I'm not sure that I agree with AMD on its stance that DDR 2 memory has now reached a price-point that makes a platform transition a viable option for its customers. This is due to the fact that AMD has decided to support 667MHz and 800MHz DDR 2 - also known as PC2-5300 and PC2-6400, respectively. PC2-5300 memory is quite affordable, but it brings with it higher latency than high-performance 400MHz DDR memory. The higher clock speeds makes up for some of this and PC2-5300 modules are available with CAS3 latency – although at a price premium compared to CAS4 modules.

You can squeeze some more performance out of the AM2 processors with 800MHz modules, but these are still costly if you're looking to add a couple of 1GB modules to your system. The latency starts at CAS4 here and according to an AMD representative, with this means that you're not getting as much of a performance gain as you could if these modules worked with a lower CAS rating. You could of course use slower memory as well, but this would impact the performance. AMD informed me that 667MHz DDR 2 offers similar performance as 400MHz DDR on the Socket 939 platform.

There is no word from AMD on official support for 1GHz-plus memory speeds. But as you might already have read here at Reg Hardware, Nvidia has come up with something called EPP (Enhanced Performance Profile) for DDR2. This will allow for easy memory overclocking if you're using an nForce 590 SLI motherboard, but more on that later on today, when we reveal the full specs of the new range of products from Nvidia.

There are some differences between the various processors, as is the case with the Socket 939 models. The cache will be either 512KB or 1MB per core for the Athlon 64 X2 models, but the Semprons will feature either 128KB or 256KB. While we're on the subject of Semprons, the HyperTransport bus will be clocked at 1.6GHz instead of 2GHz, which would indicate a good overclocking potential here. Finally, unlike the Athlon 64s, the Semprons won't support AMD's virtualisation technology. The single-core Athlon 64 will also support virtualiaation, but don't expect it to work as well as it would on an X2.

According to AMD, some of its customers have been asking for virtualisation hardware for some time and this is why AMD has now implemented the technqiue in its processors. However, for the average user, virtualisation doesn't yet offer any real benefits. People who want to run multiple operating systems will at least be saved from the need to boot into one or the other - with the right 'hypervisor' software they can flip from one OS to the other almost instantaneously.

Except for the FX-62, which has a Thermal Design Power (TDP) of 125W, all of other AM2 model,s including the X2s, have a lower TDP than their Socket 939 predecessors. This means a cooler-running computer, and AMD has even introduced a processor with an extra-low TDP, although there is no information as yet how to differentiate between these and the normal ones, nor if there will be any differences in price.

One final minor change that AMD has made to the Socket AM2 CPUs is to the cooler retention mechanism. It's now using four screws instead of two. This is good news for anyone into water cooling, as it allows for much better mounting mechanisms for a water block than the current one does. Most coolers that use a clip can be used with the new retention bracket, but those that are screwed through the board are not compatible.

In terms of benchmark numbers, well the FX-62 is fast, there's no denying it, but what everyone is wondering is how the new AMD processors are going to compare to Intel's new Core 2 Duo range, aka 'Conroe'. While you're reading this review, I'll be having a first look at what Intel has on offer and have some hands-on time with the new Core 2 Duo kit. At least until Conroe ships, in July, the FX-62 is the fastest processor around, if you can afford the $1,032 launch price.