CPU History Tour (1995 - 1999)

Published: 14th April 2019 (last update 14th April 2019 )

See how various processors perform in application and gaming tests. This article is the first part of a large benchmark project. Part one covers CPU development starting with Pentium Classic and up to Pentium III and Athlon.

Introduction

This article is the first part of huge benchmark project. The purpose of this project is to follow development of x86 processors starting in year 1995 and up to present time. The whole project is too big to fit into single article, so there will be multiple parts, each of them with slightly adjusted methodology but still similar enough to compare processors from one part to another. The point is to measure performance of software newer than tested HW, to determine how future-proof were the selected architectures and processors based on them. You can find popular benchmarks, games and real-life applications tested here.

Tested Processors

	K6 166	K6 233	K6-2 233	K6-2 300 (FSB 66)	K6-2 300 (FSB 100)	K6-2 450	K6-2 450 (MVP3)	K6-III 450	K6-III 450 (MVP3)
Socket	Socket 7	Socket 7	Socket 7	Socket 7	Socket 7	Socket 7	Socket 7	Socket 7	Socket 7
Cores / Threads	1/1	1/1	1/1	1/1	1/1	1/1	1/1	1/1	1/1
Frequency	166 MHz	233 MHz	233 MHz	300 MHz	300 MHz	450 MHz	450 MHz	450 MHz	450 MHz
Multiplier	2.5×	3.5×	3.5×	3×	4.5×	4.5×	4.5×	4.5×	4.5×
Bus Speed	66 MHz / 64-bit	66 MHz / 64-bit	66 MHz / 64-bit	66 MHz / 64-bit	100 MHz / 64-bit	100 MHz / 64-bit	100 MHz / 64-bit	100 MHz / 64-bit	100 MHz / 64-bit
Bus Type	SDR	SDR	SDR	SDR	SDR	SDR	SDR	SDR	SDR
FSB Bandwidth	528 MB/s	528 MB/s	528 MB/s	528 MB/s	800 MB/s	800 MB/s	800 MB/s	800 MB/s	800 MB/s
Architecture	K6	K6	K6	K6	K6	K6	K6	K6	K6
Code Name	Model 6	Model 6	Chomper	Chomper	Chomper	Chomper Ext.	Chomper Ext.	Sharptooth	Sharptooth
Technology	350 nm	350 nm	250 nm	250 nm	250 nm	250 nm	250 nm	250 nm	250 nm
Transistor Count	8.8 mil.	8.8 mil.	9.3 mil.	9.3 mil.	9.3 mil.	9.3 mil.	9.3 mil.	21.3 mil.	21.3 mil.
Die Size	162 mm2	162 mm²	81 mm²	81 mm²	81 mm²	81 mm²	81 mm²	118 mm²	118 mm²
L1 Cache I / D	32 / 32 kB	32 / 32 kB	32 / 32 kB	32 / 32 kB	32 / 32 kB	32 / 32 kB	32 / 32 kB	32 / 32 kB	32 / 32 kB
L2 Cache	512 kB	512 kB	512 kB	512 kB	512 kB	512 kB	1024 kB	256 kB	256 kB
L2 Type / Speed	external / FSB	external / FSB	external / FSB	external / FSB	external / FSB	external / FSB	external / FSB	on-die / full	on-die / full
RAM Capacity	128 MB	128 MB	128 MB	128 MB	128 MB	128 MB	128 MB	512 MB	512 MB
RAM Type	SDRAM	SDRAM	SDRAM	SDRAM	SDRAM	SDRAM	SDRAM	SDRAM	SDRAM
RAM Speed	66 MHz / 64-bit	66 MHz / 64-bit	66 MHz / 64-bit	66 MHz / 64-bit	100 MHz / 64-bit	100 MHz / 64-bit	100 MHz / 64-bit	100 MHz / 64-bit	100 MHz / 64-bit
RAM Bandwidth	528 MB/s	528 MB/s	528 MB/s	528 MB/s	800 MB/s	800 MB/s	800 MB/s	800 MB/s	800 MB/s
Motherboard	Asus P5A-B	Asus P5A-B	Asus P5A-B	Asus P5A-B	Asus P5A-B	Asus P5A-B	AOpen AX59 Pro	Asus P5A-B	AOpen AX59 Pro
Chipset	ALi Aladdin V	ALi Aladdin V	ALi Aladdin V	ALi Aladdin V	ALi Aladdin V	ALi Aladdin V	VIA MVP3	ALi Aladdin V	VIA MVP3
Voltage	2.9 V	3.2 V	2.2 V	2.2 V	2.2 V	2.2 V	2.2 V	2.4 V	2.4 V
TDP	17 W	28 W	15 W*	17 W	17 W	19 W	19 W	29 W	29 W
Launch Date	02.04.1997	02.04.1997	28.5.1998*	28.05.1998	28.05.1998	26.02.1999	26.02.1999	13.05.1999	13.05.1999
Launch Price	$244	$469	$140*	$281	$281	$203	$203	$476	$476

