AMD emphasises value with new desktop chips

AMD offers buyers more bang per buck

AMD has added to its desktop processor line with new Phenom II and Athlon II chips designed to offer performance at a modest price.

The new additions consist of three Athlon and two Phenom chips, aimed at consumers looking for a PC for multimedia entertainment and games. They deliver advanced performance at attractive price points, according to AMD.

The highlight is the Phenom II X2 555 Black Edition, which runs at 3.2GHz and is styled by the chipmaker as its fastest dual-core desktop processor to date. With a price tag of $99 (£61) in volume, the new chip is also ideal for budget-conscious buyers, AMD said.

Also worthy of note is the quad-core Athlon II X4 635, designed to provide exceptional performance to handle the demands of multitasking and multi-threaded applications. It costs $119 (£74).

The other new processors are the 3.1GHz Athlon II X2 255 at $74 (£46), the triple-core Athlon II X3 440 at 3GHz for $84 (£52), and the quad-core Phenom II X4 910e, which is clocked at 2.6GHz and costs $169 (£105).