Conclusion

Today's introduction of a 64-bit Sempron is a reaction to Intel releasing a 64-bit capable Celeron - it is all about providing value for the so-called value segment. Yet we consider this extra value something that very few customers are actually going to benefit from, at least in the medium term. Windows XP x64 Edition may be available now, but 64-bit software and drivers - particularly for peripherals - are still lacking. Switching just for the sake of making the switch now only makes sense for the IT industry, not for the customer. In addition to that, the vast majority of corporate clients may not have even started validating Windows XP x64 for client use.

Besides the 64-bit dark horse, the new chip does not really change things. The increment between Sempron 3300+ to 3400+ is only justified by a L2 cache doubling from 128 to 256 kB. As expected, the impact is fairly small.

If you want to go for a Sempron processor, we recommend picking the latest Palermo core, due to its SSE3 support. As long as the 64-bit capabilities aren't an issue for you, there is no solid reason to go for 3400+. But from a performance and price/performance point of view, an entry-level Athlon 64 based on a reasonable Socket 939 platform is still the way to go.