NexGen Collection

Antares · Joined: 06 Nov 2023 Posts: 2

I thought it might be of interest to post a few photos of my collection. I worked at NexGen in the early to mid 90's, before they were bought by AMD. It was an exciting time for a young engineer. Hard to believe that was 30+ years ago.

The first photo is a Nx686 from 1995. My handwriting on the heat spreader has faded over the years, but it says "Win95 OK", indicating that particular CPU was able to boot Windows 95 successfully. The Nx686. of course, went on to become the AMD K6 after AMD acquired NexGen in 1996.

The second photo is the little-known NexGen F86 processor from 1991. The F86 was an 8-chip(!) precursor to the Nx586. I don't recall if NexGen ever intended market the F86, but it proved massively useful as a prototype to debug what would eventually become the Nx586 and Nx587. I believe this may be the only example of an F86 in existence. Years ago, I shared a photo of this chip set with a collector, and he posted it online someplace...but google can't seem to find it now. So here it is again.

The last photo shows something very special, but more in the 'memorobilia' line than a processor. It's a small, velvet-lined display case containing Nexgen 586 plus several CPU dies. It has sample dies of the original (no FPU) Nx586, an Nx587 die and an Nx586 die with the on-chip FPU. For size comparison, it has faux Intel P5 and P54C dies (they are not actual Intel die, but are sized correctly). Finally, it has a complete Nx586 chip. Back in 1994 NexGen execs were making the rounds of established tech companies and VCs, looking for much needed additional funding. This display case was used as part of their pitch.

Cheers,
Antares

CPUShack · Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2023 1:10 am Post subject:

Thats some amazing chips!

Bator · Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2023 1:35 am Post subject:

Antares,
You are part of the NexGen era, wish you good health and thank you for the photos.
And regarding the F86, can we see what the chips look like from the back side?

Thandor · Joined: 06 Oct 2008 Posts: 461

Thanks for sharing Antares! I have a Nx586 system running and like how it works Smile

.

Is the Nx686 still functional (and perhaps able to benchmark Doom? Razz

)? They should be pin compatible with socket 5/7 motherboards right?

debs3759 · Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2023 8:44 am Post subject:

Awesome collection! Thanks for showing it.

rjluna2 · Joined: 27 Oct 2014 Posts: 1302 Location: Hiram, GA, USA

Nice pieces of history here Smile

Neon · Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2023 9:41 am Post subject:

This is an awesome collection!

Thanks so much Antares for explaining what these are in context.

Borris70 · Joined: 24 Apr 2003 Posts: 988 Location: Germany

Nice

One question: Some of us own Nx587 Coprocessor. Was there ever a motherboard for it?

vinicio · Joined: 15 Feb 2003 Posts: 435 Location: Italy - Tuscany

Thank you for sharing your story and collection.

debs3759 · Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2023 3:03 pm Post subject:

Jedi08 · Joined: 03 Mar 2007 Posts: 463

Thank you for sharing.
Just some Nx586 P80 and P90 here and three VL Motherboards.

Antares · Joined: 06 Nov 2023 Posts: 2

ApostolCV · Joined: 26 May 2020 Posts: 207 Location: Ukraine

Hello Thanks for sharing your collection.
Motherboards for NextGen CPUs are extremely rare.
Unfortunately this CPUs are not so good as 486 for retro-time machine.

Marcin · Joined: 02 Jan 2005 Posts: 8519 Location: Poland

misace · Joined: 14 Sep 2012 Posts: 932 Location: Prague, Czechia

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