Advanced Micro Devices has just unveiled its new Athlon MP 2600+ microprocessor for 2-way workstations and entry-level servers. The new AMD Athlon MP 2600+ processor runs at 2.133GHz, utilizes 266MHz system bus, provides 128KB of L1 cache, 256KB of L2 cache and supports 3DNow! as well as SSE instructions. The new Athlon MP 2600+ is based on the latest Thoroughbred B0 core and manufactured using 0.13 micron copper process in Fab 30, Dresden, Germany. Systems featuring the AMD Athlon MP processor 2600+ are expected to be available immediately from 49 system builders worldwide.

What is simply unbelievable is that AMD has slashed three models from their Athlon MP lineup: the Athlon MP 1600+, 1800+ and the 1900+. Now there are only four processors intended for servers and workstations in AMD’s product line: Athlon MP 2600+, 2400+, 2200+ and 2000+. Take a look at how the AMD Athlon MP processors family compares to Intel’s Xeon processors for 2-way systems.

Intel Xeon (DP) Vs Athlon MP Current Official Pricing
Intel Xeon DP Model	Price	AMD Athlon MP Model	Price
Xeon 2.80GHz (533MHz QPB)	$455	-	-
Xeon 2.80GHz (400MHz QPB)	$433	-	-
Xeon 2.66GHz (533MHz QPB)	$337	-	-
Xeon 2.60GHz (400MHz QPB)	$326	Athlon MP 2600+	$273
Xeon 2.40GHz (533MHz QPB)	$234	Athlon MP 2400+	$228
Xeon 2.40GHz (400MHz QPB)	$224	Athlon MP 2400+	$228
-	-	Athlon MP 2200+	$208
-	-	Athlon MP 2000+	$153

You may note that all AMD CPUs for 2-way systems cost less than comparable Intel solutions, but you should remember that mainboards for AMD Athlon MP processors may cost higher compared to products designed for Intel Xeon chips (see this news-story), hence, the prospects of these CPUs are not so clear at the moment.