—these CPUs achieved lower power requirements compared to contemporaries like the , which typically ran at a uniform 3.3V or higher in single-voltage configurations. This dual-voltage approach minimized energy dissipation in the core while maintaining compatibility with existing motherboards. Thermal design power (TDP) across WinChip models ranged from 4W to 10W, enabling solutions without active heatsinks in many low-end setups. For instance, the original C6 at 200 MHz consumed under 10W at 3.3V, while the WinChip 2 series drew 8.8W to 11.8W in at 3.3V, dropping to as low as 1W in StopClock states. These figures supported battery-powered and thermally constrained environments, distinguishing the WinChip from higher-draw competitors. Key optimizations centered on a simplified tailored for efficiency in integer-heavy workloads, such as office productivity tasks. The design prioritized a robust ALU optimized for common operations like loads, stores, branches, and arithmetic, which formed the bulk of typical x86 execution, using a RISC-like micro-operation translation for faster handling of frequent instructions. The floating-point unit (FPU) was streamlined as a separate 80-bit IEEE 754-compliant component, non-pipelined in the initial C6 but partially pipelined in later models, and dynamically powered down when idle to conserve energy, reflecting a de-emphasis on floating-point intensive applications in early models. and dynamic power management further enhanced efficiency by disabling unused on-chip elements, including caches and the FPU/MMX units, during idle or low-activity periods, with power-saving modes like StopGrant and AutoHalt reducing consumption to under 3W. While fully compatible with the x86 instruction set including MMX from the first generation, the WinChip prioritized integer performance over optimized multimedia execution in early models, where custom micro-operations handled MMX for business-oriented code paths. This selective focus on integer performance and allowed the processor to deliver adequate speed for basic workloads at a fraction of the power budget of more complex designs.

Variants and Specifications

First Generation: WinChip C6

The WinChip C6, introduced in late 1997 as the inaugural processor in Technology's WinChip family, was fabricated using a 0.35 μm process with a 3.3 V core voltage, enabling low-power operation suitable for motherboards. This design choice contributed to its compact footprint, with a die size of 88 mm² containing approximately 5.4 million transistors. The processor utilized a 296-pin Pin Grid Array (CPGA) package, ensuring drop-in compatibility with existing Pentium-class systems without requiring modifications in most cases. Initial models of the WinChip C6 operated at clock speeds of 150 MHz, 180 MHz, and 200 MHz, with the 180 MHz variant running on a 60 MHz and the 200 MHz model on a 66 MHz bus; later variants in the C6 lineup extended to 240 MHz. These speeds positioned it as a budget-oriented alternative to Intel's MMX, emphasizing performance and power efficiency over peak throughput. The shared core principles with subsequent WinChip generations, including a hybrid RISC- pipeline for simplified execution. Despite its innovations, the WinChip C6 had notable limitations, such as a basic 80-bit (FPU) that executed in parallel with integer operations but lacked some Pentium-level optimizations for complex transcendental functions. It supported only a 66 MHz maximum bus speed in standard configurations, restricting memory bandwidth compared to emerging Super Socket 7 platforms, and omitted hardware support for or advanced paging modes like 4 MB pages. Additionally, while compatible with MMX instructions via a dedicated , early errata included minor FPU rounding inaccuracies and timestamp counter inconsistencies in low-power states.

Second Generation: WinChip 2 Series

The WinChip 2, introduced in 1998 by , marked the initial evolution of the second-generation WinChip series with clock speeds ranging from to 233 MHz while adopting a 0.25 μm , a shrink from its predecessor. It supported external L2 cache configurations, such as 256 KB off-die, to boost access performance in budget systems. This variant maintained compatibility with motherboards and emphasized low-power operation through inherited design optimizations. In 1999, the WinChip 2A variant improved pipeline efficiency with refined branch prediction mechanisms, including a more accurate 4K-entry branch history table. Clock speeds were increased to up to 266 MHz. The enhanced (FPU) in this model provided fully pipelined 80-bit operations, allowing parallel execution with integer instructions to improve overall computational throughput. Later sub-variants also added support for 75 MHz and 83 MHz front-side buses to align with emerging Super7 platforms. The WinChip 2B, also released in 1999, represented a refinement of the 0.25 μm technology, enabling higher clock speeds of 250 to 300 MHz— the latter performance-rated as PR300 to reflect equivalent output to faster competitors. This iteration operated at a reduced core voltage of 2.3 V, further lowering power consumption to around 6 W maximum while maintaining the 32 KB L1 instruction and data caches. The process transition improved manufacturing yields, allowing to scale production for cost-sensitive applications in sub-$600 personal computers.

