cM :: MORLEY|DIGITAL

Nearly a year and a half ago I wrote about the unique triple-core processor from AMD.  I felt, and still do, that it’s a great play by AMD to flank Intel’s dual-core and quad-core processors.  My focus in that article was the retail mentality of your average consumer.  Three is better than two.  That’s what a brick-and-mortar buyer will see.

And now that AMD has released its new 45nm Phenom II line-up, the press has responded much more favorably this round to AMD.  But what has received the most attention and acclaim have been the value X4 810 and the X3 parts.  Because of their low cost, overclockability, and excellent performance against Intel’s Core 2 lineup, AMD has once again found a way to position itself against its larger, cash-laden competitor.  And what may be considered AMD’s finest processor is the surprising Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition.

Recently I wrote about Intel’s Core i7.  It simply rocks.  But it simply doesn’t sell.  According to Q1 reports, the X58 chipset - the only chipset that can run the i7, will be 1.8% of its chipset sales.  Let’s give Intel some benefit of the doubt and assume that in the range of 50% of those chipset are mobile, where there is no i7, and the X58 would make up less than 4% of desktop chipset sales.  That’s well within the 5% enthusiast market I continue to talk about. (read these two posts, they’re important to understand my mindset here)

AMD knows this, and so does Intel.  The fight’s between Phenom II and Core 2 until Intel decides to drop an anvil and make Core i7 mainstream.  By all accounts that won’t be until Q4 of this year or Q1 of next year.  Intel’s best selling chipsets are those used by Core 2 processors.

Till then AMD has a very, very competitive product that combines high frequency, performance out-flanking dual-core processors, a great price, and even a bone thrown to the enthusiast with its overclockability.

Combined with AMD’s strong 780G and 790GX chipsets and fantastic Radeon HD 4000 series lineup, AMD finally has the right mix of product to make a stand in this market.  

One company I haven’t mentioned in this mix but should - NVIDIA.  Remember they make chipsets that are readily available, have design wins, and are extremly powerful for both AMD Phenom and Intel Core 2 processors.  They may be having a spat with Intel over Core i7 licensing, but for now it’s not going to hurt them in the pocket book.

[Disclosure:  I run a Core 2 Quad Q9550 in my main rig.  I currently have a GeForce GTX 280 and a Radeon HD 4870 X2 I play with.  I have two laptops with Intel chips and chipsets and one with an AMD processor with NVIDIA chipset.  My media center has an AMD processor with an AMD chipset.  I am a technologist that just loves tech and am brand-agnostic.  I think all these companies make great products that sometimes you just have to use in an manner fitting to their price and performance.  My opinions are my own and do not necessarily represent those of SolidWavePC or Fluid Digital.]