6400+ Goes Live

[Stormcrow]

Newegg.com - AMD Athlon 64 X2 6400+ 3.2GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM2 Processor - Retail
AMD Athlon 64 X2 6400+ Black Edition Processor - 3.20GHz, 2MB Cache, 1000MHz (2000 MTs) FSB, Windsor, Dual-Core, Retail, Socket AM2 (940), ADX6400CZWOF, Processor - No Fan at TigerDirect.com

$280...so for that price, would you rather have a dual-core based on an outdated architecture or a new spiffy Q6600? Geez, I thought the $240 pricetag was high enough.
And apparently at AMD, special Black Edition means you just get the chip, no heatsink/fan or even incentive goodies.

[Jokerswild]

Thats AMD, beating a dead horse.

[One4yu2c]

On a side not, I like the concept of not including a stock heatsink/fan, assuming the 'Black Edition' SKU (gotta love marketing!) will check in cheaper than the standard processor. Looks like you still get the retail warranty, so I'd be all for saving a few bucks from the get-go to apply towards a heatsink/fan of choice.

[[Dr. V]]

Yea it's definifely a good marketing ploy. It not only makes the Black Edition look better, but it implies that one would need better-than-average cooling to "tame the beast" so to speak. AMD isn't stupid - just behind (slow?). Either way, they know what they're doing and I'm confident that, eventually, they'll be back up top like the were last generation.

Regardless, Barcelona is out soon and I'm really looking forward to some results. Also - PRICE! I'm most likely going to be selling off my entire computer to add cash and upgrade to either a Core 2 Quad beast, or an AMD quad core beast - either way I'll be buying ever part over again (except my main hard drive and maybe my RAM - but it will still be Ballistix 4GB whether or not I keep the 2GB I have now), so the "switching platforms when upgrading" problem won't be lurking.

EDIT:

Also, I'm glad AMD is deciding to push the X2s to hell's end. It does noticeably beat the E6750 which is still something to be proud of considering they're technically one generation behind Intel in terms of chips released. The problem is - too late (not necessarily too little) with Barcelona. Even if it does have a 20-30% performance increase over Core 2 Duo, Intel's new chips are coming out rather soon after Barcelona - AMD better be ready to counter attack Intel's NEXT chip - NOT the one that's been out for many months. Either way, they needed something, so kudos to them. Just make sure you're ready for Intel, because they aren't done yet!

[One4yu2c]

Originally Posted by ST!X

considering they're technically one generation behind Intel in terms of chips released.

Technically being the keyword, there. Ignoring the fact that whatever is on the market at any given time is considered 'current generation,' the basic Core 2 architecture has been around since AMD64, in the form of Dothan (a mobile part). That was last generation, and had the suits in Santa Clara not been so hesitant to let go of Netburst, we could have been playing with C2D parts (or similar) way back when.

[Yellowhello]

Originally Posted by Jokerswild

Thats AMD, beating a dead horse.

Yep. +1.

But "black Edition"? Makes it sound all cool and fast.................

[Pete]

Black edition? Cheaper? whats that suppose to mean? So does that mean the Asian edition can process more calculations but has a smaller front side bus?

(Not really serious for those that might think it)

Still waiting AMD... Still waiting...

[Panda Man]

Originally Posted by TTPete

Black edition? Cheaper? whats that suppose to mean? So does that mean the Asian edition can process more calculations but has a smaller front side bus?

(Not really serious for those that might think it)

Still waiting AMD... Still waiting...

haha, $280 is still pretty steep though, when I can have a E6850 for just $20 more and blow it out of the water.

[Jokerswild]

Originally Posted by TTPete

Black edition? Cheaper? whats that suppose to mean? So does that mean the Asian edition can process more calculations but has a smaller front side bus?

(Not really serious for those that might think it)

Still waiting AMD... Still waiting...

I would think that the Kosher edition would be cheaper and the Asian edition would have a different slant on processing. But your take on the smaller FSB may be cause for concern when trying to push the motherbaords limits. But don't worry that problem can always be licked.

[simple_inhibition]

but if you really think about it, the K8 was a development of the K7 core of the athlon xp. originally the athlon 64 was supposed to be released in 2002 but ended up being pushed back till the end of 03" due to low yields of higher speed parts. (deja-vu anyone?) K9 was supposed to be released in 2005, but was canceled. now comes K10 which is an enhanced and highly tweaked K8. Phenom needs to be smoking because i have a feeling that its going to be a few years before we see a new architecture from amd. hopefully they dont get complacent and let the development stagnate like they did with the K8.