Editing Cyrix 6x86 (section)

== History ==
The 6x86, previously under the codename "M1" was announced by Cyrix in October 1995.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Metz |first=Cade |date=28 May 1996 |title=First Cyrix 6x86 PCs: How Good? How Fast? |volume=15 |pages=112 |work=[[PC Mag]] |publisher=[[Ziff Davis, Inc.]] |issue=10 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MPfwx4yZJTQC&dq=cyrix+6x86+announced&pg=PA112 |access-date=1 April 2022 |issn=0888-8507}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Vijayan |first=Jaikumar |date=16 October 1995 |title=Cyrix unveils Pentium-rival chips |volume=29 |work=[[Computerworld]] |publisher=[[IDG Enterprise]] |issue=42 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lp7gd8Y8RL4C&dq=cyrix+6x86&pg=PP49 |access-date=4 April 2022 |issn=0010-4841}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Minasi |first=Mark |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ss5V_8ROo-cC |title=The Complete PC Upgrade and Maintenance Guide |publisher=[[Wiley (publisher)|Wiley]] |year=2004 |isbn=9780782143102 |publication-date=9 March 2004 |pages=56 |access-date=4 April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=8 October 1995 |title=Cyrix introduces chip to challenge Pentium |pages=36 |work=[[News Record (Pennsylvania)|News Record]] |url=https://newscomwc.newspapers.com/image/41822320/?terms=Cyrix&pqsid=4nMGIIb3HCuVYj7bCUER2Q%3A95000%3A1923528434&match=1 |access-date=27 April 2022}}</ref> On release only the 100&nbsp;MHz (P120+) version was available, but a 120&nbsp;MHz (P150+) version was planned for mid-1995 with a 133&nbsp;MHz (P166+) model later. The 100&nbsp;MHz (P120+) 6x86 was available to [[OEM]]s for a price of $450 per chip in bulk quantities.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Metz |first=Cade |date=5 December 1995 |title=Cyrix's Sixth-Generation Chip; The 6x86 targets mainstream desktops |volume=14 |pages=29 |work=[[PC Mag]] |publisher=[[Ziff Davis, Inc.]] |issue=21 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FTbctntiaHgC&dq=cyrix+6x86+announced&pg=PA29 |access-date=1 April 2022 |issn=0888-8507}}</ref>

In mid February 1996 Cyrix announced the P166+, P150+, and P133+ to be added to the 6x86 model line.<ref name=":02">{{Cite news |last=Fisco |first=Richard |date=July 1996 |title=The Perfect Processor |volume=15 |pages=135–136 |work=[[PC Mag]] |publisher=[[Ziff Davis, Inc.]] |issue=13 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2KIKOEwqk-QC&dq=cyrix+6x86+announced&pg=PA136 |access-date=4 April 2022 |issn=0888-8507}}</ref> IBM, who produced the chips, also announced they will be selling their own versions of the chips.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vijayan |first=Jaikumar |date=19 February 1996 |title=Closing in on performance; Intel competitors nip at Pentium's heels |volume=30 |pages=42 |work=[[Computerworld]] |publisher=[[IDG Enterprise]] |issue=8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jwH_IrNuHmoC&dq=cyrix+6x86+announced&pg=PT41 |access-date=1 April 2022 |issn=0010-4841}}</ref>

The 6x86 P200+ was planned for the end of 1996,<ref name=":02" /> and ended up being released in June.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 2003 |title=Chronology of the Processor |pages=45 |work=[[HWM (magazine)|HWM]] |publisher=[[SPH Magazines]] |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SOoDAAAAMBAJ&dq=cyrix+6x86+P200%2B+announced&pg=PT46 |access-date=5 April 2022 |issn=0219-5607}}</ref>

