AMD today released its Spider platform, consisting of the AMD’s quad-core Phenom, ATI Radeon HD 3800 series graphics processors, AMD 7-Series chipsets and AMD OverDrive software, just a week after Intel released its 45-nm Penryn. 

There’s no need to go into the timing there or to dispel of the blatant hype AMD published in its press release (terms like “delivering the ultimate visual experience across all the screens of your life” were tossed about). What is worth noting is that the platform, which came after a nine-month delay, succeeds AMD’s K8 line, will act as the cornerstone for AMD’s 2008 lineup, is inexpensive compared to the competition, and incorporates AMD’s ATI acquisition.

Still, day one reviews of the platform aren’t exactly impressive. Although AMD has stated that today’s release won’t be the very high-end model, reviewers are looking for speeds that the platform isn’t offering, topping out at 2.3 GHz. Spider won’t make Intel shriek and jump up on a chair; I doubt the dominant market player will do anything more but try to snuff out Spider’s press with its own releases – today pushing its higher-priced QX9770 at 3.2 GHz – a form of MPU bug spray, if you will. But this might start some pricing competition, always a plus for the user.

Share your thoughts on Spider below. 

--Suzanne Deffree, Managing Editor, News