Sunnyvale, California-based Advanced Micro Devices Inc has announced three new single-chip Ethernet controllers for personal computer motherboards. Part of the company’s PCnet product line, two of the new products – the PCnet-PCI and PCnet-32 – are said to be the first single-chip implementations to support high-speed Peripheral Component Interconnect and VL local bus designs respectively. In addition, the final member of the family – the PCnet-ISA+ – is said to be the first Microsoft AT Plug and Play-compatible Ethernet chip. The software drivers – claimed to support virtually all local network operating systems – are common across the whole family. Currently available in sample quantities with volume shipments set for the first quarter of next year, the PCnet-PCI will ship in a 132-pin PQFP package while the PCnet-32 ships in a 160-pin PQFP. Both are to cost $30 in quantities of 1,000. The PCnet-ISA+ ships in a 132-pin PQFOP costing $26, also in quantities of 1,000.