Third Generation: WinChip 3

The WinChip 3 represented the final iteration in the WinChip series, developed by under but ultimately licensed to following IDT's exit from the x86 microprocessor market in 1999. Announced as a planned release for early 2000, the processor was intended to extend the viability of the aging platform, including Super Socket 7 variants with 100 MHz support, amid competition from more advanced architectures. However, IDT canceled production after selling its division to VIA for $51 million in August 1999, and no WinChip 3 processors were ever manufactured or released to market, shifting the design's evolution away from the WinChip branding. VIA repurposed elements of the architecture for subsequent products, marking the WinChip 3 as the line's last conceptual update before discontinuation. Building on evolutionary improvements from the WinChip 2, such as enhanced superscalar execution and branch prediction, the WinChip 3 incorporated key enhancements including full support for AMD's 3DNow! instruction set for multimedia acceleration, alongside MMX compatibility. Fabricated on a 0.25 μm CMOS process with five layers of metal, it featured a compact 76 mm² die containing approximately 10.2 million transistors. The core operated at a 2.2 V supply for mobile variants (2.1–2.3 V range), emphasizing low power consumption typical of the series, with thermal design power suited for value-oriented systems. Clock speeds were targeted at 233–333 MHz, including models like the 300 MHz variant running at a 4×66 MHz or 3×100 MHz multiplier, though higher 400 MHz configurations (PR400) were considered but not realized under the original plan. Cache architecture consisted of a split 128 KB L1 configuration—64 KB unified instruction cache (2-way set associative) and 64 KB data cache (4-way set associative)—with 32-byte cache lines, though plans for integrated L2 cache up to 256 KB were discussed to boost performance in memory-bound tasks but not finalized in prototypes. The design maintained backward compatibility with pinouts (296-pin PGA) and prioritized cost efficiency, with an estimated manufacturing cost around $30 per unit due to the small die size. As the endpoint of the WinChip lineage, it underscored Centaur's focus on efficient, low-end x86 solutions before VIA redirected resources toward -based processors like the .

Performance Evaluation

Benchmark Results

The WinChip C6 processor at 166 MHz achieved SPECint95 scores of approximately 4.5, making it comparable to the 166 MMX in workloads. In the second generation, the WinChip 2 at 233 MHz delivered SPECint95 scores around 6.0 and SPECfp95 scores of about 2.5, highlighting its strengths in tasks over floating-point operations due to architectural optimizations like a wide . It performed particularly well in office productivity benchmarks, attaining 28.5 in Business Winstone 98, which reflected efficient handling of typical Windows applications. Across models, the WinChip family demonstrated notable power efficiency, achieving 1-2 MIPS per watt and surpassing the in low-power environments where thermal constraints were critical.

Comparisons with Competitors

The WinChip processors, introduced during the late 1990s era, were positioned as budget alternatives to Intel's MMX, offering comparable integer performance at equivalent clock speeds while consuming approximately 50% less power—for instance, the 200 MHz WinChip C6 drew about 11 watts compared to 18-20 watts for the MMX 200 MHz. This efficiency stemmed from its simpler in-order execution and smaller die size, making it suitable for low-cost systems, though it initially provided only basic MMX support without the advanced optimizations found in Intel's implementation. In floating-point intensive tasks, however, the WinChip lagged significantly behind the MMX, which benefited from a more robust FPU, leading to slower processing. Compared to AMD's K6 series, the WinChip underperformed in floating-point and workloads, often by 20-30% in like Quake due to its weaker FPU and lack of 3DNow! instructions in early models. For example, benchmarks showed the WinChip 2 trailing the K6-2 in 3D WinMark scores, though it closed the gap in integer-heavy applications. The WinChip's advantages lay in its lower cost and reduced thermal output, enabling quieter, more affordable systems for non-gaming use, with power draw remaining under 15 watts even at higher clocks like 266 MHz. Against the Cyrix MII (also known as 6x86MX), the WinChip delivered comparable overall budget performance, with a slight edge in office-oriented benchmarks such as Winstone 99, where the WinChip 2-266 scored 14.4 versus 14.3 for the MII-266. Both processors targeted value segments with similar integer capabilities, but the MII offered better support for higher speeds on Super7 motherboards, providing an advantage in for certain configurations. The WinChip's simpler design, however, resulted in marginally better power efficiency in sustained workloads. Overall, the WinChip excelled in cost-per-performance for embedded and applications during its 1997-2000 relevance, prioritizing low MIPS-per-dollar and cool operation over high-end gaming or multimedia demands, as Intel transitioned to platforms. It lagged in FP-heavy scenarios but found a niche in sub-$500 PCs where power and price outweighed peak throughput.