The M2 (6x86MX) was first announced to be in development in mid 1996. It would have [[MMX (instruction set)|MMX]] and 32-bit optimization. The M2 would also have some of the same features as the Intel Pentium Pro such as register renaming, [[Out-of-order execution|out-of-order completion]], and speculative execution. Additionally it would have 64&nbsp;KB of cache over the original 6x86 and Pentium Pro's 16&nbsp;KB.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Metz |first=Cade |date=July 1996 |title=Cyrix's Bold M2 Strategy; Upcoming chip simplifies the upgrade decision |volume=15 |pages=36 |work=[[PC Mag]] |publisher=[[Ziff Davis, Inc.]] |issue=13 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2KIKOEwqk-QC&dq=cyrix+m2+announced&pg=PA36 |access-date=4 April 2022 |issn=0888-8507}}</ref> In March 1997 when asked about when the M2 line of processors would begin shipping, Cyrix UK managing director Brendan Sherry stated, "I've read it's going to be May but we've said late Q2 all along and I'm pretty sure we'll make that."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Veltech |first=Martin |date=26 March 1997 |title=M2 bang on time - Cyrix; Cyrix's M2 processor is getting ready to join the coming out party for a new generation of processors |work=[[ZDnet]] |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/m2-bang-on-time-cyrix/ |access-date=5 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405182523/https://www.zdnet.com/article/m2-bang-on-time-cyrix/ |archive-date=5 April 2022}}</ref>

The 6x86L was first released in January 1997 to address the heat issues with the original 6x86 line.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hare |first=Chris |date=14 July 2008 |title=586/686 Processors Chart |url=https://www.pchardwarelinks.com/586.htm |access-date=27 April 2022 |website=PC Hardware Links}}</ref> The 6x86L had a lower V-core voltage and required a split power plane [[voltage regulator]].

In April 1997 the first laptop to use the 6x86 processor was put on sale. They were sold by [[TigerDirect]] and had a 12.1in [[DSTN]] display, 16&nbsp;MB of memory, 10x CD-ROM, 1.3&nbsp;GB hard disk drive, and cost $1,899 for the base price.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Crothers |first=Brooke |date=24 April 1997 |title=First Cyrix 6x86 notebook ships |work=[[Cnet]] |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/tech-industry/first-cyrix-6x86-notebook-ships/ |access-date=3 May 2022}}</ref>

Later by the end of May 1997 on the 27th, Cyrix said they would announce details of the new chip line (6x86MX) the day before [[Computex]] in June 1997.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Veltech |first=Martin |date=27 May 1997 |title=Cyrix to announce M2 next week; Cyrix is expected to make the formal announcement of its M2 processor next week. |work=[[ZDnet]] |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/cyrix-to-announce-m2-next-week/ |access-date=4 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405183958/https://www.zdnet.com/article/cyrix-to-announce-m2-next-week/ |archive-date=5 April 2022}}</ref> For the low end of the series, the PR166 6x86MX was available for $190 with higher end PR200 and PR233 versions available for $240 and $320.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2 June 1997 |title=Cyrix Launches 6x86MX Processor |work=[[EETimes]] |url=https://www.eetimes.com/cyrix-launches-6x86mx-processor/ |access-date=5 April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Miller |first=Greg |date=30 May 1997 |title=Intel Facing Another Rival to Pentium II |work=[[The Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-05-30-fi-63884-story.html |access-date=25 April 2022}}</ref> IBM being the producer of Cyrix's chips, would also sell their own version. Cyrix hoped to ship tens of thousands within June 1997 with up to 1 million by the end of the year. Cyrix also expected to release a 266&nbsp;MHz chip by the end of 1997 and a 300&nbsp;MHz in the first quarter of 1998.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Crothers |first=Brooke |date=30 May 1997 |title=Cyrix introduces MMX chip; The 6x86MX will be a fast but cheap weapon in Cyrix's assault on the traditional processor pricing structure. |work=[[Cnet]] |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/cyrix-introduces-mmx-chip/ |access-date=4 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405185356/https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/cyrix-introduces-mmx-chip/ |archive-date=5 April 2022}}</ref> They had slightly better [[floating point]] performance, which cut adding and multiply times by a third, but it was still slower than the Intel Pentium. The M2 also had full MMX instructions, 64&nbsp;KB of cache over the original 16&nbsp;KB, and had a lower core voltage of 2.5V over 3.3V of the original 6x86 line.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Crothers |first=Brooke |date=23 August 1996 |title=Intel and Cyrix duel for MMX |work=[[Cnet]] |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/intel-and-cyrix-duel-for-mmx/ |access-date=25 April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Slater |first=Michael |url=https://www.ardent-tool.com/CPU/docs/MPR/19961028/101405.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202222959/https://ardent-tool.com/CPU/docs/MPR/19961028/101405.pdf |archive-date=2021-12-02 |url-status=live |title=Cyrix Doubles 6x86 Performance with M2; MMX Added to Core; Larger Cache, Modified TLB Improve Scaling with Clock |publisher=Microprocessor Forum |year=1996 |volume=10 |publication-date=28 October 1996 |pages=1–3 |access-date=4 April 2022 |issue=14}}</ref>

