Possible Athlon 64 Pricing

[Johnbear007]

Any idea how the Athlon 64 is going to be priced? Is it server oriented or is it a consumer chip?

Basically I am trying to decide if I should upgrade a P3 800 at this point, or wait for athlon 64?

 

[dullard]

No one can say for sure what the exact pricing will be since AMD may change their mind at the last minute.

Athlon 64 prices will be all over the place. Just look at the official AMD Opteron prices (100 series). The Athlon 64 is very similar to the Opteron 100 series - they are almost the exact same chip. Thus AMD will charge about the same (but likely a bit lower for the Athlon 64). Note the top chip is in the $600+ range and will be a very competitive chip. The bottom chip is in the $200 range but since it is 40% slower in clock speed it really isn't much of a performer.

The Inquirer seems to think the 2.0 GHz Athlon 64 will start at $399.

One reseller accidently had the pricing of the Athlon FX on their page for a short time (the chip that another site claimed was up to 50% faster in some games). It was in the low $800 range.

 

[Johnbear007]

Originally posted by: dullard
No one can say for sure what the exact pricing will be since AMD may change their mind at the last minute.

Athlon 64 prices will be all over the place. Just look at the official AMD Opteron prices (100 series). The Athlon 64 is very similar to the Opteron 100 series - they are almost the exact same chip. Thus AMD will charge about the same (but likely a bit lower for the Athlon 64). Note the top chip is in the $600+ range and will be a very competitive chip. The bottom chip is in the $200 range but since it is 40% slower in clock speed it really isn't much of a performer.

The Inquirer seems to think the 2.0 GHz Athlon 64 will start at $399.

One reseller accidently had the pricing of the Athlon FX on their page for a short time (the chip that another site claimed was up to 50% faster in some games). It was in the low $800 range.

Hmm this is mighty expensive. So this isnt really a consumer level chip? At least not a mid/mass market range?

Is this going to be primarily a server type chip then?

I suppose no one can answer this yet, but i'm getting the trigger finger to upgrade, and if I wont be able to get a chip at least in the 150$ range within the nex 2 months then I dont want to wait.

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: Johnbear007
Hmm this is mighty expensive. So this isnt really a consumer level chip? At least not a mid/mass market range?

Is this going to be primarily a server type chip then?

I suppose no one can answer this yet, but i'm getting the trigger finger to upgrade, and if I wont be able to get a chip at least in the 150$ range within the nex 2 months then I dont want to wait.

Ok here is the $800 text:

H]ardNews 9th Edition Wednesday September 03, 2003

Posted by Kyle 5:14 PM (CDT)

Athlon64 Retail Pricing:
Rob Guella pointed out that ShopRBC in Canada has retail prices listed on their front page (scroll to the bottom) for Athlon64 and Athlon64 FX-51 Retail CPUs. As well as a mainboard. We converted the prices to US dollars using the Bank of Canada website.

AMD Athlon64 3200+ Processor, Retail
Built on AMD64 arcitecture, the AMD Athlon 64 processor is designed to deliver outstanding levels of performance and customer-focused innovation to home and business users alike.

Regular Price: US$463.00

AMD Athlon64 FX-51 Processor, Retail
Built on AMD64 arcitecture, the AMD Athlon 64 processor is designed to deliver outstanding levels of performance and customer-focused innovation to home and business users alike.

Regular Price: US$829.00

The key is that AMD has always said the Athlon 64 will be a slow seller at the start. I think they will have a slow switch in manufacturing from the Athlon XP to the Athlon 64. Their method of ensuring there isn't a shortage is to keep the initial price high. Plus AMD really needs to start making a profit - they've been losing money left and right for many quarters. This is a great opinion article on the subject.

I think it won't be until Spring when you start seeing the bottom Athlon 64s in the $150 range. But then I think the other $150 processors (Barton for example) will be faster than the bottom rung $150 Athlon 64.

