MicroModule Systems Pentium MCM

[hugo929]

a chip made by MicroModuleSystem.
I googled some info about it at: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EKF/is_n2161_v43/ai_19288334/pg_1;
From this info i reckon this is a 120Mhz pentium, what do you think?
THANKs!!!!

[el_gecko]

Very nice find!
You're right, MMS manufactured custom packaged Pentium (like Fujitsu). Here is a picture coming from an MCM documentation:

[el_gecko]

And here, an interessant article easily found on Google:

Multichip module maker MicroModule Systems, Inc., (MMS) unveiled at the Portable by Design Conference here last week its enhanced, third-generation small Pentium CPU module featuring Intel MMX technology, operating at clock rates of 133, 150 and 166MHz.

The Cupertino, Calif. firm's newest Spectrum CPU module features a Pentium processor, PCI chipset, 256-kilobytes of L2 cache, Tag RAM, and a National Semiconductor LM75A temperature sensor in a snap-in daughtercard that measures 49x54x5mm. The new multichip module entries will be sampling during the second quarter, with volume shipments beginning in the third quarter. Sample pricing is $1,679 for 166MHz devices and $1,239 for 150MHz versions.

Intel recently began offering its mobile Pentium processor with MMX technology in die form (EN, Feb. 24), and Fujitsu also had MCM products based on it ready for exhibit at last week's conference here (EN, March 10). These products are also expected to come under scrutiny at this week's Multichip Modules Conference in Denver.

Roger Stein, director of portable CPU products at MicroModule Systems, said, "Our Spectrum CPU products enable the builders of wearable and embedded computing and communications products to deliver Pentium processing power and desktop software compatibility in extremely small, highly mobile systems. Now, with the addition of Intel Pentium processors with MMX technology we are able to provide the designers of these 'Xtreme' mobile applications with enhanced graphics and compute performance within an ultraminiature form factor."

Because the new MMX modules are pin-compatible with existing Spectrum modules, customers can begin their designs immediately with the MMS Gemini reference design kit, it is said. Each kit contains a 120 or 133MHz Spectrum module mounted on a Baby-AT reference board with 16-megabytes of DRAM, a design binder and CD ROM. BIOS support is available from IBM, Systemsoft, and Phoenix.

Spectrum customers can accelerate their Pentium system designs by implementing off-the-shelf systems based upon a variety of industry-standard board formats, MMS said. Megatel Computer Corp. (Ontario, Canada) is offering Spectrum-based systems based on the new Small PCI standard, in a complete 64MB system the size of a Type III PC card. MATRIX Corp. (Raleigh, N.C.) is building industrial and ruggedized Spectrum-based 3U and 6U VME boards, while the Parvus Corp. (Salt Lake City, Utah) recently has introduced a Pentium-processor-based PC/104 Plus card using the MicroModule Systems Spectrum module.

David Ghaemi, CEO of Zykronix (Englewood, Colo.) said, "Today Zykronix is building our next-generation body-worn computers with MicroModule Systems Gemini modules. By designing with MMS each of our highly mobile systems is fully socket-compatible with Intel's MMX technology and future versions of the Pentium processor."

(from http://findarticles.com)

[Cpuswe]

Wow! As a Pentium collector i find this chip really cool! If you can get more, PM me.

[el_gecko]

Yep, I'm interested too

[CPUShack]

Same here, very good lookin MCM

[Neon_WA]

a few more to add to the ones found

133MHz / 66FSB
unmarked speed unit
120MHz / 60FSB
completely unmarked unit

also a pic of the 2 die variations found

and a few articles about MMS & Pentium MCMs

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/_/search/Search.aspx?SearchBy=0&Word=MicroModule+Systems+pentium&Search=Search&By=0

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/MicroModule+Systems+Ceases+Operations.-a053971367

http://www.ece.cmu.edu/research/publications/1997/CMU-ECE-1997-012.pdf

[CPUShack]

Very nice and rare CPUs
Genuine Intel dies, packages by the same company that made the ROSS CPU packages

[Neon_WA]

located a bit more info

found part numbering definition
and also a picture of the module before the coating is applied over the dies

[Neon_WA]

The interesting thing is the stepping of the module

Initial Gemini units were marked as C0 stepping and initial Pentium die provided by Intel under the SmartDie program was C0 stepping
These dies if packaged by Intel would of been one of the following sSpecs
120MHz >> SY027, SY030 or SY021
133MHz >> SY028 or SY019

It appears under the SmartDie program, Intel also produced D0 stepping dies.
These dies were supplied to MMS and a few OEMs, but Intel did not package into any PGA or TCP processors.

Hopefully I will soon secure a complete system and will be able to confirm this statement

[kosmokrator]

All this Setup Made with Gate Arrays?????

Nice module.....

[Neon_WA]

here is a list of components on the Gemini MCM

CPU >> Intel P54CSLM Pentium die
V1 >> National PicoPower Vesuvius Chipset - PCI System Controller
V2 >> National PicoPower Vesuvius Chipset - Data Path Controller
SRAM >> 256K pipelined burst L2 cache (2 x 128k)
TAG >> Tag Ram
LM75 >> National Semiconductor LM75A Temperature Sensor

and here is a bit of a burb
Compared to conventionally packaged parts, the Gemini module
reduces the mechanical size by 80% and enhances the thermal
interface to the silicon.
Having all parts in a scalable socketable package reduces system
cost and allows easy upgrades and field replacement.
The Gemini Module routes all of the processor’s high-speed host bus
inside the module thereby reducing pc board complexity.
In addition to containing all the core computing parts in the package,
the LM75A is included to provide active thermal feedback to the
notebook power management system.

[kosmokrator]

Ahha...thnx

[Neon_WA]

though I would post a pic of a MMS Gemini system board (this particular one was made by Motorola)

this particular module has had the original markings (GV1-D0-3S-60-120A) blanked out and replaced with sticker on die cap
GV1-D1-3S-60-120A
so should be a D1 rev Pentium with VRT.. which was also not released by Intel in any of their products

[CPUShack]

A very rare one indeed