AMD Élan explained

AMD Élan is a family of 32-Bit embedded SoCs marketed by AMD based on x86 microprocessors. All of these products were backed with a long-term supply guarantee to meet the needs of embedded processors. However, when AMD acquired the Geode division from National Semiconductor in August 2003, the product was suddenly discontinued. The Élan processors saw a reasonable amount of use in the embedded world.

SC3xx family

The SC300 and SC310 combines a 32-Bit, x86 compatible, low-voltage 25 MHz or 33 MHz Am386SX CPU with memory controller, PC/AT peripheral controllers, real-time clock, PLL clock generators and ISA bus interface. SC300 integrates in addition two PCMCIA 2.1 slots and a CGA-compatible LCD controller. Power consumption at 33 MHz was only 600 mW including CPU, memory controller and peripherals. In suspend mode consumption reduces to 0,17 mW. The low budget 9,7" laptop Brother GeoBook NB60 uses a SC300[1]

SC4xx family

The SC400 and SC410 combines a 32-Bit, x86 compatible, low-voltage 33 MHz, 66 MHz or 100 MHz Am486 CPU with memory controller, PC/AT peripheral controllers, real-time clock, PLL clock generators, VESA Local Bus and ISA bus interface. SC400 integrates in addition two PCMCIA 2.1 slots and a 4-bit color Super-twisted nematic display (STN) LCD controller. The C64 "Web.it" Internet Computer uses a SC400 with 16 MB of RAM, a 3.5" floppy disk drive, 56k-modem and PCMCIA. [2] The AirPort Base Station uses a SC410, the Nokia 9110 Communicator a SC450. AMD announced the SC400 on October 15, 1996.

SC5xx family

The SC520 combines a 32 bit, x86 compatible, low-voltage 100 MHz or 133 MHz Am5x86 CPU with memory controller supporting SDRAM, PC/AT peripheral controllers, real-time clock and PCI bus. ISA and PCMCIA were no longer supported. AMD announced the SC520 on August 25, 1999.

Comparison

Comparison[3] ! Name !! Clock speed !! FSB !! L1 Cache !! Architecture !! Technology !! Package
SC300-25 25 MHz 25 MHz 700 nm 208-pin QFP
208-pin TQFP
SC300-33 33 MHz 33 MHz
SC310-25 25 MHz 25 MHz
SC310-33 33 MHz 33 MHz
SC400-33 33 MHz 33 MHz 8 kB 350 nm 292-pin BGA
SC400-66 66 MHz 33 MHz 8 kB
SC400-100 100 MHz 33 MHz 8 kB
SC410-33 33 MHz 33 MHz 8 kB
SC410-66 66 MHz 33 MHz 8 kB
SC410-100 100 MHz 33 MHz 8 kB
SC450-33 33 MHz 33 MHz 8 kB
SC520-100 100 MHz 33 MHz 16 kB 350 nm 388-pin PBGA
SC520-133 133 MHz 33 MHz 16 kB

Notes and References

  1. Web site: GeoBook – The Failed Budget 386sx Laptop in an era of Pentiums . 2020-02-11 . 2022-12-11.
  2. Web site: C:\B_retro\Ausgabe_23\: Der Commodore Web.it mit Windows 3.1 und AMD Elan . ComputerBase . 2020-03-29 . de.
  3. Web site: AMD Elan . www.x86-guide.net . 2022-11-15.