• 1996

Hardware Description

Cyrix entered the fifth generation processor market with the 6x86 processor, formerly projected as the M1. As a successful and cheaper (often less than half the cost) alternative to the Intel Pentium, it is pin- and voltage-compatible with it. Cyrix gave it the 6x86 name in reference to some of its more advanced features, which it calls "sixth generation". In reality, the processor is comparable in power and architecture to the fifth-generation Pentium.