Advanced Micro Devices today confirmed shipping the new AMD Duron processor made using 0.13 micron fabrication process at 1.80GHz speed. “The CPU is available for those customers interested”, a representative from AMD said.

The new AMD Duron “Applebred” Model 8 CPUs have 128KB of L1 and 64KB of L2 cache, like their predecessors, but utilise 266MHz EV-6 bus, not 200MHz as earlier models. However, because of unlocked multiplier, the new microprocessors will also function well using 200MHz FSB on older mainboards that do not support 266MHz bus.

Certainly, the new Duron processors support SSE technology and Bus Disconnect capabilities as well as advanced dynamic branch prediction and thermal diode featured by all AMD Athlon XP processors. The Duron “Applebred” Model 8 chips in OPGA packages have 1.50V Vcore and up to 57.0W maximum thermal power, according to an AMD document.

Earlier today we published some benchmark results of AMD Duron 1.60GHz and revealed that the new microprocessor is suitable even for gaming, not talking about typical home or office applications that involve multimedia, but typically do not require really too lot of CPU power. As a result, AMD Duron processors at 1.80GHz may be an interesting buy for those, who want to have a cost-effective system, or to add more performance to an existing one powered by 800 – 1000MHz processors.