AMD's 1GHz Athlon arrives this month – official

A posting on AMD's own web page shows clearly that the company will launch its 1GHz microprocessor this month, thus prompting rival Chipzilla to drag its own gig processor screaming and shouting into the same time frame. This reference in a FAQ at AMD's site clearly states it will bring out a 1GHz microprocessor this month, and just in case execs seek to stalinise the reference, here's the Q and here's the A. (Update Saturday morning: Sorry readers, the airbrush was applied to this FAQ just a few hours after we posted the link... ) Question "How did AMD reach 1GHz so much earlier than your projected introduction date?" Answer "AMD's process and manufacturing abilities, coupled with the AMD Athlon™ processor's advanced seventh-generation architecture has enabled AMD to reach this significant industry milestone, and successfully enable a leading manufacturer to bring 1GHz AMD Athlon systems to the marketplace in March." Other questions and answers lurking in the FAQ right near the bottom indicate the depth of AMD's desire to embrace the commercial desktop market by offering Athlons "at a fair price" to corporations which want them. AMD also makes it clear in a couple of Qs&As in the same location that it is going to price Athlons without reference to Intel's model -- a fact which is bound to trigger terror in Chipzilla's corporate HQ, only a stone throw from Cheapzilla over there in Satan Clara. And there's more. We understand that the first 1 GHz Athlon PCs will be available in Germany week 14 or 15. They will use standard cooling and will be produced for the market by a major international first tier vendor. Germans will be able to buy as many 1GHz machines as they like within four weeks, provided they have enough cash. ®