AMD takes on Intel with new Athlon IIs

AMD is turning up the heat on rival Intel

AMD has launched eight new processors in its Athlon II line, targeting the budget conscious.

The range includes three-core CPUs and two energy-efficient 45W CPUs intended for mainstream mini-towers, small form-factor PCs and all-in-one systems.

AMD claims that the US in particular wants smaller form-factor PCs, and that all-in-ones are becoming more important. The key to this market is sufficiently low power to remove the need for cooling fans, AMD said.

The Athlon II processors aim to compete against Intel's midrange line of CPUs. AMD is offering a two-core 2.8GHz Athlon II X2 240e for $77 (£47), which is being aimed at Intel's $119 (£72) 2.8GHz Core 2 Duo E7400, and a three-core 2.9GHz Athlon II X3 435 for $87 (£53) which is going up against Intel's $190 (£115) 3.16GHz Core 2 Duo E8500.

Today's announcement follows the release of AMD's Athlon II X4 620 which was the first sub-$100 (£61) four-core CPU, priced at $99 (£60) and running at 2.6GHz with a TDP of 95W.

The Athlon II X4 630 was made available at the same time and had the same specs but a slightly faster 2.8GHz clock speed. AMD was selling it for $122 (£74).