AMD announced today that it has cracked Intel's hold on the corporate laptop microprocessor market by selling chips to Hewlett-Packard for use in a new business notebook computer.
HP will use the Sunnyvale company's Turion 64 microprocessors in its "Compaq nx"
series of business computers, including a "thin and light" $999 nx6125 model with a
15-inch screen that makes its debut today. The company said it will give business
customers an alternative to Intel-only computers offered by competitor Dell.
"We're going to offer choice in the mobile space," said Stephen Schultis, HP's acting
director in business notebook marketing.
AMD marketing director Ed Gasiorowski said HP will be the first major computer
company to offer a business laptop with Turion 64 chips on a global basis. When AMD
launched the Turion 64 family in March, the chips were quickly adopted in consumer
laptops.
But Intel's Centrino laptop chips have been strongest in the mainstream business
markets, where AMD hasn't been competitive for some time.
Up until now, mainstream business laptop buyers have favored Centrino. Intel includes
the Pentium-M microprocessor in Centrino and also provides chipsets, wireless
networking and software as well as marketing and advertising support.
"This is a key win for AMD," said Rob Enderle, an analyst at the Enderle Group. "AMD
has been trying to break into the mainstream business market for a long time, but
they haven't had the chips to do it until this year."
AMD's strategy is to offer its microprocessors while allowing companies like HP to
pick the best available graphics, chipsets and wireless networking chips. HP's
machine will target the small and medium business markets.
Taiwanese contract manufacturer Compal will make the machine for HP, which designed
the laptop. AMD's Gasiorowski said the company would continue to beef up its Turion
64 chips, offering a version with two cores, or two brains on one chip, next year.
Intel has promised to launch its dual-core mobile microprocessor, code-named Yonah,
late this year.
About Turion 64
AMD Turion 64 runs at 2.2GHz and has 1MB of L2 cache. The ML-40's 2.2GHz clock speed
gives it a 200MHz advantage over the next fastest Turion, the ML-37. Both chips have
a 35W TDP.
Availability of Turion 64
AMD Turion 64 mobile technology ML-40 is available immediately worldwide. AMD Turion
64 mobile technology products are now available in models ML-40, ML-37, ML-34, ML-32,
ML-30, ML-28, MT-34, MT-32, MT-30 and MT-28.
Pricing
AMD Turion 64 mobile technology ML-40 is priced at $525 in 1,000-unit quantities. For
pricing details visit:
http://www.amd.com/pricing.