National Semiconductor acquired Cyrix in July 1997.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Crothers |first=Brooke |date=2 January 2002 |title=National Semi leaving PC chip market |work=[[Cnet]] |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/tech-industry/national-semi-leaving-pc-chip-market/ |access-date=11 April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=30 July 1997 |title=National Semiconductor To Acquire Cyrix |work=[[Business Standard]] |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/specials/national-semiconductor-to-acquire-cyrix-197073001117_1.html |access-date=11 April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Thurrott |first=Paul |date=27 July 1997 |title=National Semiconductor buys Cyrix |work=ITPro Today |url=https://www.itprotoday.com/windows-78/national-semiconductor-buys-cyrix |access-date=11 April 2022}}</ref> National Semiconductor was not interested in high performance processors but rather [[system on a chip]] devices, and wanted to shift the focus of Cyrix to the [[MediaGX]] line.<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 November 2020 |title=Intel's strongest competitor in history was not amd for a long time |work=[[China IT]] |url=https://www.firstxw.com/view/275405.html |access-date=11 April 2022}}</ref>

In January 1998 National Semiconductors produced a 6x86MX processor on a 0.25 [[micron]] process technology. This reduced the chip size from 150 square millimeters to 88.<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 January 1998 |title=National Produces First Functional Cyrix .25 Micron 6x86MX™ CPU |url=https://www.cpushack.com/CIC/announce/1998/Cy6x86MX-0.25.html |access-date=12 April 2022}}</ref> National shifted their production of the MII and MediaGX to 0.25 by August.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kanellos |first=Michael |date=26 August 1998 |title=National starts making Cyrix chips; National Semiconductor has also begun producing the Cyrix-brand chips with the advanced 0.25-micron manufacturing process. |work=[[Cnet]] |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/national-starts-making-cyrix-chips/ |access-date=6 May 2022}}</ref>

In September 1998 IBM's licensing partnership with Cyrix was said to be ended by National Semiconductors.<ref>{{Cite news |date=26 September 1998 |title=NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR HALTING I.B.M. AGREEMENT |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/09/26/business/company-news-national-semiconductor-halting-ibm-agreement.html |access-date=25 April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |date=25 September 1998 |title=National Semi Dumps Big Blu |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |url=https://www.wired.com/1998/09/national-semi-dumps-big-blue/ |access-date=25 April 2022}}</ref> This was due to National wanting to increase production of Cyrix chips in their own facilities, and because having IBM produce Cyrix's chips was causing issues such as profit losses due to IBM frequently pricing their versions of Cyrix's chips lower.<ref>{{Cite news |last=DiCarlo |first=Lisa |date=2 September 1998 |title=IBM to stop making Cyrix chips |work=[[ZDNet]] |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/a-year-ago-ibm-to-stop-making-cyrix-chips/ |access-date=25 April 2022}}</ref> National would be paying $50–55 million to IBM to end the partnership, which would end the following April. National would then be moving chip production to their own facility in [[South Portland, Maine|South Portland]], [[Maine]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kalish |first=David |date=25 September 1998 |title=National Semi Ends IBM Chip Deal |work=[[CBS News]] |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/national-semi-ends-ibm-chip-deal/ |access-date=25 April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Tessler |first=Joelle |date=25 September 1998 |title=National Semi's Unit Breaks Off Manufacturing Deal With IBM |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB906740793796057500 |access-date=25 April 2022}}</ref>

