Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD)

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Doug, Re: Intel's going to need it in a hurry, with FX-53/940, FX-53/939 (~4000+), 3700+ and 3800+ coming from AMD over the next few months.

We'll see how the model number madness goes. Traditionally, AMD has not launched model numbers too far above Intel's top sku, as it puts a sizable burden on them to justify how model xxxx compares with an Intel CPU that does not yet exist. Model numbers in general are highly reactionary, since they are based on an arbitrary average that has not been determined by any standards committee or special interest group. They are both a blessing and a curse, as we've seen over the last several years. They helped Athlon XP sell against the higher megahertz Willamette, but Northwood nearly rendered them obsolete with its much greater performance. Now Athlon 64 has gained back some credibility, but that still hinges on AMD's ability to keep them conservative. That's why I do not expect them to go out on a limb to exceed Intel's top bin by more than a couple hundred QuantiHurts. At least, they seem to have held back in the past when it came right down to it.