Advanced Micro Devices is trying to beat Intel on price with its latest six-core desktop Phenom II X6 processors, which were announced on Tuesday.
AMD is shipping two X6 processors that are substantially less pricey than Intel’s latest six-core Core i7-980XM desktop processor, which was announced last month. The Phenom II X6 1090T processor runs at 3.2GHz and is priced at US$295, while the 1055T, which runs at 2.8GHz, is priced at $199. Intel’s Core i7-980XM desktop processor is priced at $999, according to a price list on Intel’s Web site.
The X6 chips are targeted at gamers and buyers looking for high-performance desktops, said Adam Kozak, platform marketing manager at AMD. The chips are the fastest yet in AMD’s desktop processor lineup.
Kozak admitted that Intel’s Core i7-980XM chip will be faster on some threaded applications, but buyers may get more bang for the buck with AMD’s six-core offerings. Buyers will be able to configure high-end gaming desktops at prices equaling the cost of Intel’s chip alone.
“[Intel’s] six-core part is going to be faster, but it’s about the value equation,” Kozak said.
Enthusiasts tend to judge systems by performance, but price could be a differentiating factor for those with less to spend, said Dean McCarron, principal analyst at Mercury Research.
AMD’s chips hold an advantage in performance-per-dollar, but those looking for performance will be loyal to Intel’s processors, McCarron said. But the enthusiast market is small, and Intel may not make drastic price changes or architectural changes in light of the pricing competition waged by AMD, he said.
“There’s not a whole lot of incentive for Intel to change price points,” he said.