AMD releases 65 nm mainstream dual core processors

AMD has released four brand new 65 nanometer dual core microprocessors for the mainstream desktop market.  The new parts are:

• Athlon 64 X2 5000+ 2.6 GHz  $301*
• Athlon 64 X2 4800+ 2.5 GHz  $271*
• Athlon 64 X2 4400+ 2.3 GHz  $214*
• Athlon 64 X2 4000+ 2.1 GHz  $169*

* Prices listed are for batches of 1000.

All four dual core processors will have 2x512 KB L2 Cache, 512 KB for each core.  All four processors will only be socket AM2 which AMD introduced earlier this year.

These new processors will come out of AMD's newest Fab 36 facility completed earlier this year using the new 300 mm wafers.  Not only is the 300 mm wafer 2.4 times larger than the old 200 mm wafers coming out of the old Fab 30, the CPU dies are smaller which allow more of them to fit in the same area.  This will allow AMD to ramp up production of its bread and butter product line and become far more competitive.  AMD will have a wide range of OEM partners for the new 65 nm dual core X2 processors.

OEMS offering systems ready to experience responsive and spectacular high-resolution 3D visual effects of Microsoft Windows Vista™ with 65nm AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual-core processors immediately, and beginning in Q1 of 2007, include Acer, Dell, Founder, HP, Lenovo, Packard Bell, and TongFang, as well as leading system builders worldwide.

It may take till mid 2007 to make a full transition to all 65 nm production for AMD's entire product line.  The low-end single core Semprons already fit within the target power consumption envelop and they will remain 90 nm for the time being.  The high-end parts will convert to 65 nm some time in 2007.