AMD will drop GHz for model numbers on new Athlons

Subject: AMD will drop GHz for model numbers on new Athlons
Name: Sledge
Date: 8/29/2001 3:34:18 PM (GMT-7)
IP Address: 24.249.17.204
Message:

Remember Cyrix chips? The MHz rating was replaced by a numerically higher PR rating. This is kind of the same thing. AMD is basically admitting that it's impossible to educate the public that clockspeed is not the be-all-end-all representation of the power of a modern microprocessor. A non-techie consumer sees an Athlon at 1.4GHz and a Pentium 4 at 1.6GHz. The comparison is basically over before it started. The P4 is faster in Joe Sixpack's mind because of the number in front of the "GHz". Now let's add this model number scheme. "Athlon 1.4GHz" now becomes "Athlon 1600". Let's have good ol' Joe compare again. Athlon 1600 versus Pentium 4 1.6GHz. Hmmm, now this looks a bit more interesting.

I'm not too sure I like this, but AMD still has very few OEM contracts and they need to get some sales going.