Advanced Micro Devices today released two new processors for surging mobile market in an attempt to solidify positions in the fields of high-end and ultra-portable notebooks.

AMD Offers New Chips for Portables

The firm’s two new SKUs are the AMD Athlon 64 3400+ processor and Low-Voltage AMD Athlon XP-M 2200+ microprocessor. The former will serve in expensive high-performance portable personal computers typically used by engineers, graphics designers and gamers, while the latter is intended for portable PCs with minimal power consumption and extended battery operation.

The newly introduced AMD Athlon 64 3400+ functions at 2.40GHz and packs in 1MB level-two cache. The chips have thermal design power of about 62W, much less compared to 88W dissipated Intel’s Mobile Pentium 4 3.20GHz microprocessors, but much higher compared to Intel’s Pentium M “Dothan” chips, which have TDP of about 21W.

Like all Mobile AMD64 and processors, the Mobile Athlon 64 3400+ chip boasts built-in single-channel PC3200 memory controller, 64-bit capability and NX-bit security feature.

Much less expensive and powerful AMD Athlon XP-M for ultra-portable PCs operates at 1.60GHz and implements 512KB of L2 cache. Its TDP is unknown.

Both microprocessors introduced today feature PowerNow! technology to save energy.

The Mobile AMD Athlon 64 processor 3400+ and the Mobile AMD Athlon XP-M processor 2200+ are available immediately worldwide for $432 and $97 respcetively in quantities starting from 1000 units.

AMD’s Athlon XP-M Finds Itself in Tablet PC

It is remarkable that the AMD Athlon XP-M 2200+ chip for low-power applications has been adopted by Averatec for its C3500-series convertible PCs that can serve as notebooks or Tablet PCs. This is the first time when an AMD processor is used for Tablet PCs. Previously only Intel’s and Transmeta chips were utilised for Tablet PCs.

Meanwhile Alienware said it would incorporate the AMD Athlon 64 3400+ into its mobile machine for gaming later this month.

More Low Voltage Chips from AMD to Come

Besides high-performance 64-bit processors for full-size portables AMD also offers Mobile Athlon 64 2700+ and Mobile Athlon 64 2800+ chips with 35W TDP for low-power notebooks. Additionally, the company is rumored to introduce 32-bit chips based on the architecture of AMD Athlon 64 with 25W TDP as well as powerful 64-bit chips with 35W thermal envelope.