Athlon X2 BE-2350 Processor Review - Page 10

Value

AMD has set prices on the new low-power Athlon X2 models at very attractive levels. The 2.1 GHz Athlon X2 BE-2350 will sell from AMD at $90, while the lower-clocked 1.9 GHz Athlon X2 BE-2300 is priced a bit lower at $85. This compares well against the Intel competition, which includes the sub-$100, entry-level Core 2 Duo E2140 (1.6 GHz, 1MB L2) and the low cost Core 2 Duo E4300 ($115-$120) and E4400 ($135-$145).

This gives AMD a definite edge in this marketplace, as the Athlon X2 BE-2300 and BE-2350 models are not cache-stripped versions, and have the same 2x512K format and relative performance of a mainstream Athlon 64 X2 models. For example, the Core 2 Duo E6300 (1.86 GHz, 2MB L2) we tested against the Athlon X2 BE-2350 currently sells in the $165-$175 range. Certainly, power users can get more value at the Athlon 64 X2 5200+ to 6000+ range, but the Athlon X2 BE-2350 is targeted more towards the energy efficient/low noise crowd.

* Please note that these prices were taken at the time of review and are not meant to reflect long-term trends.

Conclusion

In trying to find another niche market for their Athlon 64 X2 architecture, AMD has produced a very attractive processor for the small form-factor market. The 65nm Athlon X2 BE-2350 is a low cost, energy efficient processor that offers a 45W footprint, while maintaining the current 2x512K dual core architecture. This differs from Intel, which in order to lower price/wattage levels, shaves off L2 cache like yesterday's beard. This architectural consistency enables AMD to provide a low-power CPU with the same relative performance as the other Athlon 64 X2 processors, but at 2.1 GHz.

Pros:

• 45W Max Thermal Power
• Excellent SFF/HTPC Option
• Socket AM2 Upgrade Compatible

Cons:

• Higher Price per GHz
• Entry-level Performance

Ratings: