Price Guides, May 2005: Processors
by Kristopher Kubicki on May 22, 2005 10:00 PM EST- Posted in
- Guides
Sempron
Sempron just keeps on chugging. The Socket 754, cache deficient, 32-bit processors have even more naming problems than their Athlon 64 counterparts. Several weeks back, we started tracking “BO” Palermo Semprons, as opposed to the “BA” ones floating around right now. The “BA” Palermos are essentially identical to the “BO” ones with the addition of SSE3. Unlike Intel, AMD’s budget chips do not have 64-bit support. Our RTPE admin Lawrence Hsieh mentioned something along the lines of, “I don’t really know what AMD did, but they named two different cores with the same name, but gave them different SKU designations.” Hilarity ensues.Furthermore, we started tracking a new Socket 754 Sempron, the 2500+. AMD seems confused on this product as well as that the SKU designates the processor as a 128KB Palermo, but resellers and AMD documentation claim that it is a 256KB processor instead. If the chip ever shows up on the market, you can be sure that we will mention something about it then.
Even though the marketing direction seems off base, the socket 754 processors are still excellent values for the aspiring overclocker or Linux novice. The Socket 754 Sempron 2600+, 2800+ and 3000+ [RTPE: SDA2600AIO2BA, SDA2800AIO3BA, and SDA3000AIO2BA] all are great buys if 64-bit support is not something important. Judging by the number of problems with Windows XP x64, particularly driver support, it seems that 64-bit has some time to mature first anyway.
We are running out of nice things to say about Athlon XP, unfortunately. Prices are now inflated, and even the Sempron 462s are starting to climb in price as Barton cores inevitably dry up. Athlon XP-Mobile chips are still the well-kept secret of Socket 462, but your money is really better spent on an Athlon 64 at this point.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
23 Comments
View All Comments
semo - Monday, May 23, 2005 - link
i don't know... after seeing the next gen consoles i care a lot less about new x86 procs. even in their early days the next gen consoles should cost less than the x2.AnnihilatorX - Monday, May 23, 2005 - link
AMD Athlon 64 (939) 3700+ 1MB San Diego is $329 not $299that suprised me...
MAME - Monday, May 23, 2005 - link
where are the X2's?Rand - Monday, May 23, 2005 - link
Any reason why you don't list any of the 533MHz FSB Pentium M's?bearxor - Monday, May 23, 2005 - link
Can't wait to see if AMD includes 64-bit on Sempron processors now.cnq - Monday, May 23, 2005 - link
Kristopher,May be a slight error or 2 in the AMD SKU overview.
"Hammer" is not the name of *any* AMD stepping. It's the very general code name for the K8 architecture, encompassing, well, everything.
You meant "ClawHammer". And it's not true that all ClawHammers are C0; there are some CG's. Consider the socket 754 3700+, and some of the mobile chips. Unless the ones that I think are CG are actually the SledgeHammers.
Speaking of SledgeHammers: it's the FX-53/4000+ 130nm and FX-55/130nm, which are said to have ripping memory controllers compared to like-week'd NewCastles but are otherwise similar to CG ClawHammers.
cmyk - Monday, May 23, 2005 - link
And were are the opterons?cmyk - Monday, May 23, 2005 - link
dgarz01 - Sunday, May 22, 2005 - link
I see no mention of the Pentium M Sonoma Plaform why is that? It woudl be nice to include this is your review for next time.Tarumam - Sunday, May 22, 2005 - link
The best buy is socket 939 3700+. Its a San Diego core, it has 1MB cache, new SSE3 instructions, its memory controller is revised and its under US$ 300,00. Not quite a bargain, but still an incredible price/performance ratio.That would be my pick, if a powerful system was needed today.