So, just how fast is the Athlon XP 3000+? As we know, AMD has chosen to put model numbers on their processors and each processor core are graded according to their performance. Therefore, a Barton processor with a 3000+ model number may not necessarily be running at higher clock speeds than the older 2800+ due to the higher Level 2 cache. Now, this may be a bit confusing to some, but all will be revealed in the next page.

A new year and another step in the design of the AMD processor is amongst us today ,and what more can a processor manufacturer do to maintain the demands of today's computer enthusiast. AMD have continued to maintain newer processor designs at a regular release rate that often coincides with arch rival Intel releases. However, what has been topical for the last few months leading up to this release, is the architecture and the beneficial gains of the product codenamed 'Barton'. To put those rumors and thoughts to rest today we have the AMD 'Barton Core' XP3000+ to put through numerous popular benchmarks and publish our thoughts on the release and benefits one can expect.

First and foremost we have seen AMD not conduct business the way we would like here in the recent past. With their last launch of the 2800+ AthlonXP, we found AMD two-deep in "paper launches". Meaning that neither of the last two products they launched were readily available for purchase. The 2800+ AthlonXP has never made it to any large available quantity (and AMD never specifically said they would) that we have ever seen in its OEM or Retail Box versions and that seems to be the way it will stay.

The biggest challenge faced by the Barton is its performance against arched rivals Intel and their flagship the P4 3.06. Intel have added ‘Hyper-Threading’ to further enhance performance in the 3.06, but even so in most games the XP2800 was more than a match for the Pentium. The XP3000+ seems to move AMD into a bigger performance lead in these arenas.

First it wasn't, then it was. The AMD Athlon XP based around the Barton core was, in many peoples' opinions the stopgap core that bridged between the XP and the Hammer. If Hammer could be released on schedule perhaps there was little need for the Barton. Delays with the K8 core have forced AMD to play out the Athlon XP saga for a little while longer, and to bridge the gap between themselves and Intel the XP needed a little helping hand.

The past year has seen Intel regain much of the face they had lost in the CPU industry. The sole reason we are at 3.06GHz today with Hyper-Threading support is because, ever since the release of the Pentium 4, AMD had turned up the heat on Intel. Call it the waking of a giant or competition at its best, but no matter how you slice it, the past twelve months has shown us Intel at their finest.

The model number of AMD's new top model seems pretty aggressive - the Athlon XP 3000+. Even in comparison to the `old' Athlon XP 2800+, based on the T-Bred core, this new top dog is often left behind (10 out of 18 tests). Overclockers may be in for a treat, but what about the average user and AMD enthusiast?