AMD turns the heat on Intel

AMD has announced the introduction of new additions to its line of mobile K6-2-P and the K6-III range of processors. The former comes in chip speed variants of 433, 450 and 475MHz, and the latter is available in speeds of 400, 433 and 450MHz.

The other features of the new mobile AMD-K6-2-P processor is that it operates at a core voltage of 2.2 volts and generates less than 12 watts of power, supports existing socket 7 and Super7 platforms, and ships in a 321-pin ceramic pin grid array, or CPGA, package.

AMD's mobile processors support the 100MHz-frontside bus, the K6-III, and 3DNow! technology on both mobile processor lines. In fact, AMD is the only mobile processor to do so.

Compaq has announced that it will continue to support the new AMD processors on its Prosignia 150 and Presario 1600 notebook lines. AMD has turned on the heat in its continuing battle against Intel (see 'AMD lines up Athlon against P III') by offering the fastest mobile processors in the market today. AMD is also trying for a makeover in its image as a cheaper processor. With this faster chip as well as a price premium, AMD is running Intel close in the retail channels also.

But the speed advantage may not last long as Intel is expected to announce its Pentium III mobile processors.

For AMD the ultimate challenge would be to attain the status of a premium, standard and most coveted processor, which Intel has today.