The Cyrix MII was released in May 1998. These chips were not exciting like people had hoped, as they were just a rebranding of the 6x86MX.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shimpi |first=Anand |date=26 May 1998 |title=Cyrix M-II 300 |work=[[Anandtech]] |url=https://www.anandtech.com/show/170 |access-date=4 April 2022}}</ref> In December these chips cost $80 for a MII-333, $59 for a MII-300, $55 for a MII-266, and $48 for a MII-233.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Magee |first=Mike |date=7 December 1998 |title=Cyrix takes axe to high-end MII prices; Battle to replace Intel after it dropped low end parts |work=[[The Register]] |url=https://www.theregister.com/1998/12/07/cyrix_takes_axe_to_highend/ |access-date=8 April 2022}}</ref>

In May 1999 National Semiconductor decided to leave the PC chip market due to significant losses, and put the Cyrix CPU division up for sale.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fisher |first=Lawrence |date=10 May 1999 |title=National Semiconductor Quits the PC Chip Business |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/05/biztech/articles/10plac.html |access-date=11 April 2022}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

VIA bought the Cyrix line in June 1999, and ended the development of high performance processors. The MII-433GP would be the last processor produced by Cyrix.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Carroll |first=Mark |date=30 June 1999 |title=Via Technologies to acquire Cyrix |work=[[EETimes]] |url=https://www.eetimes.com/via-technologies-to-acquire-cyrix/ |access-date=8 April 2022}}</ref> Additionally after VIA's acquisition, the 6x86/L was discontinued, but the 6x86MX/MII line continued to be sold by VIA.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mueller |first=Scott |year=2003 |title=Cyrix/IBM 6x86 (M1) and 6x86MX (MII) |pages=175–176 |work=[[Upgrading and Repairing PCs]] |publisher=[[Que Publishing|Que]] |isbn=9780789729743 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E1p2FDL7P5QC&dq=cyrix+6x86+discontinued&pg=PA176 |access-date=8 April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | last=Hachman |first=Mark |date=17 November 1999 |title=Via Technologies' Samuel microprocess or to anchor 2000 chip lineup |work=[[EETimes]] |url=https://www.eetimes.com/via-technologies-samuel-microprocessor-to-anchor-2000-chip-lineup/ |access-date=26 April 2022}}</ref>

VIA would continue to produce the MII throughout the early 2000s. It was expected to be discontinued when the VIA Cyrix MII was released.<ref>{{Cite news | last=Hachman |first=Mark |date=17 November 1999 |title=Via Technologies' Samuel microprocessor to anchor 2000 chip lineup |work=[[EETimes]] |url=https://www.eetimes.com/via-technologies-samuel-microprocessor-to-anchor-2000-chip-lineup/ |access-date=26 April 2022}}</ref> However, the MII was still available for sale until mid/late 2003, being shown on VIA's website as a product until October, and it still saw use in devices such as network computers.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2 January 2002 |title=Ellison's Net computer gets a pricey accessory |work=[[CNet]] |url=https://www.cnet.com/culture/ellisons-net-computer-gets-a-pricey-accessory/#:~:text=Larry%20Ellison's%20New%20Internet%20Computer,%24199%20Internet%20appliance%20it%20complements.&text=Will%20consumers%20pay%20more%20than,as%20a%20cheap%20PC%20alternative%3F |access-date=26 April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=25 June 2003 |title=VIA Cyrix® MII™ |url=http://www.viatech.com/en/viac3/cyrix_MII.jsp |access-date=26 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030625090820/http://www.viatech.com/en/viac3/cyrix_MII.jsp |archive-date=25 June 2003 |url-status=dead}}</ref>