CPUs > VIA > Cyrix III/C3

Contents

History
Models
Models (list)
From collector's point of view

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From collector's point of view

A collector who will be looking for the VIA Cyrix III or C3 will have to learn patience, and fill his wallet, because due to their low popularity, and therefore low sales, in their time, it is now rather complicated and expensive to find them.
So of course, for around $20-25, it will always be possible to find the most common models. But there are a very large number of them which cannot be found today and it will be impossible to complete the collection, as the number of models, and especially untraceable models, is important.
Not to mention that in addition, some models are very, very difficult, if not impossible, to identify visually.

In any case, here are some indications on the peculiarities and other rare models that will interest a discerning collector.

The different logos

VIA has changed the logo of its processors very often over the years. A bit like Cyrix after all. Therefore, some models ended up with several different logos.
In particular the Samuel, which at the start had a logo with a large "Cyrix III" marking and a small "VIA" one, then a large "VIA" marking and a very small Cyrix III one, to finally get the classic VIA C3 logo.

 

Not all Cyrix III Samuel models had all three logos, however. Most only had 2. And from 700MHz, all have the VIA C3 logo.
And very few Samuel 2s had the Cyrix III logo, with the introduction of the VIA C3 logo happening quite quickly after theirrelease. They are therefore very rare.
As for the Samuel, only the models under 700MHz kept the mention Cyrix III (and the only known 700A Cyrix III logo is an ES...).

The case of the 800A C3s

These models have two particularities regarding their package. The first is that the most common version does not have the gold heatspreader, unlike all the other Cyrix III or C3 in CPGA format.
The second is that there is a Samuel 2 variant using a Nehemiah (or Ezra-T) package type, with the pads of the filtering capacitors, but without them.
In the end, there are four very distinct kind of this processor, including the version with 25 capa pads (the one commonly used for Nehemiahs), and it is the only model in this case.

 

Boxed versions

Like all processors since the 90s, the C3s were also sold in a boxed version. Boxed versions are quite rare.

In addition to the classic "carton" version, VIA released a special, can like, metal version, perhaps rarer, but in any case, because of the collectos effect, they are found at higher prices than conventional boxes.

Note that processors from a box often have a small sticker at the top right, as illustrated on the second C3-800A above.

 

The models never released, those nowhere to be found.

As with all kind of processors, there were prototypes at frequencies never before marketed. These are usually the ones that are most popular with collectors.
In the first row, there are of course the Cyrix III Joshuas, which cannot be found today, despite the fact that their release in version PR500 & PR533 was officially announced by VIA.
Joshua Mechanical samples were also found by some collectors.
In the category of never released models, are also known an Ezra at 750MHz, Nehemiahs C5XL at 900MHz and 1066MHz (without markings).

The not or poorly documented models are also very difficult, if not impossible to find, due to a limited distribution, probably for very specific OEM customers : the C3 Samuel 2 600A, 667A & 800A FSB100, the C3 Ezra at 933MHz.
Ezra-T are also generally difficult to find, mostly because it is difficult to recognize them.
And finally, even some well-documented models like the Nehemiah over 1.2GHz will be very difficult to find.

You will find in the list at the end of this article, the exhaustiveness of the models and variants of VIA Cyrix III and C3 listed, as well as their estimated rarity.

 

Special models

The C3 1GigaPro get interest from collectors because they are a bit different from usual C3s, but nothing more. The 600MHz CPGA model is quite common, but the 650 and 667MHz versions are rather rare.
The 667MHz model in EBGA format is also quite difficult to find. Versions 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 are very rare.
The 1.3GigaPro can be found for example on the Syntax S635MP motherboard and the 1.2 on the Syntax S8601MP. The 1GigaPro and 1.1GigaPro can be found on ECS P6VEM3 motherboards. 

The XP1000 Pro model (CPGA-370) isn't uncommon, but it comes at a pretty steep price on EBay nonetheless. The XP2000 + (EBGA) is quite rare.

As for the PC1000 and PC1500, they are not common, but still can be found, especially from China sellers.

EBGA versions

At at time when reballing is not anymore impossible for individuals, it is no longer so rare to find BGA processors with all their balls intact, which is an undeniable plus for the picky collector concerned with having processors in the best possible shape
In terms of the rarity of C3 EBGAs, unlike the CPGA, the 1.3 & 1.4GHz versions are not the rarest. Rather, it is the C3-M versions that it is difficult to find, whatever their frequency. Maybe due to their late release?
Like, as to a lesser extent, the Antaur .
The models at 733 and 933MHz will also be found very hard.

Note that for the same processor, there may be different variants, such as the classic "leaded" and "lead-free" depending on its marking (which is not included in a partnumber, since there is none ...).

 

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Name	Variation	Release date	Rarity	In collection ?
C3 PGA
VIA Cyrix III PR500	-	22/02/2000		no
VIA Cyrix III PR533	-	22/02/2000		no
VIA Cyrix III 466	Big VIA C3 Logo	Unknown		no
VIA Cyrix III 466	Small VIA Cyrix III Logo	Unknown	(**)	yes (6)
VIA Cyrix III 500	Small VIA Cyrix III Logo	2000	(**)	yes (5)
VIA Cyrix III 500	Big VIA C3 Logo	2000	(**)	yes (1)
VIA Cyrix III 533	-	06/06/2000		yes (6)
VIA Cyrix III 550	Small VIA Cyrix III Logo	06/06/2000	(**)	yes (4)
VIA Cyrix III 550	Big VIA C3 Logo	06/06/2000	(**)	yes (2)
VIA Cyrix III 600 (FSB100)	Small VIA Cyrix III Logo	06/06/2000	(**)	yes (5)
VIA Cyrix III 600 (FSB100)	Big VIA Cyrix III Logo	06/06/2000	(**)	yes (4)
VIA Cyrix III 600 (FSB100)	Big VIA C3 Logo	06/06/2000	(**)	yes (3)
VIA Cyrix III 600 (FSB133)	-	Unknown		yes (1)
VIA Cyrix III 650	Small VIA Cyrix III Logo	06/06/2000	(**)	yes (2)
VIA Cyrix III 650	Big VIA C3 Logo	06/06/2000	(**)	yes (2)
VIA Cyrix III 667	Small VIA Cyrix III Logo	06/06/2000	(**)	no
VIA Cyrix III 667	Big VIA Cyrix III Logo	06/06/2000	(**)	yes (4)
VIA Cyrix III 667	Big VIA C3 Logo	06/06/2000	(**)	yes (4)
VIA Cyrix III 700	Big VIA Cyrix III Logo	19/01/2001		yes (4)
VIA Cyrix III 700	Big VIA C3 Logo	19/01/2001		yes (2)
VIA Cyrix III 733	-	Unknown		yes (1)
VIA Cyrix III 750	-	Unknown		yes (2)
VIA Cyrix III 800	-	Unknown		no
VIA C3 600A	Small VIA Cyrix III Logo	Unknown		no
VIA C3 600A	Big VIA C3 Logo	Unknown		yes (1)
VIA C3 650A	Small VIA Cyrix III Logo	2001		no
VIA C3 650A	Big VIA C3 Logo	2001		yes (2)
VIA C3 667A PGA	Small VIA Cyrix III Logo	2001		no
VIA C3 667A PGA	Big VIA C3 Logo	2001		no
VIA C3 700A	Small VIA Cyrix III Logo	25/03/2001		no
VIA C3 700A	Big VIA C3 Logo	25/03/2001		yes (3)
VIA C3 733A (Samuel 2)	-	25/03/2001		yes (2)
VIA C3 733A (Ezra)	-	Unknown		yes (1)
VIA C3 750A CPGA (Samuel 2)	Goldcap	28/05/2001		yes (4)
VIA C3 750A CPGA (Samuel 2)	Ceramic	28/05/2001		no
VIA C3 750A CPGA (Ezra)	-	Never officially released		no
VIA C3 800A (Samuel 2 FSB100)	-	2001		no
VIA C3 800A (Samuel 2 FSB133)	Without capacitor	Unknown	(**)	yes (7)
VIA C3 800A (Samuel 2 FSB133)	With capacitors pads	Unknown	(**)	yes (1)
VIA C3 800A (Ezra FSB100)	-	05/06/2001		no
VIA C3 800A (Ezra FSB133)	Ceramic	05/06/2001		yes (5)
VIA C3 800A (Ezra FSB133)	Goldcap	05/06/2001	(**)	yes (5)
