| Q: | What is the AMD Athlon™ X2 dual-core processor 6400+ Black Edition?
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| A: | The AMD Athlon™ X2 dual-core processor 6400+ Black Edition is the first enthusiast dual-core X2 processor targeted to the channel, taking performance to the next level for sophisticated performance users. We recognize the value of our channel partners and we are offering this part to demonstrate AMD’s desire to add value and competitiveness to channel solution providers.
This processor is a special edition dual-core solution targeted towards gamers, enthusiasts and digital content creators. Whether building a new machine or upgrading their current processor, users have access to extraordinary power, platform longevity, and exceptional entertainment capabilities, especially when combined with the ATI Radeon™ HD 2000 series graphics solutions and AMD 580x or upcoming 700 series chipsets.
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| Q: | What makes this Black Edition different from other
AMD Athlon™ X2 dual-core processors?
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| A: | First, it is for AMD’s important channel providers only. Along with the enhancements of this processor, the CPUs will be packaged in a special, all black collector’s box. This new PIB will help to inform customers that they are purchasing a special edition processor; with the AMD Athlon™ X2 dual-core processor 6400+ Black Edition it will mean a new level of performance for AMD dual-core desktop solutions. |
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| Q: | Why is this processor only being released to the channel?
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| A: | The AMD Athlon™ X2 dual-core processor 6400+ Black Edition is further demonstrating AMD’s desire to add value and competitiveness to channel solution providers. With this processor, AMD now offers the channel an expanded dual-core desktop processor line up with exceptional dual-core computing benefits, across an even broader price and performance range. Many enthusiasts look to the channel for high performance solutions; AMD is simply responding to that need by helping these system builders bring the next level of desktop performance with AMD solutions. |
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| Q: | What is the target market for the 65nm energy efficient AMD desktop processors?
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| A: | The new energy efficient AMD desktop processors address both the commercial and consumer markets, from value to performance, with a top-to-bottom offering of AMD energy efficient desktop processors.
For the digital home, AMD believes consumers should have a choice of products that address their needs to create and enjoy high-quality video, music, photos or other digital content anywhere, anytime regardless of digital media file format or device form factor. AMD technology enables PC and CE device manufacturers to differentiate their products. AMD64 energy efficient technology for quiet, slim-line digital media solutions supports a variety of hardware form factors and software formats.
Energy efficient AMD desktop processors can help OEMs design small form factor (SFF) PCs that take up less space and are more aesthetic, giving them the opportunity to provide differentiated and competitive solutions for their customers. Building on the leadership momentum in the blade server and general purpose server markets with the AMD Opteron™ processors, energy efficient AMD desktop processors are tailored to reduce power consumption for greater performance-per-watt over AMD’s standard power desktop processors.
For consumers and businesses, energy efficient AMD desktop processors can help reduce the noise and heat emitted from systems to extend the longevity of their PCs while offering users a quieter, more pleasant experience in their offices or living rooms.
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| Q: | Do these first 65nm processors come with a performance enhancement?
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| A: | These new 65 watt processors are designed to deliver improved performance-per-watt by maintaining the performance of previous 90nm products and reducing power consumption. A new feature benefit to aid in reducing power consumption is C1E. C1 Enhanced (C1E) is an advanced power management feature to slow select system functions when not in use to reduce overall power consumption. |
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| Q: | How do energy efficient AMD processors benefit consumers and businesses?
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| A: | Overall, energy efficient AMD processors provide industry-leading performance-per-watt capabilities, enabling businesses and consumers to save money and energy, while contributing to an improved global environment.
Consumer benefits:
- Increased electricity cost savings
- The ability to purchase smaller form factors that take up less space (for both practical and aesthetic purposes)
- Systems that are quiet and do not generate excessive heat
Enterprise benefits:
- Availability of differentiated and competitive solutions
- Reduced operating costs (from lower energy bills)
- Availability of smaller, sleeker form factors that take up less space in offices and cubicles and that are designed to operate quietly
AMD channel benefits:
- Cost-effective opportunities to compete in the small form factor market
- Ability to offer small, sleek, aesthetically pleasing entertainment PCs and commercial slim-line PCs
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| Q: | Does 65nm require any significant new motherboard designs?
