AMD has released the SEMPRON budget CPU to replace the DURON line and be the 'ron' for the A64. it comes on two sockets.
Sepmron 3100+
1.8GHZ
Socket 754
Speed : 95% of what the Athlon64 2800 [ minus 64 bit capability]
Sempron 2800+
2.0 GHZ
333 FSB
Socket 462
Speed : athlon XP 2600 speeds.
they are expected to be DIRT CHEAP with the socket A sempron selling at 50 USD and the A64 sempron selling for 100USD
http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showd...aspx?i=2139&p=1EDIT : time to add alot of boring techie stuff!
the sempron 2800 is based of the thouroughbred B core as it is cheaper to make TBRED Bs than Bartons... TBRED Bs produce less heat and so are cheaper to cool BUT are HOTTER because of the much smaller dissipation area.
the sempron 3100 is built off the A64 core with 256kb of Cache instead of 512 or 1024 like the A64s , therefore it is ALOT cheaper to make than the A64 2800 [ which will probably be phased out ] it has no 64 bit capability which means it is EVEN CHEAPER .... and because of it missing alot of stuff the A64s it will run a bit cooler... and may be able to O/C nicely .
The AthlonXP bartons will be phased out from this year, only Semprons will be availabe , i don't think anyone minds .... all of that performance for half-quarter the price ? its faster than the 80 USD 2500 barton and the almost 200 USD 3200 isn't far off from its bench scores .