AMD Introduces World's Most Powerful PC Processor, the 1.4GHz AMD Athlon™ Processor

-- Compaq, HP and NEC-CI among computer manufacturers to offer 1.4GHz AMD Athlon™ processor-based systems -- -- New 950MHz AMD Duron™ processor offers high level of performance for everyday computing --

SUNNYVALE, CA -- 6/6/2001 -- AMD today announced the 1.4 GHz AMD Athlon™ processor, the world's most powerful PC processor for the performance market, and the 950MHz AMD Duron™ processor for everyday business and home computing.

The 1.4GHz AMD Athlon processor-based systems with Double Data Rate (DDR) memory continue to outperform 1.7GHz Intel Pentium™ 4 processor-based systems by up to 40 percent on a variety of benchmarks, including cutting-edge multimedia, desktop publishing, digital imaging and voice recognition applications. The AMD Duron processor provides a practical solution for everyday business and home PC needs by providing up to a 30-percent performance advantage over Intel Celeron processor-based systems.

Systems featuring AMD's newest processors are available immediately from Compaq Computer Corporation. AMD expects availability soon from Hewlett-Packard Company, MicronPC and NEC-CI, among others.

"At 1.4GHz, the AMD Athlon processor with DDR memory continues to significantly outperform the competition as the most powerful PC platform in the world, reinforcing AMD's leadership in delivered performance," said Pat Moorhead, vice president of desktop and mobile marketing for AMD's Computation Products Group. "It is evident from competitive offerings that megahertz alone is no longer a clear indicator of processor performance. Ultimately, AMD delivers what is most important to business and consumer PC users-superior software performance, higher productivity and platform longevity."

"People buy performance cars based on how fast they can get from 0 to 60; it's about the delivered horsepower, not how fast the engine rotates," said Shane Rau, a senior research analyst at IDC in Mountain View, Calif. "In the same way, what's really important in a performance PC is how much work the PC can perform in a given amount of time."

"Creative web and graphic designers directly benefit from the combination of Adobe Photoshop 6.0 and the high performance of the 1.4GHz AMD Athlon processor with DDR memory," said Karen Gauthier, senior product manager at Adobe. "Users of Photoshop 6.0 on AMD processors can be assured of enhanced productivity and greater creative control."

"AMD processors with DDR memory offer the ultimate performance and are consistent with Compaq's superior product offerings that serve our customers at either the home or office," said Mark Vena, director, CTO Product Marketing, Home and Office Division for Compaq Computer Corporation. "The introduction of the newest AMD Athlon and AMD Duron processors will provide customers who rely on our Compaq Presario Internet PCs with a broader range of performance and value options for their computing needs."

"HP supports and incorporates AMD processors into its consumer computer solutions and is pleased with their state-of-the-art technologies," said Mark Sanchez, marketing manager for HP North America Consumer Computing. "AMD processors continue to deliver an outstanding foundation that provides customers high performance levels for their computing needs."

All AMD Athlon and AMD Duron microprocessors are compatible with the mature, reliable Socket A infrastructure which is broadly supported by a variety of motherboards worldwide.

Pricing
The 1.4 GHz AMD Athlon processor, available with a 266MHz front-side bus (FSB) or a 200MHz FSB, is priced at $253 in 1,000-unit quantities. The 950MHz AMD Duron processor is priced at $122 in 1,000-unit quantities. For more information on pricing, please visit visit the web site for other pricing information.

AMD Athlon™ Processor Awards Around the World
The AMD Athlon processor and AMD Athlon processor-based systems have received more than 90 awards worldwide. Please see the web site for a complete listing of AMD Athlon processor and AMD Athlon processor-based system awards.

About the AMD Athlon™ Processor
The AMD Athlon processor is an x86-compatible, seventh-generation design featuring a superpipelined, nine-issue superscalar microarchitecture optimized for high clock frequency; the industry's first fully pipelined, superscalar floating point unit for x86 platforms; high-performance cache architecture, featuring 384KB of total on-chip cache (256KB of on-chip level two (L2) cache and 128KB of on-chip level one (L1) cache); enhanced 3DNow!™ technology with 24 additional instructions designed to improve integer math calculations, data movement for Internet streaming, and DSP communications. The AMD Athlon processor features either a 266MHz Front-Side Bus (FSB) or a 200MHz FSB based on the Alpha™ EV6 bus protocol. AMD Athlon processors are manufactured using AMD's 0.18-micron process technology in Fab 25 in Austin, Texas and Fab 30 in Dresden, Germany.

About the AMD Duron™ Processor
The AMD Duron processor is a derivative of the award-winning AMD Athlon processor and is designed to provide an optimized solution for value conscious business and home users. Employing an innovative design, the AMD Duron processor features a sophisticated cache architecture with 192KB of total on-chip cache, a high-speed 200MHz front-side bus, and a superscalar floating point unit with enhanced 3DNow!™ technology.

The AMD Duron processor offers value-conscious buyers access to technology and performance that stands out among other processors in its class. It reflects AMD's 30 years of design and manufacturing expertise and sales of more than 150 million PC processors. AMD Duron processors are manufactured on AMD's 0.18 micron process technology in Fab 25, Austin, Texas.