AMD today announced two new Athlon XP processors with 2700+ and 2800+ model numbers. Both CPUs utilise the new and more powerful 333MHz system bus and are proposed to show the potential of the Athlon XP core. The novelties are clocked at 2166MHz and 2250MHz respectively.

We are glad to tell you that AMD’s Athlon XP 2800+ processor is the fastest x86 CPU in almost all the applications when accompanied by a mainboard based on the nForce2 core-logic. Unfortunately, AMD says it will be able to deliver such fast CPUs in limited quantities only in late November exclusively for premier enthusiast PC manufacturers like ABS, Alienware, Falcon NW, MicronPC and Voodoo PC. The Athlon XP 2700+ chip, as well as 2400+ and 2600+ models, announced back in August, will be available later this Fall, but a bit before the Athlon XP 2800+. As a result, the Pentium 4 3.06GHz may appear earlier, than AMD’s Ahlon XP 2700+.

With the launch of the new microprocessors, AMD has also updated their official price-list. Now it looks as follows:

Athlon XP 2800+ - $397;
Athlon XP 2700+ - $349;
Athlon XP 2600+ - $297;
Athlon XP 2400+ - $193;
Athlon XP 2200+ - $183;
Athlon XP 2100+ - $174;
Athlon XP 2000+ - $155;
Athlon XP 1900+ - $139.

I have to once again remind you that retail prices may vary from what is officially declared by AMD for customers in 1000-unit tray quantities. Moreover, although current prices for the higher-end Athlon XP processors are below the official price of appropriate Pentium 4 CPUs, since Intel will lower their prices with the introduction of the Pentium 4 3.06GHz, AMD may also decline theirs in November.

It is a bit sad, but 2250MHz seems to be the final play for the K7 family. Later the code-named Barton processors will appear with much lower core-speed, in case AMD is not able to solve the current problems with their SOI technology.

Anyway, now AMD has the fastest x86 processor announced, but it is quite clear that the real performance champion will appear a quarter later: as we remember, the ClawHammer is set to come in the first quarter 2003.