TECH GUIDE
AMD recently launched its latest line of desktop and notebook processors. Named Sempron, the new family of chips is aimed at value-conscious buyers of desktop and notebook systems. It's positioned to replace the AMD Athlon XP and XP-M processors currently used in mid-range desktops and notebooks. As such, the Sempron will cost less than the Athlon XP and in many cases, less than competing Celeron processors from Intel, according to our parent site CNET News.com. The Athlon XP line is expected to be phased out by 2005 so as to make a distinct separation between AMD's high-end 64-bit chips and the low-end Semprons.
Desktops
The desktop versions of the Sempron chips will be available in seven configurations: 2200+ (1.5GHz), 2300+ (1.583GHz), 2400+ (1.667GHz), 2500+ (1.750GHz), 2600+ (1.833GHz), 2800+ (2.0GHz) and 3100+ (1.8GHz). The 3100+ processor is based on the K8 architecture (using Socket 754) without the 64-bit support, while the rest of the lineup is based on the older K7 Thoroughbred core (using Socket A). According to AMD, the 2200+ and 2300+ chips will be made available only in emerging markets.
AMD's desktop Sempron processors are available in seven configurations.
Targeted squarely at the Celeron range, the Semprons are rated to perform better than the Intel chips. According to benchmark figures from AMD, the 2GHz 2800+ Sempron is, on average, nearly 8 percent faster than the Celeron D Model 335 processor, which runs at 2.8GHz. AMD's desktop Sempron processors range in price from $39 to $126 (in lots of 1,000 units).
Notebooks
The Mobile AMD Sempron processor comes in three configurations: 2600+ (1.6GHz), 2800+ (1.6GHz) and 3000+ (1.8GHz). The low-voltage version (available in 2600+ and 2800+), which is designed for thin-and-light notebooks, has a thermal design power of 25W, while the standard 62W variant (available in all three chips) is designed for full-sized notebooks.
The Mobile AMD Sempron provides up to 5.5 hours battery life, according to AMD.
Using a similar 754-pin micro-PGA architecture, the mobile Semprons sport the same chip design as their mobile Athlon 64 counterparts, without 64-bit support. According to AMD, the battery life for the mobile Sempron is estimated to range between 5 and 5.5 hours, compared with the rated 4.5 hours for the earlier mobile Athlon XP processors. Benchmark figures from AMD also indicate a 9 percent performance gain over the 2.8GHz Celeron D Model 335 processor from the Mobile AMD Sempron 2800+ chip. The mobile Semprons will cost from $84 to $120 (in 1000-unit lots) for the standard version and between $107 and $134 for the low-voltage models.
