Why Cyrix CPU is Slow? (VIA Cyrix III (Samuel))

Member Name: vsiang

Product:	VIA Cyrix III (Samuel)
Date:	07/07/00 (68 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheap

Disadvantages: Slow, slow, slow

If you remember, Cyrix popped in the days of Pentium 166 as an alternative to Pentium CPUs. It offers better performance in mainstream application for lesser money. The catch is "mainstream applications" because these refer to Office apps that do not make use of floating point like Word, PowerPoint, etc. The critical weakness of Cyrix is it's slow FPU. Cyrix's FPU is not even half as powerful as Pentium's, though it's integer unit is on par. This makes Cyrix's very unattractive for gamers. Try playing Quake III on a Cyrix PC, you'll find even a Cyrix 1000Mhz (no such CPU, yet) is beaten by Pentium III 500Mhz.

Subsequent release of Cyrix CPU boast higher speed, but the weakness remains. Although running at higher frequency, the FPU is TWO generation behind Pentium III's design, which is an improved version of the Pentium Pro's. The only solution is to redesign the FPU. AMD did this, and the Athlon is now on with Pentium III. Before that the AMD K6 is miles behind Pentium III.

Summary: