The self-builders amongst you will be interested to note that both Intel and AMD have announced the release of new processors this week – one focused on the low power budget market and the other at the performance end of the spectrum.
As reported by Ars Technica, Intel’s new Atom N280 ships with a slight speed upgrade from the N270, a faster FSB (rising to 667 MHz) and 20% reduction in power consumption, pulling just 2W. Expect to see the new chip popping up in netbooks and home servers later in the year.
Over in AMD-land, the company today released news of new Phenom II Triple and Quad Core Processors, offering a big performance boost over the last generation. If you’re looking for a high powered system, or are seeking to replace/rebuild your home computers then it’s worth checking out what this new processor family has to offer.
Here’s the press release from AMD:
AMD Extends the Mainstream Value of Dragon Platform Technology with 45nm AMD Phenom™ II Triple-Core Processors and Foundation for Memory Transition
— New AMD Phenom™ II triple- and quad-core processors fill market needs and provide increased choice for consumers, OEMs and channel partners —
SUNNYVALE, Calif. – Feb. 9 – AMD (NYSE: AMD) extended the value and lifespan of its heralded Dragon platform technology today with five new additions to its AMD Phenom™ II processor family, including the industry’s only 45nm triple-core processors and three new AMD Phenom II quad-core processors. These AMD Phenom II processors deliver choice and lay the foundation for memory transition; they fit in either AM2+ or AM3 sockets and support DDR2 or next generation DDR3 memory technology. AMD continues to enhance the Dragon platform technology value to OEM and channel partners as well as Do-It-Yourself (DIY) consumers who build and customize their own PCs.
With a substantial performance boost over the previous generation of AMD Phenom processors, new AMD Phenom II processors deliver an amazing experience at mainstream price points and can help eliminate the substantial cost required by competing platforms which force an immediate upgrade to DDR3 memory. AMD’s strategic architecture design lets consumers customize a PC upgrade path that’s right for their budget and overall experience without being forced to pay substantial amounts of money to upgrade their motherboard and memory technology.
“Whether buying a new desktop PC or upgrading components in an existing system, AMD recognizes consumers are looking for value more than ever before,” said Leslie Sobon, vice president of product marketing, AMD. “With the combination of the infrastructure compatibility and the introduction of the AMD Phenom II triple-core processors, AMD has made two very strategic design decisions that our competitor cannot duplicate at the component or platform level.”
“PC buyers are looking to leverage their technology investments as much as possible in these challenging economic times,” said Bob O’Donnell, IDC vice president, Clients and Displays. “Companies that can provide solutions that help offer strong performance and flexibility at attractive price points are clearly going to be at an advantage.”
Extending Triple-Core Innovation
All things being equal, it is an established fact that three cores offer more performance than two, but not as much as four. Typically, the cost of cores would scale in a linear fashion. But what if you could get triple-core performance at a price competitive with dual-core systems? This is the market need that AMD Phenom II triple-core processors have filled. First introduced at 65nm, these new 45nm AMD Phenom II triple-core processors deliver the improvements over the previous generation AMD Phenom processors exhibited by all AMD 45nm desktop processors: better energy efficiency, improved idle power consumption and incredible headroom for tunable performance.[i] AMD continues to deliver competitive and affordable solutions addressing the diverse needs of customers and consumers; whether dual-, triple- or quad-core, AMD can provide a platform-level solution that exceeds expectations – all at a competitive price.
Platform Compatibility
When upgrading desktop PCs, the design compatibility of the new AMD Phenom II processors will allow consumers to keep their existing microprocessor technology across AM2+ and AM3 infrastructures. That means AMD Phenom II processors work equally well with either DDR2 or DDR3 memory, allowing customers to choose if and when they wish to upgrade. AMD customers and partners will be able to take advantage of its innovative multi-core technology and experience a compelling solution, especially when combined with AMD’s chipset and graphics processors.
Pricing and AvailabilityThe new triple-core and quad-core AMD Phenom II processors are available immediately at the following frequencies:
- AMD Phenom™ II X4 910 – (2.6GHz)
- AMD Phenom™ II X4 810 – (2.6GHz)
- AMD Phenom™ II X4 805 – (2.5GHz)
- AMD Phenom™ II X3 720 Black Edition – (2.8GHz)
- AMD Phenom™ II X3 710 – (2.6GHz)
The triple-core AMD Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition processor is competitively priced at $145 while the Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 processor is priced at $165; the AMD processor allows users to get more cores for less money. The quad-core AMD Phenom II X4 810 processor (2.6GHz) is priced at $175 compared to the Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 processor (2.33GHz) at $170