Market Impact and Decline

Adoption and Use Cases

The WinChip processors found primary adoption in entry-level desktop PCs targeted at the sub-$1,000 market segment during the late , where cost savings were prioritized over high performance. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) integrated the chips into budget systems, leveraging their compatibility with existing infrastructure to offer affordable computing solutions suitable for basic productivity needs. These systems gained traction in emerging markets, particularly in and , where IDT reported increased unit sales through distribution channels. Sales volumes grew steadily, with approximately 850,000 units shipped in and expectations for over two million in 1999, reflecting strong demand in low-end PC applications. The processors were commonly paired with motherboards from vendors such as , Shuttle, (e.g., 5AX with ALi V chipset), (e.g., P2L-B with 440LX chipset), and FIC, all supporting the /Super 7 interface for seamless upgrades from older Pentium-class systems. In Q3 1999 alone, around 700,000 units were sold, underscoring the chip's role in volume-driven, cost-sensitive builds. Typical use cases centered on everyday tasks such as word processing, web browsing, and running basic applications under DOS or /98 operating systems, making the WinChip ideal for office environments and home users avoiding resource-intensive activities like gaming. Its low power consumption enabled fanless designs in compact or embedded setups, further appealing to space-constrained educational and small business applications. Notable implementations included IDT's reference designs on certified boards like the 5AX and white-box clones prevalent in Asian markets, which proliferated as inexpensive alternatives to Intel-dominated systems.

Reasons for Discontinuation and Legacy

The discontinuation of the WinChip series around 2000 stemmed primarily from the rapid obsolescence of the platform, which had been the processor's core market. By 1999, had shifted to for its and III processors, while transitioned to Slot A for its K6-III and later lines, rendering Socket 7 motherboards and compatible chips increasingly irrelevant as the industry adopted higher-bandwidth interfaces like DDR memory. Compounding this technical shift was IDT's strategic decision to exit the x86 microprocessor business in 1999, driven by dismal sales and intense . The company captured less than 1% of the market, with WinChip revenues totaling just $7 million in 1998 against Intel's $5.2 billion, as Intel aggressively slashed prices on budget chips like the to reclaim share. IDT announced a pivot to high-speed communications semiconductors, where it saw stronger growth potential, citing the x86 segment's low margins and inability to deliver sufficient value to shareholders. In a licensing shift, sold its division—including the WinChip intellectual property—to for $51 million in September 1999, hoping VIA could sustain the line. However, VIA's efforts with the WinChip 3 proved unsuccessful, as the processor arrived too late to compete in a market dominated by AMD's and Intel's , which offered superior performance on newer platforms. VIA rebranded subsequent iterations under the label but achieved limited adoption before phasing out support. Despite its commercial failure, the WinChip left a notable legacy in low-power x86 design, particularly for embedded applications. Its emphasis on —achieving competitive at under 20W—paved the way for VIA's C3 series, which evolved Centaur's architectures into fanless, mobile-friendly processors used in thin clients and industrial systems throughout the . The WinChip also demonstrated the viability of the fabless model for x86 CPUs, with outsourcing fabrication to foundries like while focusing on design innovation; this approach influenced the broader industry's shift toward specialization, enabling smaller players to enter complex markets without owning fabs. Today, WinChip processors attract interest from retro collectors and enthusiasts restoring 1990s-era systems. Post-2000, no direct revivals of the WinChip occurred; concentrated on non-CPU technologies like networking chips, while under VIA advanced into the C7, Nano, and cores, with designs later licensed to for Chinese-market x86 processors such as the KX-5000 series.

References

  1. https://www.cpu-collection.de/?l0=co&l1=IDT&l2=WinChip
  2. https://www.pcgamer.com/a-brief-history-of-cpus-31-awesome-years-of-x86/4/
  3. https://www.ardent-tool.com/CPU/docs/IDT_Centaur/WinChip2/wc_2_datasheet_a2.pdf
  4. https://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/WinchipC6/index.html
  5. https://www.10stripe.com/featured/quick/idt.php
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  14. https://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/WinchipC6/IDT-C6-PSME180GA.html
  15. https://www.ardent-tool.com/CPU/docs/IDT_Centaur/C6/slides.pdf
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  19. https://www.ardent-tool.com/CPU/docs/IDT_Centaur/C6/boards.pdf
  20. https://www.ardent-tool.com/CPU/docs/IDT_Centaur/C6/architecture.pdf
  21. https://www.halfhill.com/byte/1997-10_keeping-simple.html
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  30. https://redhill.net.au/c/c-a.php/1000
  31. https://thandor.net/benchmark/33
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  38. https://www.forbes.com/1999/07/14/mu8.html
  39. https://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/18/business/idt-in-51-million-deal.html
  40. https://en.eeworld.com.cn/mp/leiphone/a31708.jspx
  41. https://www.techspot.com/news/83819-made-china-8-core-x86-cpu-arrives-market.html
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