New AMD FX processor pricing, models unveiled

Advanced Micro Devices on Wednesday unveiled the new pricing and some new models of the FX-family microprocessors. As expected, starting from the first of September, 2014, many FX models will get more affordable, however, only high-end models will receive tangible price-cuts.

AMD’s highest-performing microprocessor – the AMD FX-9590 (eight cores, 4.70GHz/5.0GHz clock-rate, 16MB cache, AM3+, 220W TDP) – got 28 per cent price-cut. When sold in large quantities in tray packaging, it will cost $215. The slightly less advanced code-named Centurion chip – the AMD FX-9370 (eight cores, 4.40GHz/4.70GHz clock-rate, 16MB cache, AM3+, 220W TDP) – will only cost a little less, $199 (after a 23 per cent price-cut), when bought in mass quantities in trays. Given such a small price-difference, it is unclear why would anyone buy an FX-9370 instead of an FX-9590.

In addition to making the top-of-the-range FX “Centurion” processors more affordable, AMD will also introduce FX-8370 (eight-cores, 4.30GHz maximum clock-rate, 16MB cache, 125W TDP) and FX-8370E (eight cores, 4.30GHz maximum clock-rate, 16MB cache, 95W TDP) central processing units. Both chips will cost $189 in large quantities in tray packaging. Unlike the top-end chips, these processors are compatible with mainstream mainboards, cooling systems and power supply units.

The company will also make quad-core and six-core processors more affordable and will discontinue some low-end FX-series chips.

In general, AMD’s actions will make the FX family of central processing units a bit more competitive against Intel Corp.’s Core i3 and Core i5 chips. Still, the lack of higher-performance FX-9000-series CPUs and the decision to set up maximum price of its client processor at $215 (in tray quantities) means that tAMD is unable to compete against high-end offerings from its arch-rival.

Traditionally, AMD processors in boxes (PIBs) that come with cooling systems cost more than processors in trays.

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