AMD releases its highest-speed, 64-bit capable Athlon FX processor yet. Has the wait for the best performance and value ended?

AMD has just released its highest clock speed processor to date, the FX-53. Befuddling naming conventions aside, the FX chip line is the firm's answer to the calls of extreme desktop fanatics.

The FX-53 (Sledgehammer core) is 200MHz faster than its predecessor, the FX-51, pushing the clock speed envelope to 2.4GHz. The former also retains the 1MB of L2 (Level 2) cache to feed the number-crunching monster.

The Sunnyvale chipmaker has recently been busy capitalising on the microprocessor giant's (Intel) stumble with its new series of Pentium 4, codenamed the Prescott. With Intel still struggling to scale the new CPUs beyond Northwood speeds (3.2GHz), rival chipmaker AMD already has a Pentium 4 3.4GHz competitor out in the form of the AMD 64 3400+ (Clawhammer core) desktop variant a month earlier.

Even so, the Athlon FX-53 isn't without competition. Intel's own enthusiast-oriented processor line-up, the Pentium 4 Extreme Edition, was revved up earlier this year when the firm added a 3.4GHz version.

Should you jump onboard, though? It's no secret that AMD's Hammer cores are faster clock-for-clock when compared with Intel's Pentium 4, and any clock speed ramp will bring news of good yield rates, maturing manufacturing process and scalability. This means we can expect more good things from AMD in the not-too-distant future. Strange as it may sound, that's where the problem lies.

The microprocessor manufacturer is in the midst of preparing a new processor packaging for its Hammer cores, Socket 939. The current FX chip line (dual-channel memory controller) sports 940 pins while the desktop variety (single-channel memory controller) has 754 pins. One of the earlier criticisms of the current FX chips has been the performance penalty that arises through the use of ECC memory normally reserved for the server market. The new packaging eliminates this and AMD appears confident of the performance improvements, re-labeling its 2.2GHz (3400+ rating) to AMD 64 3500+ despite halving the L2 cache to 512KB (dubbed Newcastle).

So if the grapevine's right, around mid-year, that spanking new FX-53 will be spanked by a much cheaper Socket 939 (dual-channel memory controller) Newcastle.

Despite what AMD wants you to believe, the current FX line ain't heaps and bounds better than its desktop variants in games. In fact, we've found the performance of the 2.2GHz AMD 64 3400+ to perform equally well against the 2.2GHz FX-51, even handing out a few victories in some games--a fact that other enthusiast sites confirm. Here, the incumbrance of ECC memory cannot be more pronounced, especially for a chip whose crosshair is sighted on the high-end gamers.

Retailing at less than half the sticker price of the FX-51, we think this is an important fact that just doesn't get enough eyeballs.

What about 64 bits? As it is, supply for A64 processors in tech-savvy Singapore has been a little tight, causing prices to remain high and prohibitive. In addition, with Microsoft still dragging its feet over a 64-bit version of its OS, one really has to wonder if 64-bit will create a dent in the near future. We're not saying that 64-bit is a lost cause. Even Intel had to have some humble pie by putting forth its own compatible version of x86 64-bit extensions for its IA32 (Intel Architecture 32-bit) processors--a move that departs from the chip giant's former resolve of leaving 64 bits for its IA64 Itanium servers.

What we are saying is buying a CPU for 64-bit computing should not be a major consideration--at least until next year.

By then, you'd have had quite a handful of 64-bit processor choices, ranging from later steppings of Intel Prescotts and Tejas to AMD Clawhammers and Newcastles for the desktop space. For the high rollers, there's always Intel's "Gallatin" and possibly "Nocona" for the Extreme Edition line, along with AMD's Sledgehammer and San Diego FX chips.

We know you're tired of waiting, but we're almost at the end of the proverbial tunnel. The lower clock speed Newcastles will be worth every penny.

Cores Details Intel Prescott A revised Northwood core with an expanded 1MB of level 2 cache.  Intel Tejas Next generation Intel CPU with 64-bit extensions and could possibly come with multiple cores.  AMD Clawhammer Current generation of AMD socket 754 64-bit Athlons with single-channel memory controller and a mixture of 512KB and 1MB L2 caches.  AMD Newcastle Revised Sledgehammer core with half the L2 cache of 512KB. Has dual-channel memory controller for unbuffered RAM.  Intel Gallatin Intel's Xeon core but is repackaged as an Intel Extreme Edition CPU (478 pins). It has 2MB of L3 cache in addition to the 512KB of L2 cache of normal Northwoods. Intel Nocona Intel's next generation Xeon core with 64-bit extensions. With no news of a new core for the Extreme Edition line, we're expecting a repackaged Nocona to take the place of the 478pins Gallatin. AMD Sledgehammer The Sledgehammer core was initially intended to be used as a server CPU (Opteron) but was renamed as an FX to offer something to the enthusiasts. AMD San Diego AMD's next generation core to replace the Sledgehammers.

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