VIA C3 800A (Ezra-T)	-	Unknown		yes (3)
VIA C3 LP800A CPGA	-	Unknown		yes (2)
VIA C3 850A	-	2001		no
VIA C3 866A (Ezra)	-	11/09/2001		yes (4)
VIA C3 866A (Ezra-T)	-	11/09/2001		yes (1)
VIA C3 866A (Nehemiah)	-	Unknown		yes (3)
VIA C3 900A (Ezra)	-	2001		yes (4)
VIA C3 900A (Nehemiah, ES)	-	Never officially released		no
VIA C3 933A (Ezra)	-	Unknown		no
VIA C3 933A (Ezra-T)	-	19/12/2001		yes (2)
VIA C3 1.0A (Ezra-T FSB100)	-	03/06/2002		yes (2)
VIA C3 1.0A (Ezra-T FSB133)	-	03/06/2002		yes (1)
VIA C3 1.0A (Nehemiah FSB133)	-	22/01/2003		yes (5)
VIA C3 1.0A (Nehemiah FSB100)	-	Unknown		yes (1)
VIA C3 LP1.0A PGA	-	Unknown		yes (1)
VIA C3 1.06 (ES)	-	Never officially released		no
VIA C3 1.1A PGA	-	Unknown		no
VIA C3 1.2A PGA	-	Unknown		yes (5)
VIA C3 1.3A PGA	-	Unknown		no
VIA C3 1.4A PGA	-	Unknown		no
VIA 1GigaPro 600 PGA	-	Unknown		yes (5)
VIA 1GigaPro 650 PGA	-	Unknown		yes (2)
VIA 1GigaPro 667 PGA	-	Unknown		yes (3)
VIA XP1000 Pro	-	Unknown		yes (1)
C3 BGA
VIA 1GigaPro 667 BGA	-	Unknown		yes (3)
VIA 1GigaPro 733	-	Unknown		no
VIA 1.1GigaPro	-	Unknown		no
VIA 1.2GigaPro	-	Unknown		no
VIA 1.3GigaPro	-	Unknown		no
VIA C3 667A EBGA	-	Unknown		no
VIA C3 733A EBGA	-	Unknown		yes (2)
VIA C3 750A EBGA	-	Unknown		no
VIA C3 800A EBGA (FSB100)	-	Unknown		no
VIA C3 800A EBGA (FSB133)	-	Unknown		yes (2)
VIA C3 LP800A EBGA	-	Unknown		yes (4)
VIA C3 933A EBGA	-	Unknown		yes (1)
VIA C3 1.0A EBGA	Lead Process	Unknown		yes (6)
VIA C3 1.0A EBGA	Lead-free Process	Unknown		no
VIA C3 LP1.0A EBGA	Lead Process	Unknown	(**)	yes (1)
VIA C3 LP1.0A EBGA	Lead-free Process	Unknown	(**)	yes (1)
VIA C3 1.1AGHz EBGA	-	Unknown		yes (1)
VIA C3 1.2A EBGA (FSB133)	-	Unknown		yes (3)
VIA C3 1.2A EBGA (FSB200)	-	Unknown		no
VIA C3 1.3A EBGA (FSB133)	-	Unknown		yes (3)
VIA C3 1.3A EBGA (FSB200)	-	Unknown		yes (1)
VIA C3 1.4A EBGA (FSB133)	-	Unknown		no
VIA C3 1.4A EBGA (FSB200)	-	Unknown		no
VIA Antaur 1.0AGHZ	-	08/07/2003		yes (2)
VIA PC1000	-	Unknown		yes (4)
VIA PC1500	-	Unknown		yes (1)
VIA XP2000+	-	Unknown		yes (3)
C3-M
VIA C3-M 1.0A	-	17/09/2004		no
VIA C3-M LV 1.0A	-	17/09/2004		no
VIA C3-M 1.1A	-	17/09/2004		no
VIA C3-M 1.2A (FSB133)	-	17/09/2004		yes (2)
VIA C3-M 1.2A (FSB200)	-	17/09/2004		no
VIA C3-M 1.3A (FSB133)	-	17/09/2004		no
VIA C3-M 1.3A (FSB200)	-	17/09/2004		no
VIA C3-M 1.4A (FSB133)	-	17/09/2004		yes (1)
VIA C3-M 1.4A (FSB200)	-	17/09/2004		no

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Models (list)

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