Edit here you go: the first store selling one is Computers 4 Sure for $499. Note of course the 2-4 week delay (meaning they won't be selling it until after the Sept 23rd date).

 

[mechBgon]

The current AthlonXP3200+ is at over $400, so I don't see the Athlon 64 3200+ being priced at $150. There's apparently going to be an Athlon 64 2900+ (1.8GHz), however. If you have $150 to spend, then the ubiquitous Barton 2500+ is a nice value. Whatever you get, if you want to stick with the AMD path for a while, it looks like Corsair XMS 3200C2 or 3200LL would be a good way to go.

What I'm wanting is the nForce3 Pro 250 boards with the onboard direct-to-Hypertransport gigabit Ethernet :Q as well as a couple other goodies.

 

[Johnbear007]

So my finger is on the order button for a barton. Will this remain competitive for the next year?

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: Johnbear007
Will this remain competitive for the next year?

I'll call AMD and Intel and tell them to hold off on releasing any new CPUs for the next year, so your Barton remains competitive




(Real answer: No it won't remain competitive, the Athlon 64 and Prescott are going to mop the floor with it. But for what you spend, it's going to be a very good value)

 

[Johnbear007]

Originally posted by: mechBgon

Originally posted by: Johnbear007
Will this remain competitive for the next year?

I'll call AMD and Intel and tell them to hold off on releasing any new CPUs for the next year, so your Barton remains competitive




(Real answer: No it won't remain competitive, the Athlon 64 and Prescott are going to mop the floor with it. But for what you spend, it's going to be a very good value)

Right,

However thats almost like me worrying about my PC competing with a high end workstation or something

If these processors are 800$ a pop no one in the mainstream market. and VERY few in the enthusiast are going to have them. You see what I mean? Of course they will mop the floor with the barton, but im not going to be playing against people with these processors because no one will be able to afford them.


From the articles linked in here, it looks like the barton will out perform the low end 64 that will be consuemr targeted at first.

So what, does that leave the prescott as the only home proc out there? How affordable will they be, and where is info on their performance?

 

[Johnbear007]

Originally posted by: Johnbear007

Originally posted by: mechBgon

Originally posted by: Johnbear007
Will this remain competitive for the next year?

I'll call AMD and Intel and tell them to hold off on releasing any new CPUs for the next year, so your Barton remains competitive




(Real answer: No it won't remain competitive, the Athlon 64 and Prescott are going to mop the floor with it. But for what you spend, it's going to be a very good value)

Right,

However thats almost like me worrying about my PC competing with a high end workstation or something

If these processors are 800$ a pop no one in the mainstream market. and VERY few in the enthusiast are going to have them. You see what I mean? Of course they will mop the floor with the barton, but im not going to be playing against people with these processors because no one will be able to afford them.


From the articles linked in here, it looks like the barton will out perform the low end 64 that will be consuemr targeted at first.

So what, does that leave the prescott as the only home proc out there? How affordable will they be, and where is info on their performance?

I guess what I am saying is,

will my barton in 6 months look like my P3 800 does now? Or will it be closer relativley to something more like my 1700 in comparison to the barton now? (no oc involved with the 1700)?

 

[mechBgon]

Athlon 64 will start somewhere around $400. It's the special Athlon 64 FX that's in the $800 range. The FX has dual memory controllers like the Opteron.

 

[Johnbear007]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Athlon 64 will start somewhere around $400. It's the special Athlon 64 FX that's in the $800 range. The FX has dual memory controllers like the Opteron.

Yep, thats right. But is the FX that slapped around everything else NOT the Athlon 64.

 

[bjc112]

John,

Go with a 2500+/1700+ and overclock... If you wait and wait, you will never get what you want.. And when you do something better will be out within weeks...

 

[Johnbear007]

Originally posted by: bjc112
John,

Go with a 2500+/1700+ and overclock... If you wait and wait, you will never get what you want.. And when you do something better will be out within weeks...

