AMD may use Sempr0n to crack Intel's numbering nuts

AS YET UNSUBSTANTIATED rumours reach the INQ that AMD might have a go at Intel's numbering scheme with its up-and-coming cut down Sempron chips.

It could do this by simply numbering Semprons using a very similar set of numbers to Intel Celerons - which are expected to be 330, 345 and others in that line.

Intel once attempted to trademark numbers such as the 486 and the 586 but found itself faced with a US Patent and Trademarks Office which wouldn't play ball.

That was the original reason why Intel spent millions coming up with made-up words such as the Pentium, only to find itself under a counter-marchitecture attack from AMD with similarly duff "words" such as Opteron, Duron, Athlon.... and, er, Sempr0n.

But the real question is not how the MarchitectureMavens at AMD and Intel decide to play this numbers game with each other.

No, the real question is whether you, a PC consumer, will be able to figure out whether an AMD 330 is better than an Intel 330 when you're faced with a shop selling one against the other.

We think you should be told. But don't expect any guidance any time real soon... µ