Imitation To Innovation: AMD's Best CPUs

AMD Improves the Athlon: Thunderbird, XP, and more.

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Code nameThunderbirdPalomino/XPThoroughbredBarton
Date released2000200120022003
Architecture32-bits32-bits32-bits32-bits
Data bus64-bits64-bits64-bits64-bits
Address bus32-bits32-bits32-bits32-bits
Maximum memory4,096 MB4,096 MB4,096 MB4,096 MB
L1 cache64 KB + 64 KB64 KB + 64 KB64 KB + 64 KB64 KB + 64 KB
L2 cache256 KB (CPU frequency)256 KB (CPU frequency)256 KB (CPU frequency)512 KB (CPU frequency)
Clock frequency650-1,400 MHz1,000-1,733 MHz1,200-2,250 MHz1,400-2,200 MHz
FSB100/133 MHz (DDR)133 MHz (DDR)133/166 MHz (DDR)166/200 MHz (DDR)
FPUbuilt-inbuilt-inbuilt-inbuilt-in
SIMDMMX, Enhanced 3DNow!MMX, Enhanced 3DNow!, SSEMMX, Enhanced 3DNow!, SSEMMX, Enhanced 3DNow!, SSE
Fabrication process180 nm180 nm130 nm130 nm
Number of transistors37 million37.5 million37.2 million54.3 million
Power consumption38-72 W46-72 W49-68 W60-76 W
Voltage1.7-1.75 V1.75 V1.5-1.65 V1.65 V
Die surface area120 mm²129.26 mm²84.66 mm²100.99 mm²
ConnectorSocket ASocket ASocket ASocket A

We should mention that AMD also produced versions for servers (Athlon MP) and for laptops (Athlon 4, Athlon XP Mobile), as well as the Geode NX (130 nm and a 256 KB cache). AMD marketed the Thorton (130 nm, 512 KB of cache, 256 KB of which was disabled) and planned on Trinidad, an Athlon using a 90 nm process. There were more PR oddities: the Athlon XP 2600+ was clocked at 1,900, 1,917, 2,000, 2,083, or 2,133 MHz depending on the version, for instance.