	K6-III+ 577	Athlon 600	6X86L PR166+	MII-233GP	MII-333GP	MII @ 300 MHz (PR433)	WinChip C6 200	Pentium 166	Pentium 166 MMX
Socket	Socket 7	Slot A	Socket 7	Socket 7	Socket 7	Socket 7	Socket 5	Socket 5	Socket 7
Cores / Threads	1/1	1/1	1/1	1/1	1/1	1/1	1/1	1/1	1/1
Frequency	577 MHz	600 MHz	133 MHz	187.5 MHz	250 MHz	300 MHz	200 MHz	166 MHz	166 MHz
Multiplier	5.5×	6×	2×	2.5×	3×	3×	3×	2.5×	2.5×
Bus Speed	105 MHz / 64-bit	200 MHz / 64-bit	66 MHz / 64-bit	75 MHz / 64-bit	83 MHz / 64-bit	100 MHz / 64-bit	66 MHz / 64-bit	66 MHz / 64-bit	66 MHz / 64-bit
Bus Type	SDR	DDR	SDR	SDR	SDR	SDR	SDR	SDR	SDR
FSB Bandwidth	840 MB/s	1600 MB/s	528 MB/s	600 MB/s	666 MB/s	800 MB/s	528 MB/s	528 MB/s	528 MB/s
Architecture	K6	K7	M1R	MII	MII	MII	C6	P5	P5
Code Name	Sharptooth	Pluto (K75)	M1L	MII	MII	MII	WinChip C6	P54CS	P55C
Technology	180 nm	180 nm	350 nm	300 nm	250 nm	250 nm	350 nm	350 nm	350 nm
Transistor Count	21.3 mil.*	22 mil.	3 mil.	6.5 mil.	6.5 mil.	6.5 mil.	5.4 mil.	3.3 mil.	4.5 mil.
Die Size	-	102 mm²	169 mm²	197 mm²	88 mm²	88 mm²	88 mm²	83 mm²	141 mm²
L1 Cache I / D	32 / 32 kB	64 / 64 kB	0 / 16 kB	0 / 64 kB	0 / 64 kB	0 / 64 kB	32 / 32 kB	8 / 8 kB	16 / 16 kB
L2 Cache	256 kB	512 kB	1024 kB	512 kB	512 kB	512 kB	512 kB	512 kB	512 kB
L2 Type / Speed	on-die / full	on SECC / 1/2	external / FSB	external / FSB	external / FSB	external / FSB	external / FSB	external / FSB	external / FSB
RAM Capacity	512 MB	512 MB	128 MB	128 MB	128 MB	128 MB	128 MB	128 MB	128 MB
RAM Type	SDRAM	SDRAM	SDRAM	SDRAM	SDRAM	SDRAM	SDRAM	SDRAM	SDRAM
RAM Speed	100 MHz / 64-bit	133 MHz / 64-bit	66 MHz / 64-bit	75 MHz / 64-bit	83 MHz / 64-bit	100 MHz / 64-bit	66 MHz / 64-bit	66 MHz / 64-bit	66 MHz / 64-bit
RAM Bandwidth	840 MB/s	1066 MB/s	528 MB/s	600 MB/s	666 MB/s	800 MB/s	528 MB/s	528 MB/s	528 MB/s
Motherboard	Asus P5A-B	AOpen AK72	AOpen AX59 Pro	Asus P5A-B	Asus P5A-B	Asus P5A-B	Asus P5A-B	Asus P5A-B	Asus P5A-B
Chipset	ALi Aladdin V	VIA KX133	VIA MVP3	ALi Aladdin V	ALi Aladdin V	ALi Aladdin V	ALi Aladdin V	ALi Aladdin V	ALi Aladdin V
Voltage	2 V	1.7 V	2.8 V	2.8 V	2.9 V	2.9 V	3.5 V	3.5 V	2.8 V
TDP	20 W*	34 W	14 W	22 W*	23 W	30 W*	10 W	14.5 W	13 W
Launch Date	25.09.2000	29.11.1999	-	30.5.1997*	15.06.1998	15.06.1998	13.10.1997	04.01.1996	08.01.1997
Launch Price	$101	$615	-	$320*	$180	$180	$135	$479	$407

