Why the FX-55 lives on
 

RECENTLY, AMD CAME OUT with the FX-57, the fastest single core x86 processor to date. It got good reviews, and questions about the sanity of anyone paying that money for a gaming chip. Both fair statements, but the one that got me wondering was the parts where people questioned why AMD decided to keep the FX-55 around in light of past procedures.
AMD stated, from the day of the A64 launch that there would only be one FX chip out at a time, and the new one would mean doom for the old one. The old one became the top end A64, and life was good, and balance in the force was maintained. Why change now, it was working so well up to this point that any change would seem like a downhill step.

Well, if you look at the marketing that AMD used for the X2 lines, the PR ratings went out the window, and the new chips used the same numbers for a completely different reason. A speed bin is worth about 200+ PR points, sometimes 300+, but no more. If the FX-55 was retired, it would probably end up as the 4200+, possibly the 4300+. See a problem?

http://theinquirer.net/?article=24305