AMD has launched a new 32/64-bit processor designed with hardware-level antivirus protection.

Launched at CeBIT in Hanover, the AMD Athlon 64 FX53 2.4GHz will run on 32-bit or 64-bit software.

It features an antivirus system designed to block activation of executable malware by marking all memory with page tables and making it non-executable. Any attempt to run an executable outside this is immediately blocked, the chip firm claimed.

But the hard-wired virus protection will only be usable on PCs running Windows XP Service Pack 2, due for release in the second half of this year.

"32-bit is obsolete technology," said Henri Richard, senior vice president of sales and marketing for AMD.

"No-one wants leaded petrol any more, its time has gone. We're proud to have pioneered the move to 32/64-bit computing."

The new processor is aimed squarely at the gamer market. Also announced was a deal with Ubisoft, and the forthcoming release of both a 32-bit version and 64-bit version of its latest action game, Far Cry, which is optimised to take advantage of AMD's 64-bit technology.

The new processor comes with 128KB Level 1 cache, with 1028KB at Level 2. It is priced at $733 in 1,000-unit quantities.

Evesham, Fox and Time will shortly bring out PCs using the new chip, while Microsoft will release Windows XP for 64-bit AMD in the second half of the year.