The AMD Athlon 64 FX processor delivers what no other PC processor can: the best performance to drive demanding 32-bit applications, and the power of 64-bit computing for the next wave of head-spinning software. This dual capability for an x86 processor was invented by AMD, and underscores our leadership in the 64-bit computing market. AMD64 processors are the only 32- and 64-bit capable processors available today, and are the only PC processors with built-in enhanced virus protection security technology when used in conjunction with the upcoming Windows® Service Pack 2.

"Securing computers is of paramount concern to PC users. Buffer overflow and similar techniques have been commonly exploited by malicious programmers to compromise computer security. Any mechanism to mitigate the vulnerability of computers to such techniques is a valuable feature," said semiconductor analyst Joseph Byrne of Gartner Inc.

Because the AMD Athlon 64 FX-53 processor uses the same socket-940 infrastructure as the AMD Athlon 64 FX-51 processor, it provides an easy upgrade path for owners of AMD Athlon 64 FX-51 processor-based systems who want to stay at the apex of performance.

The AMD Athlon 64 FX-53 processor is priced at $733 in 1,000-unit quantities.