AMD has introduced the AMD Athlon 64 FX-55 processor. The AMD Athlon 64 processor 4000+, also announced today, provides businesses and consumers with world-class performance and enables a more secure computing environment. These new additions to the AMD Athlon 64 processor family represent the next leap forward in desktop computing, providing exceptional performance on 32-bit applications today, with the ability to migrate to 64-bit applications.
As the only Windows -compatible 64-bit PC processors, AMD Athlon 64 processors are enabling new, cinematic computing experiences. Thomson, world leader in integrated solutions (technologies, equipment and services) for the media and entertainment industries and co-inventor of mp3, plans to release an AMD64-optimized version of their audio industry standard Fraunhofer mp3 encoder.
As consumers continue to embrace the advantages and convenience of managing their digital music libraries with the mp3 format, Thomson continues to deliver the most advanced features for their audio needs, said Henri Linde, Vice President, New Business of the Patent and Licensing unit for Thomson. AMD and the Fraunhofer Institute did a great job optimizing the original mp3 code to take advantage of the AMD Athlon 64 processor power. We are pleased to make this code available to our licensees, for the benefit of the end users and the digital video software community as another vital tool that is readily available for their migration to 64-bit computing.
AMD Athlon 64 processors are the first 32- and 64-bit desktop and mobile processors designed with Enhanced Virus Protection (EVP) capabilities. When enabled by Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) or Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, EVP offers an additional level of integrated security to identify and prevent the spread of certain malicious viruses, as well as certain computer worms and Trojan horses. AMD Athlon 64 processors also provide innovative system-level features including Cool'n'Quiet technology. An advancement in PC technology, Cool'n'Quiet offers efficient performance-on-demand, enabling an always on PC to run quietly in any room.
Availability and Pricing
The AMD Athlon 64 FX-55 processor and AMD Athlon 64 processor 4000+ are available immediately worldwide. All pricing is in 1,000-unit PIB quantities. Systems based on the AMD Athlon 64 FX-55 processor are expected to be available from the following:
- Canada: Canada Computers
- Europe: Amitech, Dacco, Fox PC, Komplett, and LEVI.
- US: ABS, AFT, Alienware, BOLData, CyberPower, Elite PC, Falcon Northwest, Hypersonic PC Systems, Mighty Micro, Monarch, mWave, Nor-tech, Now Micro, PC Club, Polywell, Shuttle, Systemax, Totally Awesome, Velocity Micro, Vicious PC, Voodoo, ZipZoomfly, and ZT Group.
Systems based on both the AMD Athlon 64 FX-55 processor and AMD Athlon 64 processor 4000+ are expected to be available from the following:
- Japan: Aro-system Co., Ltd, Bless Co., Ltd, MCJ Co., Ltd., Sycom Co., Ltd, Thirdwave K.K., and Tsukumo Co., Ltd.
The AMD Athlon 64 FX-55 processor is priced at USD 827. The AMD Athlon 64 processor 4000+ is priced at USD 729.