AMD is preparing to launch
a
new high-end desktop processor, the Athlon 64 X2 6400+, which will be the
last processor in the Athlon 64 X2 family. Currently, AMD's highest-end desktop
processor is the Athlon 64 X2 6000+, however with its performance unable to
match Intel's upcoming Core 2 Duo E6850, AMD plans to launch the new 6400+ to
cover up the gap in the market. The 6400+ will have a core frequency of 3.2GHz
and 2MB L2 cache, noted the sources. Pricing will range between US$220-248, they
added. AMD has already sent processor samples to motherboard makers in order to
allow them to update their BIOSes. The processor is predicted to ship shortly.
In testing, performance of the 6400+ is 10-15% below the E6850, and the CPU has
limited overclock capability, said the sources, who also pointed out that the
price gap compared to the E6850 is not huge.
