AMD Reveals Spider Platform

Comprised of new AMD processors, GPUs and a chipset, the Spider platform will form the basis of future AMD-based gaming rigs.

When AMD officially rolled out the Radeon HD 3800 series graphics processors last week, it was just a taste of what was to come from the chipmaker. On Monday, AMD announced what it refers to as the Spider platform: a selection of AMD processors, GPUs and a chipset designed to work together for gaming performance.

The HD 3800 was the first part of the equation, with new Phenom quad-core processors to follow, along with the AMD 790 series chipset. