AMD ships first sub-$100 Phenom II
updated 10:10 am EST, Mon January 25, 2010
AMD puts out 3.2GHz Phenom II X2, four more
AMD on Monday swung its attention to the budget end of its processors and today launched multiple chips, including its first Phenom II to crack the $100 barrier. The 3.2GHz X2 555 Black Edition just dips below the mark at $99 (for PC builders) but is also the fastest dual-core processor from the company. Being a Black Edition also gives it headroom for overclocking.
Above it, a new Phenom II X4 910e also arrives today and focuses on efficiency first. The quad-core chip clocks in at 2.6GHz but uses just 65W, making it more suitable for small or especially quiet cases. It costs $169 in large batches.
Three Athlon II models finish the updates and involve the 3.1GHz X2 255, 3GHz X3 440, and 2.9GHz X4 635. These use power of 65W (for the X2) or 95W, and should cost $74, $84 and $119.
All five processors should be available both as part of pre-built PCs and as stand-alone upgrades for users with AM2/AM3 mainboards.
