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Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is set to introduce a new 400MHz FSB (front-side bus), Barton-core Athlon XP processor in May to strengthen its product portfolio before it launches the long talked about K8-based Athlon 64 processors in September.
The processor maker informed its motherboard clients and chipset partners of this new offering last week. According to sources, the latest Barton and its predecessor differ only in the FSB standard.
Most first-tier motherboard makers have decided to develop products for the new processors. Chipset designers VIA Technologies and Silicon Integrated Systems (SiS) have also said that they will release supporting products in April. VIA’s latest K7-based KT400A chipsets are sampling now and are scheduled to hit the market in March. However, the chipset only supports the 333MHz FSB standard.
Despite the industry support, downstream manufacturers are facing an awkward situation in product marketing and positioning, as AMD introduced a similar product, the Barton-core Athlon XP 3000+, on February 10. Moreover, although AMD said that it would release the new version of Barton processors in May, most board makers believe that the actual shipment time may come after the second quarter, which would then be close to the launch of the K8-core Athlon 64.
The processor maker informed its motherboard clients and chipset partners of this new offering last week. According to sources, the latest Barton and its predecessor differ only in the FSB standard.
Most first-tier motherboard makers have decided to develop products for the new processors. Chipset designers VIA Technologies and Silicon Integrated Systems (SiS) have also said that they will release supporting products in April. VIA’s latest K7-based KT400A chipsets are sampling now and are scheduled to hit the market in March. However, the chipset only supports the 333MHz FSB standard.
Despite the industry support, downstream manufacturers are facing an awkward situation in product marketing and positioning, as AMD introduced a similar product, the Barton-core Athlon XP 3000+, on February 10. Moreover, although AMD said that it would release the new version of Barton processors in May, most board makers believe that the actual shipment time may come after the second quarter, which would then be close to the launch of the K8-core Athlon 64.