AMD's Seventh-Generation CPU Boosts Microsoft Products to New Levels

Strategic Insights -

Microsoft has announced that its products have achieved significant performance boosts on systems powered by the new 650 MHz Athlon processor from Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). The company stated that a wide range of its products, including Windows 98 and Windows NT 4.0 operating systems, as well as the DirectX API, run faster on the AMD Athlon platform. Microsoft is committed to ensuring that application developers can take full advantage of the new AMD Athlon processor, and upcoming products like Windows 2000 are expected to provide optimal performance.

Key Takeaways:

  • Microsoft's products, including Windows 98 and Windows NT 4.0, achieve new levels of performance on systems powered by the 650 MHz Athlon processor.
  • The DirectX API and Windows Media technologies are optimized to achieve high levels of performance with the AMD Athlon processor.
  • Microsoft worked closely with AMD throughout the design process to ensure that the combination of the Athlon's floating-point performance and Microsoft's enterprise software provides a corporate-ready hardware and software platform.
  • David Williams, director of Windows Hardware Platforms at Microsoft, predicts that business customers will be impressed with the performance of Windows 2000 on the AMD Athlon processor.
  • The Athlon platform provides a robust foundation for AMD's powerful new processor, allowing for high-performance computers that provide an enhanced Windows computing experience.
  • National Semiconductor sold off its Cyrix unit, leaving AMD as the only viable competitor to Intel Corp.
  • AMD is counting on the Athlon to keep its chip-making business alive, despite mounting quarterly losses.

Statistics:

  • The 650 MHz Athlon processor has a 200 MHz system bus.
  • Microsoft's products achieve new levels of performance on the AMD Athlon platform.
  • 90% of leading applications, including Windows Media technologies, are optimized to achieve high levels of performance with the AMD Athlon processor (communications with Microsoft).

Sources:

  • Microsoft (no date) ("Microsoft Statement on AMD Athlon Processor")
  • David Williams, director of Windows Hardware Platforms at Microsoft (no date) (communications with press)