Superfast gaming computers from several niche manufacturers will get a new microprocessor from the chipmaker.
A new chip from the Sunnyvale-based chipmaker gives companies like Alienware and other gaming-specific makers a new boost to the high end. The Athlon 64 FX-57, billed as the ultimate processor for 3D games, comes in the wake of console announcements at last month’s E3 convention.
For those who may have thought the consoles have moved past their PC counterparts, the AMD announcement coupled with new graphics chips from Nvidia and its main rival ATI have upped the stakes.
Gamers have been moving online, and sales of games with no online component have fallen for the past couple of years, according to NPD Group. That’s not happening with online games.
To take advantage of the latest in broadband connected online gaming, AMD now offers multiple chips specific to the single-thread demands of high end games. “The market is big enough now to justify multiple chips in a gamer product line,” said Jonathan Seckler, Athlon 64 product manager at AMD.
The gaming industry and analysts seem to agree that AMD has a significant lead over hated rival Intel in the highest end of game machines.
“The AMD Athlon 64 FX-55 processor is the fastest CPU available for running Half-Life 2, and the AMD Athlon 64 FX-57 processor will be even faster,” said Gabe Newell, founder and president of Valve.
“Gamers, and those pushing the performance envelope on PCs, have clearly seen AMD continue to deliver the most powerful set of processors in their class,” said Rob Enderle, principal analyst for The Enderle Group.
“The AMD Athlon 64 FX-57 processor is the highest performing single-core processor in the consumer market and I believe that at least for the next 18 months, it is this single-core performance that will be most important to the most competitive players of PC games.”
David Utter is a staff writer for Murdok covering technology and business. Email him here.
