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**Why this document is not GPL or a wiki
The document is copyright,  it is NOT GPL'ed text. While  the GPL is a
fantastic  idea, I  have chosen  not to  make this  freely copied  and
modified. The reasons are as follows:

1. GPL text tends to be  copied...EVERYWHERE. For example, if you look
   up a subject  on wikipedia, then try to get  more information, or a
   different perspective on  say about.com.  There you  find the EXACT
   SAME  TEXT.  This  is what  mirrors  are for.   It's an  unintended
   consequence,  but  it  can  lead  to  misinformation  being  spread
   everywhere. A bigger problem.

2. There seems to be fewer  and fewer informative websites. It used to
   be that  if you  searched for  something you  would find  a website
   about a particular  subject. Now you tend to  find the encyclopedia
   and often nothing else (well quickly).

In addition the majority of this text is quotes.

The wiki  concept is a good  idea, but they have  problems. Because no
one "owns" the  work they seem to  go to two extremes.   Either no one
maintains them, or there are edit wars. Also anyone can edit them.

**Definition of a chip set:...
**'chip set', 'chip-set' or 'chipset'?...
**What's not included:...
**Who made the first chip set?...
**Spelling errors/mistyped words...
**Info needed on:...
**A note on VESA support of 486 chipsets....
**Datasheets:...
*_IBM...
*ACC Micro...
*ALD...
*ALi...
*AMD . . . . . . . [no datasheets, some info]...
*Chips & Technologies...
*Contaq  . . . . . [no datasheets, some info]...
*Efar Microsystems [no datasheets, some info]...
*ETEQ...
*Faraday...
*Forex . . . . . . [List only, no datasheets found]...
*Intel...
**82396SX     Smart Cache                                     12/17/90
***Notes:...
***Info:...
***Versions:...
***Features:
o   Optimized Intel386TM SX Microprocessor Companion
o   4 Way SET Associative with Pseudo LRU Algorithm
o   Write Buffer Architecture
o   Integrated 4 Word Write Buffer
o   Integrated Intel387TM SX Math Coprocessor Decode Logic
o   132 Lead PQFP Package
o   Intel486TM SX Microprocessor like Burst
o   Integrated 16 KB Data RAM 
o   16-Byte Line Size
o   Dual Bus Architecture
    - Snooping Maintains Cache Coherency
o   20 MHz Clock
o   Concurrent Line Buffer Cacheing
o   1K of TAG RAM
o   Non-Sectored Architecture

**82485       Turbo Cache (and 485Turbocache)                      c90...
**82489DX       Advanced Programmable Interrupt Controller    10/12/92...
**82495DX/490DX DX CPU-Cache Chip Set                           <Sep91...
**82495XP/490XP Cache Controller / Cache RAM (for i860)       06/05/91...
**82496/491     Cache Controller / Cache RAM (for P5 Pentium) 03/22/93...
**82497/492   Cache Controller / Cache RAM (for P54 Pentium)    <Nov94...
**82498/493   Cache Controller / Cache RAM (for P54 Pentium)    <Nov94...
**
**Later chipsets (basic spec):
**440 series:...
**450NX  (?)            06/29/98:...
**?????  (Profusion)    c:99...
**800 series...
*Headland/G2...
*HMC (Hulon Microelectronics)...
*Logicstar...
*Motorola...
*OPTi...
*PC CHIPS/Amptron/Atrend/ECS/Elpina/etc...
**Notes:
You eventually get  to know when a  board is made by PC  Chips just by
looking at it.
 
Here is a test:
1.  No manufacture name, or one of the above.
2.  If the board has a lots of components that sound like a well known 
    part but aren't the well known part. i.e. 'HX Pro' instead of 
    '430HX'
3a. A really good feature set where you think, that's exactly what I'm 
    looking for.
 b. The features don't really work as intended. 
4.  The price is fantastic.
5.  Its disappointing on closer examination.

PC Chips is  renowned for making crap products. Some  are actually not
too bad, they're no worse than  your average brand. However some are a
nightmare either by design or  just poorly made. Fake components glued
on is not  uncommon. Fake labels over other components.  PCB's so thin
they require low insertion force ISA connectors, every trick to save a
few $.

**Early Chipsets:...
**Later Chipsets:...
*SIS...
*Symphony...
*TI (Texas Instruments)...
*UMC...
*Unresearched:...
*VIA...
*VLSI...
*Western Digital...
*Winbond...
*ZyMOS...
*General Sources:...