AMD Releases Athlon 64 FX-60

AMD has released the first dual core processor in its Athlon 64 FX line, the FX-60. Clocked at 2.6GHz, the new flagship desktop processor uses the Toledo core, which features 1MB L2 cache on each core. Preliminary reviews show the processor to be a decent overclocker, with average overclocks reaching 2.8-2.9GHz. Like all processors in the FX line the FX-60 has an unlocked multiplier which allows for more freedom when it comes to front side bus adjustments.

While the clock speed is 200MHz slower than the last single-core FX, the FX-57, the dual core design helps increase multitasking performance and speed up tasks such as audio and video encoding. Gaming performance with current titles falls behind the FX-57's sheer clock speed advantage, but once game designers implement better threading procedures we can expect that to change.

Flagship processors from both AMD and Intel typically enter the market at $1,000 or more, and the FX-60 is no exception. At post time, Newegg.com's price is $1,399.00.