Advanced Micro Devices launched its most powerful
desktop processor to date at the Cebit trade show in Hannover
yesterday.
The Athlon 64 FX-53 will be used only in selected, powerful PCs
for gaming and digital video editors, but it will replace the
Athlon 64 FX-51 launched last September as the premier desktop chip
in AMD's lineup. The FX-53 is based on the same packaging
technology as its predecessor, so users will be able to use the
chip in their existing motherboards.
Like the rest of AMD's eighth generation Athlon 64 processors,
the FX-53 allows users to run both 32-bit applications and 64-bit
applications on the same PC, assuming they have a 64-bit operating
system.
Sales of AMD's desktop processors are not expected to take off
until Microsoft releases a 64-bit version of Windows XP later this
year.
A beta version of Windows XP 64-bit Edition for 64-bit Extended
Systems is available. Several 64-bit production versions of Linux
are available that can take advantage of the processor's ability to
address larger amounts of memory.
In the meantime, the chip should provide gamers and other power
users with a boost in the performance of 32-bit applications. It
will compete with Intel's Pentium 4 Extreme Edition processor for
the high end of the desktop market.
AMD raised the clock speed of the FX-53 by 200MHz to 2.4GHz. The
chip uses a performance rating system that incorporates the rating
"51" as a baseline, unlike AMD's other Athlon 64 and Athlon XP
chips that use ratings such as the 3200+, which provides a
comparison with Intel's chips.
The FX-53 will come with one megabyte of Level 2 cache, and will
dissipate 89 watts of power at maximum consumption.
A limited number of chips are available to PC manufacturers
worldwide, but AMD is expected to increase the number of available
chips over the next few weeks.
The chip will cost $733 in quantities of 1,000 units.
Tom Krazit writes for IDG News Service