	Pentium 233 MMX	Pentium 300 MMX	Pentium Pro 200 (256k)	Pentium Pro 200 (1024k)	Pentium Pro 233 (1024k)	2 × Pentium Pro 200 (256k)	Pentium II 233	2 × Pentium II 233 (SDR)
Socket	Socket 7	Socket 7	Socket 8	Socket 8	Socket 8	Socket 8	Slot 1	Slot 1
Cores / Threads	1/1	1/1	1/1	1/1	1/1	2/2	1/1	2/2
Frequency	233 MHz	300 MHz	200 MHz	200 MHz	233 MHz	233 MHz	233 MHz	233 MHz
Multiplier	3.5×	3×	3×	3×	3.5×	3.5×	3.5×	3.5×
Bus Speed	66 MHz / 64-bit	100 MHz / 64-bit	66 MHz / 64-bit	66 MHz / 64-bit	66 MHz / 64-bit	66 MHz / 64-bit	66 MHz / 64-bit	66 MHz / 64-bit
Bus Type	SDR	SDR	SDR	SDR	SDR	SDR	SDR	SDR
FSB Bandwidth	528 MB/s	800 MB/s	528 MB/s	528 MB/s	528 MB/s	528 MB/s	528 MB/s	528 MB/s
Architecture	P5	P5	P6	P6	P6	P6	P6	P6
Code Name	P55C	P55C	P6	P6	P6	P6	Klamath	Klamath
Technology	350 nm	350 nm	350 nm	350 nm	350 nm	350 nm	350 nm	350 nm
Transistor Count	4.5 mil.	4.5 mil.	21 mil.	67.5 mil.	67.5 mil.	2 × 21 mil.	7.5 mil.	2 × 7.5 mil.
Die Size	141 mm²	141 mm²	398 mm²	679 mm²	679 mm²	2 × 398 mm²	203 mm²	2 × 203 mm²
L1 Cache I / D	16 / 16 kB	16 / 16 kB	8 / 8 kB	8 / 8 kB	8 / 8 kB	2 × 8 / 8 kB	16 / 16 kB	2 × 16 / 16 kB
L2 Cache	512 kB	512 kB	256 kB	1024 kB	1024 kB	2 × 256 kB	512 kB	2 × 512 kB
L2 Type / Speed	external / FSB	external / FSB	built-in / full	built-in / full	built-in / full	built-in / full	on SECC / 1/2	on SECC / 1/2
RAM Capacity	128 MB	128 MB	256 MB	256 MB	256 MB	1024 MB	512 MB	512 MB
RAM Type	SDRAM	SDRAM	EDO	EDO	EDO	EDO	SDRAM	SDRAM
RAM Speed	66 MHz / 64-bit	100 MHz / 64-bit	66 MHz / 64-bit	66 MHz / 64-bit	66 MHz / 64-bit	66 MHz / 64-bit	66 MHz / 64-bit	66 MHz / 64-bit
RAM Bandwidth	528 MB/s	800 MB/s	528 MB/s	528 MB/s	528 MB/s	528 MB/s	528 MB/s	528 MB/s
Motherboard	Asus P5A-B	Asus P5A-B	Intel R440FX UP	Intel R440FX UP	Intel R440FX UP	SNI 440FX	A-bit BE6	Tyan Tiger 100
Chipset	ALi Aladdin V	ALi Aladdin V	Intel i440FX	Intel i440FX	Intel i440FX	Intel i440FX	Intel i440BX	Intel i440BX
Voltage	2.8 V	3.2 V	3.3 V	3.3 V	3.3 V	3.3 V	2.8 V	2.8 V
TDP	17 W	25 W*	35 W	44 W	50 W*	2 × 40 W*	35 W	2 × 35 W
Launch Date	02.06.1997	02.06.1997	01.11.1995	18.08.1997	18.08.1997	01.11.1995	07.05.1997	07.05.1997
Launch Price	$594	$594	$1125	$2675	$2675	$2450	$636	$1272

