AMD launches Athlon 64 3700+ processor for notebooks

Sunnyvale (CA) - AMD today announced a new top-end version of its mobile processors line, The Athlon 64 3700+ "for notebooks" extends the portfolio of processors for desktop replacement devices. The company also announced that it has begun shipping 90 nm mobile processors, formerly code-named Oakville.

The new 3700+ processor joins the previously introduced models 3400+, 3200+ and 3000+. The chip integrates 1 MByte of L2 Cache and is clocked at 2.4 GHz. The desktop replacement line (DTR) of AMD targets the heavy fraction of notebooks designed to perform as closely as possibly as a, well, desktop PC.

While AMD now includes its power saving technology PowerNow! With these processors, users shouldn't be expecting new records in battery operating time. AMD posted a thermal design power (TDP) of 81.5 W for its DTR processors. For comparison, Intel's lists for its Mobile Pentium 4 a TDP of 88 W (2.8 GHz, 3.06 GHz and 3.2 GHz). Both values are significantly above low-power processors of the two firms, which achieve 12 W (low power Mobile Athlon 64) and 5 W to 10 W (ultra low voltage and low voltage Pentium M).

AMD said that the new DTR processor is shipping now and is priced at $500 in 1,000-unit quantities.

In a separate announcement, AMD said that it has manufactured first 90 nm Mobile Athlon 64 processors (code-named Oakville), which are aimed at the the thin-and-light segment. According to AMD, the CPUs are being shipped to system builders who likely will start offering notebooks with the processors in September.