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AMD Athlon 64 4000+ & FX-55

AMD's Athlon FX series CPU gets a bump in core speed while the Athlon 64 sees a doubling of L2 cache. We will see how these CPUs fare against Intel's P4 3.6GHz and 3.4EE as well as AMD's own 3500+, 3800+, and FX-53.

Introduction

As mentioned above, what we are seeing out of AMD today is hardly a huge move in product, but more like a baby step in keeping their line-up fresh and in front of readers. Today AMD is launching their Athlon 64 4000+ and Athlon 64 FX-55 processors. While there are no obvious architecture or technology changes today in terms of the Athlon64's abilities, they are noting that they have moved to Strained SOI, or Silicon on Insulator, with their FX-55 processor. Do understand that "non-strained" SOI has been technology used on every Athlon 64 part since their introduction. This is undoubtedly what has given AMD the ability to scale the clock of their flagship another 200MHz.

Strained Silicon on Insulator

Starting with the FX-55, which will now be AMD's flagship CPU for benchmarking and press releases, we see a mild 200MHz core speed bump that brings the FX-55 up to 2.6GHz, or 2600MHz. With the new Athlon 64 4000+, we see no bump in core speed at all over the previous 3800+, but rather AMD has brought the total L2 cache up to 1MB. In our opinion, what we are seeing is the coming together of two product lines.

FX and Athlon 64 Further Blurred

From the screen captures of CPUZ above, you can see where an overlap now occurs. Interestingly enough, we have wondered since the introduction of the FX line how they would continue to differentiate it from the Athlon 64 line, especially with scaling the CPU's clock being very difficult. With the new Athlon 64 4000+ in place, the FX seems to have moved to only being different in terms of name and price.

Comparing the FX-53 and the 4000+ above in opposite corners of the graphic, you will see that we think it's safe to say that today's 4000+ CPU is nothing more than yesterday's FX-53.

All in all, I do not have much of a problem with that, but the reasoning for the entire "FX" moniker has seemed to have left the product line. We cannot find any differences in the CPU that will make any difference to a consumer that is focused on performance and tangible features, with perhaps one exception. That exception is that FX CPUs still have an unlocked multiplier allowing easy overclocking, although it can be argued that not many enthusiasts are purchasing FX processors for that reason.

Certainly AMD marketing needs to now reevaluate their Athlon 64/FX branding. Their plans for the processor line have changed dramatically since its inception, and now calling an old FX-53 an Athlon 64 4000+ seems to be a disservice to consumers that are trying to fight through all of the FUD that is produced on a daily basis.

AMD says they introduced model numbers to better help consumers. If helping consumers understand products better is still their goal, they need to forego the FX product line or stop producing "identical" products that carry the same name.

4000+ & FX-55 Specs & Pricing

Certainly these newer processors are not for the poor, or those looking for a deal, but they will certainly drive the prices down on other CPUs in the marketplace.