New AMD Athlon XP processors unveiled

NEW DELHI: AMD has celebrated the third anniversary of the AMD Athlon processor by announcing the AMD Athlon XP processor 2600+ for desktop PCs. AMD also introduced the AMD Athlon XP processor 2400+.

"The introduction of the highest-performing PC processor in the world is a victory for application performance and a resounding defeat for the 'megahertz myth," said Ed Ellett, vice president of marketing for AMD's Computation Products Group. "As the performance leader, the AMD Athlon XP processor 2600+ reigns as the superior choice and delivers outstanding application performance for richer, high-powered digital computing."

The AMD Athlon XP processors 2600+ and 2400+ feature QuantiSpeed architecture, which delivers performance advantages versus competitive PC processors on a broad array of real-world applications, including digital media, office productivity and 3D gaming.

AMD has begun shipping samples of the AMD Athlon XP processors 2600+ and 2400+ to major computer manufacturers worldwide with expected system availability in September. The AMD Athlon XP processors 2600+ and 2400+ are priced at $297 and $193, respectively, in 1,000-unit quantities.

"Microprocessor cognoscenti have long understood the folly of using megahertz as a proxy for performance," observed Nathan Brookwood, principal analyst at Insight 64. "Processors used in today's high-end servers run at approximately one gigahertz, but outperform the fastest desktop PC designs. Even within the PC processor segment, differing approaches to chip design make simple megahertz-based performance comparisons somewhat ambiguous.

This problem will only get worse over time. PC buyers should rethink their purchasing criteria, and focus on how fast their applications run, rather than on the PC processor's megahertz rating", he added.