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| A: | Because the 65nm desktop processors are based on socket AM2, there are should not be any motherboard design changes for socket AM2 motherboards, which helps ensure OEM and system builders have a stable platform. Socket AM2 is designed to allow consolidation to help streamline the work for motherboard manufacturers, while helping reduce prices through economies of scale, which can result in better products at lower costs. |
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| Q: | Will AMD desktop processors support the new ENERGY STAR PC specifications recently released?
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| A: | AMD supports the EPA’s newly announced ENERGY STAR Version 4 computer specification that was revised on October 20, 2006 and is effective July 20, 2007. As a company committed to environmental stewardship, AMD continues to work jointly with the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other worldwide organizations to develop and to deliver energy-efficient technologies. Based on energy consumption data from AMD in idle states, AMD expects that our desktop and mobile processors will meet, and in many instances, may be significantly lower than the new system requirements that will go into effect in mid-2007.
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| Q: | Why is Cool`n`Quiet™ technology not running on my AMD-based system with Windows Vista™?
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| A: | Microsoft Windows Vista has the latest Cool`n`Quiet driver built in and has Cool`n`Quiet enabled by default. No additional driver installation is required. If Cool`n`Quiet is not running on your Windows Vista based AMD64 desktop system please ensure that your motherboard BIOS is Windows Vista compliant and Cool’n’Quiet enabled. Customers may have to contact their system or motherboard vendor for a BIOS update that can enable Cool`n`Quiet technology on Windows Vista. |
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| Q: | Where can I download the latest AMD Cool`n`Quiet™ driver for use with Microsoft Windows Vista™?
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| A: | Microsoft Windows Vista now has the latest Cool`n`Quiet driver built in and has Cool`n`Quiet enabled by default. No additional driver installation is required. |
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| Q: | How do I enable Cool`n`Quiet™ on my AMD-based system with Windows Vista™?
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| A: | Microsoft® Windows Vista has the latest Cool`n`Quiet driver built in and has Cool`n`Quiet enabled by default. No additional driver installation is required.
To check that Cool`n`Quiet technology is working please follow the below steps –
- Please ensure that your motherboard BIOS is Windows Vista compliant and Cool`n`Quiet enabled. You may have to contact your system manufacturer or motherboard manufacturer for help to do this or for possible BIOS updates that may enable support for Cool`n`Quiet.
- Under Microsoft Windows Vista, from the main menu please open “Control Panel” then open the “System and Maintenance” option and then from there select “Power Options”. From the “Power Options” menu please ensure that the “Balanced” power plan is selected. This is the Windows Vista default setting.
- Download and install the AMDclock utility from http://www.amd.com/drivers this utility shows the processor speed in real time and you can easily see Cool`n`Quiet technology working to slow down the processors speed when the system is not under high use.
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| Q: | What is DDR2 memory and what is the benefit to customers? What speeds of DDR2 will AMD support?
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| A: | DDR2 memory is the next generation of DDR memory that supports the open standards efforts of the Joint Electronic Device Engineering Council (JEDEC), the governing body for integrated circuit specifications. It uses an advanced signaling scheme that can offer higher data transfer rates than DDR1 memory. The advanced signaling scheme mentioned above allows high transfer rates using traditional PC motherboard manufacturing techniques. DDR2 benefits to customers include lower voltage and higher frequency headroom than DDR1 memory.
Socket AM2 processors from AMD will support DDR2 speeds of 400MHz, 533MHz, 667MHz and, for AMD Athlon™ X2 dual-core and AMD Athlon™ FX dual-core processors, 800MHz. |
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| Q: | What types of end-user capabilities are enabled by dual-core technology?
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| A: | Consumers and businesses should realize an immediate benefit from AMD dual-core processors with the capability to run multimedia and security applications with outstanding performance. AMD dual-core processors can deliver advanced multi-tasking capabilities and exceptional multimedia performance as multi-threaded applications spread from the enterprise server market to the client and consumer markets. Examples include:
- Background Productivity , such as burning a CD or running firewall software in the background while working from home, banking online, or delivering video in the foreground.
- Digital Content Creation , such as photo editing, video editing or audio mixing.
- 3D Games , that take advantage of multithreading can provide enormous performance benefits and can offer more immersive experiences.
- Programming
- Commercial convergence applications , such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) supporting audio, video and data collaboration.
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