AMD launching dual core Athlons tomorrow
 

THE WORLD+DOG already knows that AMD has its Opteron dual-core CPUs ready and that it's set to launch them tomorrow. But not many know that AMD is launching dual-core desktop CPUs as well.

AMD says production-ready CPUs are now shipping to some leading OEMs and system builders world-wide. General system availability is scheduled for June, we learned.

The chippery will be available for both mobile (Desk top replacement) and desktop computers and feature enhanced virus protection and 'Cool 'n' Quiet' declocking marchitecture.

Its pretty much two Athlon 64 stitched together and connected with Direct connect (m)architecture, we understand.

We learned that dual-core Athlons and Opterons will be compliant with existing motherboards. You will need a bios update to make them work but that’s about it.

AMD taped out its first dual cores in June 2004, first demonstrated this marchitecture in August 2004 and will claim to be the first to ship such marchitecture for servers and workstations starting from tomorrow the 21st of April.

That should nibble at Intel's todger.

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=22676

WE HAVE SOME extra details about dual-core Opterons scheduled for launch tomorrow at some posh party in the USA. AMD will launch six of them, three of which will be available immediately.
AMD has three dual-core, eight-way Opterons on schedule. The fastest one is the Opteron 875, working at 2.2GHz, followed with Opteron 870 at 2.0GHz and then comes Opteron 865 working at 1.8GHz. These are already being shipped in some systems.

The company plans to ship three more two-way dual-core CPUs in late May with possible slip up to 30 days on top of that date. If we talk about clocks it’s the same story as with eight way ones. Fastest two-way dual-core Opteron works at 2.2GHz and its branded 275; second one is Opteron 270 working at 2.0GHz and the slowest one is 1.8GHz Opteron branded 265.

All of these six CPUs are dual-core and each core has 1MB or cache, let's say 1 MB + 1 MB. In this case you cannot say its 2MB, as each CPU manages its cache by itself.

Those CPUs will be available in three different power envelopes and would be able to fit into existing designs. Their maximum wattage won't exceed 95W, 55W and 30W per core respectively, apparently.

All these CPUs are socket 940 compliant and you should be able to use your existing motherboards, you just need to flash your BIOS to make it work.

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=22678