AMD Athlon 64 FX-57 (page 1: Introduction)

After the Athlon 64 X2 release last May, AMD is back with a new version of the high-end single core processor, the Athlon FX. Named FX-57, this processor is now clocked at 2.8 GHz thanks to the new 90-nm “San Diego” core.

AMD new sales policy

In our Athlon 64 X2 article, we gave you the first tendencies of AMD’s new sale policy:

"AMD has apparently decided to, at least initially, have a higher dual core P-Rating than single core processors. This is the reason why no new single core processors will be released except for some Athlon 64 FX. We feel that this P-Rating policy is definitively unattractive"

This new policy is confirmed with the Athlon 64 FX-57 announcement. AMD has decided not to democratize the FX-55 2.6 GHz frequency with the release of an Athlon 64 4200 or 4300+. Neither will the FX-57 replace the FX-55 which continues to be produced. AMD has decided not to cut the processor price that is still at $827. Under those circumstances what could be the FX-57 release price?

$1,031! With the FX-57, AMD has decided to go beyond the psychological limit of $1,000 for a single core desktop processor. You have probably guessed that this policy displeases us most. Released in October 2004, the FX-55 price is still the same and today AMD persists with this FX-57. We might have expected the FX-57 to be released at the FX-55 price and the FX-55 price to be reduced! We have to hope that AMD will soon reduce prices to get them back to a more reasonable level.