Well, it looks as if AMD has finally managed to cope with the existing problems a bit faster that we had expected: Athlon XP 2200+ processor based on the new 0.13micron Thoroughbred core (announced on June 10, see this news story) has already started selling in numerous Japanese stores.

The CPU has been noticed in 15 stores with the price ranging from $229 to $253. Note how the prices correspond to the official AMD ones ($241). Besides, the price difference is really big. However, I don’t think it is going to last long: the prices are very likely to correspond to the actual market conditions very soon.

By the way, in the Japanese market you also have the chance to come across Athlon XP 2200+ based not only on the 0.13micron Thoroughbred core, but also on the 0.18micron Palomino core (see this news story). However, it will be no problem for you to distinguish between them, because of noticeable visual differences between the 0.13micorn and 0.18micron AMD CPUs.

I would like to remind you that 0.13micron Athlon XP processors with 1700+-2100+ ratings should appear in the market a bit later, when AMD moves enough of the production lines to new manufacturing technology.