AMD Kicks Off the New Millennium with 800MHz Athlon Processor

Strategic Insights -

AMD has introduced its 800MHz AMD Athlon processor, marking the beginning of the new millennium with a significant leap in performance. The AMD Athlon is the world's first seventh-generation x86 processor, designed for high-end and mainstream computer users. With its exceptional microarchitecture, the processor enables extraordinary performance levels, making it a highly anticipated release among industry experts.

Key Takeaways:

  • The AMD Athlon processor is the world's first seventh-generation x86 processor, featuring a superpipelined, nine-issue superscalar microarchitecture optimized for high clock frequency.
  • The processor boasts a fully pipelined, superscalar floating point unit, high-performance cache technology, and enhanced 3DNow! technology, providing improved integer math calculations, data movement for Internet streaming, and DSP communications.
  • Multiple manufacturers, including Compaq, IBM, and CyberMax, plan to introduce systems featuring the 800MHz AMD Athlon processor, catering to high-end and mainstream computer users.
  • The AMD Athlon processor is available immediately and priced at $849 in 1,000 unit quantities.
  • To date, the AMD Athlon processor has received numerous industry awards, solidifying its reputation as a powerhouse in the computing industry.

Statistics:

  • The AMD Athlon processor features a 9-issue superscalar microarchitecture, enabling high clock frequencies.
  • The processor includes 128KB of on-chip L1 cache and a programmable, high-performance backside L2 cache interface.
  • The 800MHz AMD Athlon processor is priced at $849 in 1,000 unit quantities.
  • AMD's Athlon processor family powers computers manufactured by nine of the Top 10 computer OEMs in North America.
  • AMD's mobile processors are used in more than 50% of notebook computers sold in the retail market to consumers and small businesses.

Sources:

  • "AMD Kicks Off New Millennium with 800MHz Athlon Processor" by Business Editors/High-Tech Writers (Jan. 6, 2000)
  • AMD press release "AMD Introduces 800MHz AMD Athlon Processor"
  • AMD Web site: http://www.amd.com/news/news.html
  • AMD corporate information: Founded in 1969, headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, and listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:AMD)