Today, AMD is expected to usher in a 1.1GHz Duron processor for the value segment of the PC market. The chip will match the speed of Intel"s 1.1GHz Celeron, but benchmark testers have stated that the Duron could be a better overall value.
In another week, AMD will come out with its line of Athlon XP processors for performance PCs. Formerly code-named Palomino (and "Corvette" before that), the Athlon XP will be AMD"s challenger to the Pentium 4. The new chip, which will run at 1.5GHz, will also feature a new branding scheme. The 1.5GHz chip will actually be known at the Athlon XP 1800, so as to look more sporting on shelves when compared with a 2GHz Pentium 4.
The company will then complete the silicon hat trick by revealing the technology behind its "Hammer" processors for servers at the Microprocessor Forum on Oct. 15 in San Jose, Calif. Hammer, slated to come out commercially next year, will compete against Intel"s Itanium but will cost less, according to AMD.
Pricing information for the 1.1GHz Duron was not immediately available, but consumers can expect it to be low. Because of the slow market and excess supplies, processors are selling at all-time low prices. AMD"s 1.4GHz Athlon, for instance, is being advertised as $111 to $125, while the 1GHz Duron can be purchased for less than $80.