	2 × Pentium II 266 (EDO)	Pentium II 450	Pentium III 500	Pentium III 600EB	Celeron 300	Celeron 333	Celeron 433	2 × Celeron 433	Celeron 533
Socket	Slot 1	Slot 1	Slot 1	Slot 1 -> s370	Slot 1	Slot 1 -> s370	Slot 1 -> s370	Socket 370	Slot 1 -> s370
Cores / Threads	2/2	1/1	1/1	1/1	1/1	1/1	1/1	2/2	1/1
Frequency	266 MHz	450 MHz	500 MHz	600 MHz	300 MHz	333 MHz	433 MHz	433 MHz	533 MHz
Multiplier	4×	4.5×	5×	4.5×	4.5×	5×	6.5×	6.5×	8×
Bus Speed	66 MHz / 64-bit	100 MHz / 64-bit	100 MHz / 64-bit	133 MHz / 64-bit	66 MHz / 64-bit	66 MHz / 64-bit	66 MHz / 64-bit	66 MHz / 64-bit	66 MHz / 64-bit
Bus Type	SDR	SDR	SDR	SDR	SDR	SDR	SDR	SDR	SDR
FSB Bandwidth	528 MB/s	800 MB/s	800 MB/s	1066 MB/s	528 MB/s	528 MB/s	528 MB/s	528 MB/s	528 MB/s
Architecture	P6	P6	P6	P6	P6	P6	P6	P6	P6
Code Name	Klamath	Deschutes	Katmai	Coppermine	Covington	Mendocino	Mendocino	Mendocino	Mendocino
Technology	350 nm	250 nm	250 nm	180 nm	250 nm	250 nm	250 nm	250 nm	250 nm
Transistor Count	2 × 7.5 mil.	7.5 mil.	9.5 mil.	28 mil.	7.5 mil.	19 mil.	19 mil.	2 x 19 mil.	19 mil.
Die Size	2 × 203 mm²	118 mm²	132 mm²	105 mm²	131 mm²	154 mm²	154 mm²	2 x 154 mm²	154 mm²
L1 Cache I / D	2 × 16 / 16 kB	16 / 16 kB	16 / 16 kB	16 / 16 kB	16 / 16 kB	16 / 16 kB	16 / 16 kB	2 x 16 / 16 kB	16 / 16 kB
L2 Cache	2 × 512 kB	512 kB	512 kB	256 kB	-	128 kB	128 kB	2 x 128 kB	128 kB
L2 Type / Speed	on SECC / 1/2	on SECC / 1/2	on SECC / 1/2	on-die / full	-	on-die / full	on-die / full	on-die / full	on-die / full
RAM Capacity	256 MB	512 MB	512 MB	512 MB	512 MB	512 MB	512 MB	512 MB	512 MB
RAM Type	EDO	SDRAM	SDRAM	RDRAM	SDRAM	SDRAM	SDRAM	SDRAM	SDRAM
RAM Speed	66 MHz / 64-bit	100 MHz / 64-bit	100 MHz / 64-bit	800 MHz / 16-bit	66 MHz / 64-bit	66 MHz / 64-bit	66 MHz / 64-bit	66 MHz / 64-bit	66 MHz / 64-bit
RAM Bandwidth	528 MB/s	800 MB/s	800 MB/s	1600 MB/s	528 MB/s	528 MB/s	528 MB/s	528 MB/s	528 MB/s
Motherboard	Dell i440FX	A-bit BE6	A-bit BE6	Intel VC820	A-bit BE6	A-bit BE6	A-bit BE6	A-bit BP6	A-bit BE6
Chipset	Intel i440FX	Intel i440BX	Intel i440BX	Intel i820	Intel i440BX	Intel i440BX	Intel i440BX	Intel i440BX	Intel i440BX
Voltage	2.8 V	2 V	2 V	1.65 V	2 V	2 V	2 V	2 V	2 V
TDP	2 × 38 W	27 W	34 W	16 W	18.5 W	21 W	24 W	2 x 24 W	28 W
Launch Date	07.05.1997	24.08.1998	26.02.1999	25.10.1999	08.06.1998	24.08.1998	22.03.1999	22.03.1999	04.01.2000
Launch Price	$1550	$669	$696	$455	$159	$192	$169	$338	$167

Note: values marked with * are estimated. Official information is either unavailable or these are overclocked units.