Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 3, 2026

AMD Élan

AMD Élan is a family of 32-bit systems on a chip (SoCs) marketed by AMD based on x86 microprocessors. They are designed for use in embedded systems and were backed with a long-term supply guarantee to meet the needs of embedded processors. However, when AMD acquired the Geode division from National Semiconductor in August 2003, the product was suddenly discontinued. The Élan processors saw a reasonable amount of use in the embedded world.

Last revised
Jun 3, 2026
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≈ 3 min
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Wikipedia ↗
AMD Élan SC450 in Nokia 9110 Communicator source ↗
AMD Élan SC520-133 source ↗

AMD Élan is a family of 32-bit systems on a chip (SoCs) marketed by AMD based on x86 microprocessors. They are designed for use in embedded systems and were backed with a long-term supply guarantee to meet the needs of embedded processors. However, when AMD acquired the Geode division from National Semiconductor in August 2003, the product was suddenly discontinued. The Élan processors saw a reasonable amount of use in the embedded world.12

In October 1993, AMD introduced the Am386SC processor, which integrated an Am386SXLV CPU core with a collection of PC/AT-compatible peripherals.3 This processor, marketed as Élan SC300 and Élan SC310, was the first in AMD's Élan series of SoCs.4

SC3xx family

The SC300 and SC310 combines a 32-bit, x86 compatible, low-voltage 25 MHz or 33 MHz Am386SX CPU with memory controller, PC/AT peripheral controllers, real-time clock, PLL clock generators and ISA bus interface. SC300 integrates in addition two PCMCIA 2.1 slots and a CGA-compatible LCD controller. Power consumption at 33 MHz was only 600 mW including CPU, memory controller and peripherals. In suspend mode consumption reduces to 0,17 mW.5672 The low budget 9,7" laptop Brother GeoBook NB60 uses a SC3008

SC4xx family

The SC400 and SC410 combines a 32-bit, x86 compatible, low-voltage 33 MHz, 66 MHz or 100 MHz Am486 CPU with memory controller, PC/AT peripheral controllers, real-time clock, PLL clock generators, VESA Local Bus and ISA bus interface. SC400 integrates in addition two PCMCIA 2.1 slots and a 4-bit color Super-twisted nematic display (STN) LCD controller.97 The C64 "Web.it" Internet Computer uses a SC400 with 16 MB of RAM, a 3.5" floppy disk drive, 56k-modem and PCMCIA.10 The AirPort Base Station uses a SC410,11 the Nokia 9110 Communicator a SC450.12 AMD announced the SC400 on October 15, 1996.13

SC5xx family

The SC520 combines a 32-bit, x86 compatible, low-voltage 100 MHz or 133 MHz Am5x86 CPU with memory controller supporting SDRAM, PC/AT peripheral controllers, real-time clock and PCI bus. ISA and PCMCIA were no longer supported.147 AMD announced the SC520 on August 25, 1999.15

Comparison

Comparison16
Name Clock speed FSB L1 Cache Architecture Process technology Package
SC300-255 25 MHz 25 MHz – Am386 700 nm (0.7 μm) 208-pin QFP
208-pin TQFP
SC310-256
SC300-335 33 MHz 33 MHz
SC310-336
SC400-339 33 MHz 33 MHz 8 kB Am486 350 nm (0.35 μm) 292-pin BGA
SC410-339
SC450-33
SC400-669 66 MHz
SC410-669
SC400-1009 100 MHz
SC410-1009
SC520-10014 16 kB Am5x86 388-pin PBGA
SC520-13314 133 MHz
References

References

  1. Stiller, Andreas (2003-08-25). "Prozessorgeflüster" (in German). Heise online.
  2. 文● 大原雄介 (2011-11-14). "CPU黒歴史 組み込みへの無理解に翻弄されたElan&Geode" (in Japanese). ascii.jp. Retrieved 2022-11-15.
  3. Microprocessor Report, AMD's Elan Puts 386 PC in Pocket (vol 7, no. 14, October 25, 1993). Archived on 22 Apr 2024.
  4. "The Complete x86 Volume I" (PDF). MicroDesign Resources. 1994.
  5. "Élan SC300 Datasheet" (PDF). AMD. October 1997. Retrieved 2022-11-15.
  6. "Élan SC310 Datasheet" (PDF). AMD. October 1997. Retrieved 2022-11-15.
  7. "冥界のLSI(4) AMD、Elan SC300/400 Single Chip PC/AT" (in Japanese). AMD. Retrieved 2022-11-15.
  8. "GeoBook – The Failed Budget 386sx Laptop in an era of Pentiums". 2020-02-11. Retrieved 2022-12-11.
  9. "Élan SC400/410 Datasheet" (PDF). AMD. December 1997. Retrieved 2022-11-15.
  10. "C:\B_retro\Ausgabe_23\: Der Commodore Web.it mit Windows 3.1 und AMD Elan" (in German). ComputerBase. 2020-03-29.
  11. Hennessy, John L.; Patterson, David A. (2002). Computer Architecture A Quantitative Approach. Elsevier Science. p. 54. ISBN 9780080502526.
  12. Potoroaca, Adrian (2022-11-24). "Nokia: The Story of the Once-Legendary Phone Make".
  13. "AMD Extends E86 Family with ElanSC400". EE Times. 1996-10-16. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  14. "Élan SC520 User's Manual" (PDF). AMD. 2001. Retrieved 2022-11-15.
  15. Cole, Bernhard (1999-08-25). "AMD spins Elan chip with debug feature". EE Times. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  16. "AMD Elan". www.x86-guide.net. Retrieved 2022-11-15.