New Process Technology To Reach Buyers Later This Year
Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 is now reaching PC users, so AMD can trumpet the Enhanced Virus Protection security feature built into its Athlon 64 processors that works with the software upgrade — as well as celebrating the launch of its fastest CPU to date for desktop-replacement notebooks, an Athlon 64 3700+ (2.4GHz) with 128K of Level 1 and 1MB of Level 2 cache.
Rated at 81.5 watts of thermal design power and priced at $500 in 1,000-unit OEM quantities, the new Athlon 64 3700+ combines an integrated, 64-bit DDR400 memory controller with a HyperTransport I/O link, as well as AMD64 technology that combines peak 32-bit performance with 64-bit software compatibility. HP has announced that its Pavilion ZV5000Z and Compaq Presario R3000Z series laptops, like VoodooPC’s custom-built Envy gaming notebooks, will use the new Socket 754 processor.
While all existing AMD64 chips are built with 0.13-micron process technology, AMD has also delivered on its promise to make revenue shipments of smaller, more power-efficient 90-nanometer-process, silicon-on-insulator (SOI) CPUs in the third quarter of this year: The company is shipping a low-power Mobile Athlon 64 processor for thin and light notebooks (codenamed “Oakville”) to manufacturers for system launches expected in the coming months. AMD says 90-nanometer Athlon 64s for desktops and Opterons for servers will ship later this quarter and later this year, respectively, and that it’s on schedule to deliver 90-nanometer dual-core products in mid-2005.