AMD Am386 released March 2, 1991
This piece delves into the forgotten history of AMD's Am386, dispelling the myth of AMD's slowness by revealing Intel's aggressive legal tactics and IBM's unexpected role in delaying its release. It's popular on HN because it offers a nuanced, historical perspective on the early CPU wars, highlighting the business and legal maneuvers that shaped today's tech giants rather than just technical specifications. Readers appreciate the deep dive into the corporate strategies and market dynamics behind iconic hardware.
The Lowdown
This article debunks the common misconception that AMD was technologically slow in cloning Intel CPUs, specifically the 386. It meticulously explains why AMD's Am386, despite being technically ready much earlier, wasn't released until March 1991, nearly six years after Intel's original 386 in 1985. The author argues this delay was primarily due to a complex interplay of IBM's market strategy and Intel's subsequent legal actions, rather than AMD's engineering capabilities.