AMD Athlon™ 64 FX-55 Processor Named “Best CPU” By Maximum PC Magazine For 2004

SUNNYVALE, CA -- 12/6/2004 -- AMD today announced the editors of Maximum PC magazine have named the AMD Athlon™ 64 FX-55 processor “Best CPU” as part of the publication’s “Gear of the Year” awards. Maximum PC recognized the AMD Athlon 64 FX processor for its unparalleled performance and stellar gaming benchmarks. Currently in its ninth year of existence, Maximum PC's editorial board gives the “Gear of the Year” awards for products that the magazine has tested and verified as the best of breed for the year. The 2004 “Gear of the Year” awards are featured in the magazine’s December issue currently available online and on newsstands.

“Each year, the magazine’s editors rate and review more than 500 of the year’s top products, with only the best of breed receiving the distinguished ‘Gear of the Year’ title,” said George Jones, editor-in-chief of Maximum PC. “For ‘Best CPU,’ we chose gaming benchmarks to stress the CPU and chipset. Simply put, there was no contest in any of the gaming benchmarks. Overall, this was a clear win for the AMD Athlon 64 FX-55 processor.”

“Maximum PC’s ‘Best CPU’ award underscores the superior performance provided by the AMD Athlon 64 FX processor series, and is especially important coming from a publication with uncompromising product reviews,” said Marty Seyer, corporate vice president and general manager, Microprocessor Business Unit, Computation Products Group, AMD. “Since its launch in October, the AMD Athlon 64 FX-55 processor has continued to deliver on AMD’s promise to provide enthusiasts and hard-core gamers the absolute best overall PC processor you can get. This award is another important proof point among the over 60 awards for AMD64 processor technology.”

In its “Best CPU” roundup, Maximum PC also noted that “the AMD Athlon 64 FX-55 processor performed especially well when testing on real-world applications such as Photoshop, and in a multi-tasking test when running multiple applications simultaneously.”

Based on AMD64 technology, the AMD Athlon 64 FX processor is the highest-performance PC processor on the market today. It is designed to offer outstanding 32-bit performance today with the capability to seamlessly transition into supporting

AMD Athlon 64 processors have the added security benefit of Enhanced Virus Protection (EVP). This capability, enabled by Microsoft^® Windows^® XP Service Pack 2, helps prevent the execution of certain types of malicious viruses. The award-winning AMD64 desktop processors also feature Cool'n'Quiet™ technology, an innovative system-level feature that lowers the power consumption of the PC when maximum performance is not needed. A PC with AMD’s Cool'n'Quiet technology enabled will consume less power, and run cooler and quieter on most applications.

About AMD64
AMD64 evolves the industry-standard 32-bit x86 architecture to support the demanding 64-bit environment that will enable future generations of computer functionality and productivity. AMD designed the AMD64 platform to allow end users to enjoy reliable, best-in-class performance on the 32-bit software they own today while preparing for a seamless transition to high-performance 64-bit applications. The AMD64 architecture also enables a more secure computing environment by integrating capabilities that can take advantage of advanced anti-virus features in upcoming software. Since the introduction of the AMD64 architecture in 2003, the AMD Opteron™ processor for servers and workstations and the AMD Athlon™ 64 processors for desktop and notebook computers have earned more than 60 awards for innovation and performance and the support of more than 2,000 OEMs, hardware and software developers, system builders, and distributors.

About AMD
AMD (NYSE:AMD) designs and produces innovative microprocessors, Flash memory devices and low-power processor solutions for the computer, communications and consumer electronics industries. AMD is dedicated to delivering standards-based, customer-focused solutions for technology users, ranging from enterprises and governments to individual consumers. For more information visit www.amd.com.

AMD, the AMD Arrow logo, AMD Athlon, AMD Opteron and combinations thereof, and Cool‘n’Quiet are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and/or other jurisdictions. Other names are for informational purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.