Rise mP6 PR166 socket: Super Socket 7

The Rise mP6 PR166 uses the Super Socket 7 socket. It is a 7.28 W single-core mP6 desktop part at 166 MHz with 16 KB of L1 cache for low-power Super Socket 7 boards.

Launched
October 13, 1998
Cores and threads
1 and 1
Base power
7.28 W
Codename
mP6
Segment
Desktop
Family
Rise mP6
Clocks
0.17 GHz

Rise mP6 PR166 specifications

Cores1
Threads1
Core architecturemP6 Kirin (Rise)
Clocks166 MHz base, no turbo
Cache16 KB L1, L2 on board modules
Processor base power (TDP)7.28 W
Manufacturing process0.25 micron
Memory supportEDO DRAM and SDRAM through the board chipset
Front side bus83 MHz
PackageSuper Socket 7 (BGA on PPGA adapter)
MultiplierLocked (2x)
Integrated graphicsNone

Motherboard compatibility

Rise mP6 PR166 needs a motherboard with a Super Socket 7 socket. Chipset by chipset data for this codename is not recorded yet. See the Super Socket 7 chipset list and the board maker's CPU support list.

Super Socket 7 at a glance

TypePGA, 321 contacts
Package sizen/a
IntroducedMay 1998
MemoryEDO DRAM and SDRAM through the board chipset
Cooler mounting holesSocket lug (clip)

Read the full Super Socket 7 socket guide

What the mP6 PR166 is

The Rise mP6 PR166 is a 166 MHz single-core desktop processor from October 1998. It runs one Rise mP6 Kirin core at 166 MHz with no turbo, so 1 core gives 1 thread. Cache is 16 KB of L1 with no on-die L2 on a 0.25 micron process with 3.6 million transistors. Power is rated at 7.28 W in a Super Socket 7 package on an 83 MHz front side bus with a 2x multiplier at 2.75 to 2.85 V.

Triple-pipelined integer paths with a pipelined FPU give the tiny mP6 die surprising throughput per watt, which is why the PR166 at 166 MHz suits fanless experiment boards. Rise launched mP6 parts on October 13, 1998 at $50. The chip supports MMX.

A 166 MHz clock on an 83 MHz bus with a 7 W class envelope suits passively cooled Super Socket 7 boards with EDO memory. The 2x ratio is simple for old boards. That is why the PR166 shipped in low-power terminals.

Socket and motherboard compatibility

The PR166 fits Super Socket 7 low-power desktops with mP6 support. It needs a 321-pin board with an 83 MHz bus path and a BIOS that lists Rise mP6 parts. The Socket vs chipset: what decides whether a CPU works guide covers pairing rules.

Fanless terminal boards are the natural match. Boards listing mP6 PR166 accept the chip with a tiny cooler. Boards with Intel-only microcode tables may refuse the Rise CPUID string.

Memory, PCIe and cooling

Memory is EDO DRAM and SDRAM through the board chipset, matched to the board sockets. The CPU has no memory controller and no on-die L2. Terminal boards commonly run EDO pairs.

An 83 MHz front side bus ties the CPU to the chipset, while PCI hangs off the chipset. No PCIe lanes exist. Cooling uses the socket lug clip with a cooler rated for 7.28 W.

Upgrade paths

On the same socket, a Rise mP6 PR266 such as Rise mP6 PR266 keeps the family for 200 MHz actual at 8.54 W on a 100 MHz bus when the board supports it. A WinChip 2-250 such as IDT WinChip 2-250 is the Centaur rival at higher clocks.

A move to AMD K6-2 needs K6 BIOS strings. The Super Socket 7 page lists the mP6 to Sharptooth range for planning.

Frequently asked questions

What socket does the mP6 PR166 use?

Super Socket 7. It is a 7.28 W mP6 desktop part at 166 MHz.

What memory does the PR166 use?

EDO DRAM and SDRAM through the board chipset.

What is the upgrade path from the PR166?

A Rise mP6 PR266 for 200 MHz actual.

Sources and verification

  1. Rise mP6 PR166 166MHz 7.28W Oct 1998 (mP6 Wikipedia)
  2. Rise mP6 Kirin specs (ZXC Rise)
  3. Super Socket 7 Rise mP6 (Wikipedia)

Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .