AMD To Stop Production Of 486, 586 & K6 Chips 224
Dear VersaLogic Customer:
This letter is being sent to alert you to an important change in the long-term availability of several VersaLogic products. Please read it carefully.
AMD, the supplier of CPU chips that are used on many of our products, has notified us that they plan to re-tool the production line that currently produces 486, 586 and K6 CPU chips. AMD needs to use their Fab 25 facility to produce a different line of products and will stop production on these CPU chips on June 28, 2002. The CPU chips produced by this facility are used in our VSBC-2, VSBC-6, VSBC-7, Panther, VL-686-2, and VL-586-1 products.
This decision by AMD, with whom we have worked closely for many years, is a major blow to the embedded computer market. It is very surprising that their long-standing dedication to the embedded market has taken such an abrupt turn. As recently as October 2000 they announced new processors (the K6-2E+ and K6-IIIE+) and assured us of their continuing long-term support for the embedded market.
Please note that this decision by AMD does not mean that they will immediately halt production or that these CPU chips will be in short supply. Normal production of these chips is scheduled to continue through June 2002. Last-time-buy orders can be placed in June for delivery of the chips in late 2002 and early 2003.
VersaLogic management has been hearing rumors of this possible change (various versions of it) over the last few months and has been working closely with AMD to avoid this radical change in their direction. We prepared for the possibility that their decision would ultimately be to issue an end-of-life notice. Now that the decision has been made, our focus will be on assisting our customers with planning and migration issues over the next 12-24 months.
Although this change is not immediate, each customer must look at the long term impact that this announcement will have on their product usage. In some cases this will mean placing an end-of-life purchase order with VersaLogic to continue delivery of the current product even after the AMD chips have been discontinued. For others it may involve qualifying new products, or using Intel Tillamook versions of our current products, for the current application. Tillamook versions of most impacted products will be available before year end. For further information please see the roadmap and migration information on our web site at http://www.versalogic.com/support/rdmp/rdmp.asp or contact us directly at info@versalogic.com.
Again, this change is not immediate, but planning steps should be taken now to assure a smooth transition in the future. We stand ready to support you as needed to make this transition as easy and painless as possible. "
186? 386? 68hc11? Yup. (Score:2, Interesting)
Why? Because they do the job at a decent price. Would we love to use a big, better, faster processor? Yep. But we need to keep price down, and in some cases, keep power way down. Like getting several days use out of batteries, or getting a product with an 'intrinsically safe' rating. This is not 'explosion proof' (contain any spark or blow-up inside the case) but 'can't even make a spark'.
Our ideal processor, just like everyone else's dream, would be infinitely fast/powerful, use no power, and cost nothing. Since that doesn't exist, choices get made. Sometimes an older x86 is the right choice.
If not AMD, someone else? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Huh? Vacuum Tubes? (Score:3, Interesting)
No, but many are still in production, and available at your local music store or audiophile shop.
The oldest tube still is mass production is the 6SN7, which is an octal-base dual triode first introduced in 1939. It's often used in old TV sets as a horizontal oscillator, but it was originally designed as an audio tube - a more primitive version of the venerable 12AX7.
In contrast, try to find me a new production 6BK6. Good luck. (Though I have several dozen new old stock 6BK6s, they've been in their original boxes since the 1950s.)
Old parts are easier to buy than many newer ones. Last year's IC is hard to find, but something that has been in production for 10 years often has enough usage to keep it going.Uhh... Unijunction transistors, like the 2N1671, were in *very* popular production 40 years ago. They were discontinued about 20 years ago. At this point, while they're not easy to find, I know of at least 4 places that will sell me a NOS 2N1671 UJT in mass-production quantities. But they're expensive.
By contrast, even Radio Shack sells 2N2222s, which originated about the same time as the 2N1671.
Specialized parts have short lives, general purpose parts stay around.I think Intel saturated the IC market well enough with their processors. I'm sure that new 486s will be available for some time to come. Maybe you'll have to rework the board or design an adapter that will let you put a BGA chip into a ZIF socket; who knows. But I'm sure you'll be able to do it one way or another.
Re:486 still in production? (Score:3, Interesting)
There are more powerful things than that powered by a 386-class processor.
I used to work at a company that made high-end infrared equipment - the type of stuff you see on Cops or see featured on those shows on Fox (you know, "World's Wildest Police Chases 9"). Their high-end gimbal unit, the balls that are mounted on helicopters, used 386 processors.
And these units were _certainly_ magnitudes more complex than a VCR remote or stereo.
License to Hitachi? (Score:3, Interesting)
Maybe Hitachi could start making K6s.
I am amazed that the 486 and 586 have lasted. (Score:2, Interesting)
It is also good to see AMD having the decentcy to notify their customers early, and that they will continue to develop chips for the embedded market.
Re:Fundamentals (Score:2, Interesting)
So I can empathize with these companies that are going to have to begin to re-think their designs. But at least, as another poster pointed out, AMD gave a years notice to its customers and didn't just yank the plug suddenly.