TechReport
has received confirmation from AMD that it plans to simplify and consolidate
its product lineup by bringing several of its current processor model numbers to
end-of-life status at the end of the second quarter. These products include
Athlon 64 X2 processors for Socket AM2 with 1MB of L2 cache per core, but that's
not the whole story.
The Athlon 64 X2 chips that will be retired are models
4800+, 4400+, and 4000+ for Socket AM2 and model 4400+ and 4800+ for Socket 939
(AMD will continue to supply the Socket 939 4800+ to select OEMs). All of these
CPUs have 1MB of L2 cache for each execution core, and obviously the focus for
AMD's product lineup will be shifting toward chips with 512KB of L2 cache per
core. The only remaining Socket AM2 processors with 1MB of L2 cache would then
be the Athlon 64 FX-62 and any Opteron 100-series processors AMD might release
for AM2.
Among single-core chips, the Socket 939 versions of the Athlon 64 with ratings
of 4000+, 3700+, 3200+, and 3000+ will get the Kervorkian treatment. Also
getting the axe will be the Socket 754-bound Semprons 3300+, 3100+, 2600+, and
2500+. These particular single-core CPU models didn't make the transition from
the older sockets to AM2, so their fate is not surprising.
