First in Industry : ALR Announces PC Using Intel i486 Microprocessor

Advanced Logic Research Inc., beating the rest of the industry to the punch, became the first personal computer maker to announce a PC built specifically for Intel Corp.’s advanced i486 microchip.

Although ALR announced its product before such rivals as AST Research Inc., Compaq Computer Corp. and International Business Machines Corp., it said its machine won’t be at local computer stores until September.

So, it’s possible that ALR’s rivals could announce similar machines later, but get the products to market about the same time as ALR.

ALR, an Irvine computer maker, has prided itself on being the first to introduce machines using the industry’s newest microprocessor technology. The microprocessor is the heart of a computer, manipulating data and determining how quickly it can perform calculations.

Currently the industry’s high-speed champion, the i486 chip was introduced earlier this year but is not expected to be manufactured in large volume until later this year. The i486 is said to be about twice as fast as Intel’s 80386 chip.

“We were the first ones to introduce a machine for the (Intel 80386 chip) in July, 1986,” said David Kirkey, ALR’s vice president of marketing. “For a small company, it’s very important to continue to come to market with a better widget faster than the other people.”

ALR said the new machine, dubbed the PowerCache4, will be compatible with Micro Channel, an internal computer architecture developed by IBM and used inside its higher-priced PS/2 personal computers.

ALR said the PowerCache 4 will cost $9,990 when it is available in September.

IBM, ALR and AST recently announced that they have developed add-on boards that that can be plugged into their current PCs, allowing them to use the more powerful i486.