AMD plans to launch the AM2-series Athlon 64 X2 3600+ in the retail market in the third quarter of this year, earlier than expected, to counter Intel's Conroe, according to sources.

The earlier-than-expected launch of the AM2-series Athlon 64 X2 3600+ will help AMD counter pressure from Intel's upcoming Conroe (to be launched later this month) and price cuts due soon for the Pentium D, motherboard makers said.

AMD's K8 processors have been under considerable pressure from Intel's July 23 launch and price-cut plans for its high-performance Conroe and its entry-level Pentium D processors, the motherboard makers indicated.

As a result, AMD will push out the AM2-series Athlon 64 X2 3600+ to compete against the Pentium D 915/925/945 and Core 2 Duo-series E4200, with the processors to be launched within weeks of Intel's price cut, said the makers. The new AMD processors will be priced at US$130-140, they added.

With this move against the Pentium D and Conroe processors, AMD should be able to stay competitive prior to the arrival of 65nm process CPUs and the next-generation KBL series, the makers predicted.

Intel's entry-level Core 2 Duo-series E4200 (1.6GHz/2MB/800MHz FSB) will be launched before the fourth quarter and is the only Conroe processor model supporting 800MHz FSB entry-level 946 chipsets. Prices of the model will be lower than the US$183 for the E6300 processor, which will be launched on July 23. Intel will also introduce the US$133-priced Pentium D 925 and Pentium D 945/915 (to be launched on July 23, priced at US$163 and US$133), the sources said.

By: DocMemory
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