Athlon 64 X2 3600+ is the new introduction model of AMD’s dual-core processor series and when we for the first time reported about this model we were very positive about a new, cheaper X2 processor. Now that AMD has slaughtered its prices and an Athlon 64 X2 3800+ can be found at $150 we feel the need for a new introduction model has perhaps subsided. But it still seems the launch of AMD’s new budget model is closing up and as we’ve earlier reported it is a copy of the X2 3800+, but with half the L2 cache: 2x256KB instead of the 2x512KB the current introduction model has.
According to HKEPC the price differences will be quite small to begin with, X2 3600+ will get a 6-7% lower price than X2 3800+, which means that it would cost about $130. It’s not impossible that AMD will lower the price of X2 3600+ even further to compete with Intel’s cheapest dual-core processors, Pentium D 820 and Pentium D 915.
