Value
As has become customary with AMD processors, the true "street price" is usually lower than the actual AMD price lists would indicate. The Duron 1.2 GHz follows along these lines as well, and actually mimics the $85-$90 debut pricing of previous Duron models. This compares to the approximate online prices of $72 for the Duron 1.1 GHz and $58 for the Duron 1 GHz.
Current Duron pricing also compares quite well to the Intel Celeron, which is priced at $80 for the 1.1 GHz model, while the Tualatin-based Celeron 1.2 GHz checks in at around $100. This is a bit of a departure in competitive pricing, as the Celeron has risen in recent weeks, while the Duron has either declined or stayed put. At these price levels, the Duron 1.2 GHz represents an excellent value compared to the Celeron 1.2 GHz, and compares well to the crop of lower-speed value CPUs.
Where the comparison gets a bit more difficult is when we bring the Athlon into the conversation. The Athlon XP is priced noticeably higher than the Duron models, but the older Athlon models actually represent a more significant challenge than the Celeron. Currently, the Athlon 1.2 GHz is priced very close to the Duron 1.2 GHz, and as we saw from the benchmark tests, the Athlon is a higher performing CPU. The addition of SSE instructions to the Duron core holds some attraction to value buyers, especially since you have to hit the Athlon XP to get a comparable feature set.
The above comparison concerns CPU vs. CPU selling prices, and the Duron has a few aces up its sleeves. One is the value platform base, such as the SDRAM-based test system we used. While an Athlon could be utilized in its stead, you are far more likely to find a Duron driving the AMD SDRAM ship. This usually results in a lower price for a Duron PC than a comparable Athlon system, which can be far greater than just the individual CPU price difference.
Final Comments
For the first time in a long while, AMD found themselves behind the Celeron MHz ball in the value market. This has been alleviated by the release of the Duron 1.2 GHz and puts AMD back on par with Intel's fastest Celeron 1.2 GHz. For the budget-minded system buyer, this is great news as a 1 GHz or faster system has never been less expensive. It is also nice to see that while AMD has transitioned the Athlon XP totally to the 266 MHz system bus, the company is not forgetting about the vast supply of legacy 200 MHz systems like the KT133. As a new value system option or as a 200 MHz CPU upgrade, the Duron 1.2 GHz is a compelling option and helps push the envelope a bit further in both core speed and features.
Pros:
- New Core Revision
- Produces less heat than Athlon
- A 1.2 GHz Value Processor!
Cons:
- 1.75V core voltage
- Price levels still too close to Athlon
- Would like to see both 200 and 266 MHz models
Ratings:
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