AMD Am386 released March 2, 1991
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- #Intel
- #CPU-History
- #AMD
- AMD's delay in releasing the Am386 clone was due to legal battles with Intel, not inability to clone.
- IBM's initial disinterest in the 386 CPU led Intel to not license it to second sources like AMD.
- AMD took about two years to reverse engineer the 386, but legal battles delayed its release until 1991.
- Intel's legal strategies aimed to delay AMD's clones, keeping AMD a generation behind for over a decade.
- AMD's Am386 was competitive with Intel's 386, offering similar performance at lower prices.
- The Am386 found favor among value-oriented users for providing near-486 performance at a lower cost.
- Windows 95's requirements eventually made the Am386 obsolete for mainstream PC use.
- AMD had a strong presence in the enterprise market before the CPU battles, contrary to its 'off-brand' perception.