AMD has announced two new dual-core desktop processors that should allow PCs to take advantage of faster memory standards, creating faster models.
The processor maker's Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition processor, introduced on Tuesday, is its first ever dual-core version of its Phenom II CPU. It is aimed at the more hard-core user, such as professional users, games enthusiasts and other breeds of overclockers.
Also released on Tuesday, the new 45nm AMD Athlon II X2 250 processor aims to boost the performance of mainstream consumer PCs. AMD said the key improvement is that the dual-core processors in its Phenom range can make use of better standards of memory. Until recently, they were limited to working with DDR2, but now they can work with the newer, faster memory standard DDR3. The improvement stems from being able to support both AM2+ and AM3 boards for DDR2 and DDR3 memory, according to AMD.
The Athlon II X2 250 has doubled the previous model's amount of L2 cache for each core, creating a total L2 cache of 2MB. This will provide 3GHz performance in affordable PCs, according to AMD.
Another performance boost comes from the optimization with Windows 7, AMD said.
Though the semiconductor market is proving a difficult source of profits for chipmakers, according to Jonathan Cassell, analyst at market researcher iSuppli, the processor market has never been more buoyant. Strong competition is being created by new CPU releases at all levels, from computers for high-end professional users to budget PCs.
One UK-based system builder put the launch into perspective. "AMD will boast about dual-core architecture and efficiency achievable through 45nm technology," said Richard Marsden, sales director at RealTime Distribution, a UK distributor which supplies AMD chips to system builders. "But the bottom line is that an AMD machine will give them 3GHz performance at an affordable price."
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