No end to PR ratings, AMD says

A PDF ON AMD's site which said that model number strings shouldn't be included in CPU identifiers doesn't mean that the firm is ditching the controversial scheme.

A representative at the firm said that the guidance not to include model number strings was provided because future processors rating might be calculated slightly differently to the current scheme AMD uses.

AMD rates its Athlon XP+ chips based on the performance of a 1.4GHz Athlon T'bird. The appropriate AMD page where these ratings are demonstrated is here.

AMD maintains that the PR rating is justified because while its competitor, Intel, produces microprocessors using clock frequencies, those bear little relation to the real performance of the chips.

The tests AMD uses is based on an Andersen Benchmark which uses application software. If it introduces its higher speed microprocessors shortly, they're expected to use slightly different metrics.

And no doubt we'll find out soon enough what they are. µ

See Also
AMD: the end of PR ratings
AMD PR ratings slammed as misleading
AMD calls Aberdeen Group to account
Aberdeen analyst stands by AMD report