AMD targets low-end Athlon 64s at new markets

AMD is preparing a low-cost Athlon 64 chip, the 2600+, it has emerged.

Indian channel-oriented website Channel Times reported yesterday about AMD's attempts to broaden the Athlon 64's appeal in the region.

In what was almost a throwaway line toward the end of the story, it mentioned an Athlon 64 2600+.

The chip doesn't appear on AMD's main price list, and may not do so. The company has a programme of offering lower-cost processors exclusively for emerging PC markets such as South America, China, India and Eastern Europe.

Last August, for example, it emerged that the company had developed an Athlon XP part with 64KB of L2 cache. Codenamed 'Applebred', it was designed specifically for said markets and would not be sold in more developed markets, such as the US and Western Europe.

The arrival of the Athlon 64 2600+ comes after it was revealed that AMD is working on a low-end processor line, possibly as an alternative to Intel's Celeron line but potentially also as a bridge to 64-bit computing for some less well-developed markets. ®

Related stories

AMD preps revitalised value CPU line
AMD confirms Applebred launch
AMD launches x50 Opterons
AMD slashes Opteron prices
AMD restates dual-core CPU scheme
AMD to parade Socket 939 at Computex
AMD sneaks out 90nm core in 130nm chip