Thanks that is what I finally decided to so. I just ordered a 2500+ and a Soltek NV400. I am going to OC it as high as I can!

Now when I get my 9700 I will have 2 decent systems for my wife and I

The barton @ hopefully 2.3 with a 9700 pro and 512MB of DDR

and a 1700+ with the radeon 8500 and 512 MB of DDR

This should keep us gaming together well for a while.

 

[Ticktanium2038]

On the lower end AMD is creating an Athlon XP cpu that will work in the Opteron Motherboards. This will help Opteron Motherboard sales and provide you with an Upgrade path to an Opteron when your ready to convert to a 64 bit CPU.

Other than that the regular Athlon XP is their cheaper line.

AMD doesnt need to make a sub 200 opteron because it wouldnt make sense at this point in time.

But expect prices to drop in a couple months as supplies increase beyond sales. Might take a while though as Opteron pre-orders are pretty high despite pricing. You want the best it always comes with price to match.

 

[Ticktanium2038]

Sorry.

Pricing is to in line with the P4 equivilent.

Granted there is no P4 3.6 Ghz CPU so expect to pay more for the Opteron 2.2 (148)

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: Ticktanium2038
On the lower end AMD is creating an Athlon XP cpu that will work in the Opteron Motherboards. This will help Opteron Motherboard sales and provide you with an Upgrade path to an Opteron when your ready to convert to a 64 bit CPU.

Other than that the regular Athlon XP is their cheaper line.

AMD doesnt need to make a sub 200 opteron because it wouldnt make sense at this point in time.

But expect prices to drop in a couple months as supplies increase beyond sales. Might take a while though as Opteron pre-orders are pretty high despite pricing. You want the best it always comes with price to match.

Duron is the cheapest line, not Athlon.

 

[Ticktanium2038]

It might be the cheapest but AMD stated they were discontinuing the Duron line. Except I think China.

Strange but a Duron is actually a failed cache Athlon.
An Athlon XP is a failed or disabled Athlon MP.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: Ticktanium2038
It might be the cheapest but AMD stated they were discontinuing the Duron line. Except I think China.

Strange but a Duron is actually a failed cache Athlon.
An Athlon XP is a failed or disabled Athlon MP.

No.

- Duron 1.6Ghz is a reality in all regions, but may in fact be a failed cache AXP, as you say.
- XP's ARE NOT failed MP's, you can make any XP an MP by messing with the L5 Bridge.

 

[Ticktanium2038]

I also said they were disabled MP's. But there is some information showing that they dont perform as well as regular MP's when they are re-enabled.

Dont know why. Dont really care.

Unless it was to get a 10% increase I wouldnt bother with the possibility of screwing up my CPU.

I will stick to overclocking instead.

 

[bgeh]

Originally posted by: Ticktanium2038
I also said they were disabled MP's. But there is some information showing that they dont perform as well as regular MP's when they are re-enabled.

Dont know why. Dont really care.

Unless it was to get a 10% increase I wouldnt bother with the possibility of screwing up my CPU.

I will stick to overclocking instead.

Show me THAT information
I'vee seen benchies that show them performing more or less the same

 

[Ticktanium2038]

Too tired to dig for the link right now. Going home. Might try tommorow if its that important.

But I think it was AMDZONE or some Overclockers site.

The point I was trying to make is that there isnt much of an increase by enabling the MP functionality that risks damaging the CPU. Unless of course you are going to use the CPU in an Multi Processor system.

Goddnight.

 

[bgeh]

honestly, i will not trust your numbers until you show me hard results

now let's get back to topic to the athlon 64 pricing

 

[SuPrEIVIE]

well who ever wants a system right NOW get a P4c it will last u 1.5+yrs

 

[Johnbear007]

Originally posted by: SuPrEIVIE
well who ever wants a system right NOW get a P4c it will last u 1.5+yrs

Im not sure how accurate that is. The 2.4c is obviously faster than the bartons, but not THAT much faster

 

[Engineer]

How about $499...taking orders now!