Our Verdict

There is no doubt in our mind the improved technical features of the new Athlon Thunderbird processors are in a class of their own. Time and time again we have reviewed Athlon Thunderbird processors with different makes of motherboards, and video cards, and in all subsequent tests the processor excels with the combination of components used, no compatibility issues and rock solid stability. It has been a while since Intel has had any competition, so much so the only serious threat used to come from AMD many years ago, but then AMD had a reputation of a single product wonderer, as soon as AMD launched a processor that would compete with Intel, in no time Intel would surpass AMD by launching a superior product, and AMD could not come up with a follow-on product. How time heals all, the Athlon (K7) has certainly changed all this, and now does AMD have a successor to the Athlon K7? it certainly does in the form of the "Hammer" 64 bit processor due for launch next year. As we write we understand SUN Microsystems has endorsed the x86-64 architecture for its Solaris operating system, this is a great boost for AMD, needless to say, well deserved.
As for the 1GHz to 1.1Ghz comparison, the performance increase is reasonably good, remember to achieve the same level of increase as the clock frequency is near to impossible, so this is not the yardstick you use to measure an increase in performance, hence the benchmarks we use to produce meaningful results.
Our performance ratio has to be based on pricing of the processor, currently our pricing is for purchasing 1,000 units, we apologise for this as single processor pricing was not available to us prior to publication.

Pricing: - Athlon Thunderbird Socket A (Processor only)
1.1GHz - £577.00, 1GHz - £414.00, 950Mhz - £310.00.
If these prices are compared to the Intel Coppermine processors then they are competitive, and even more so, if performance and technical design is taken into consideration. However, in comparison to the 1GHz pricing the 1.1GHz processors are 39.5% more costly. In terms of cost per Mb the 1GHz is 0.414 pence and the 1.1GHz is 0.524 pence approximately.
The AMD 1.1GHz processor has again triumphed by setting new performance levels, the processor is merely an extension of the 1GHz processor, and as such we have not changed our mind, at the last turnout we awarded the Athlon Thunderbird 1GHz our excellence award, this still remains for the 1.1GHz processors.

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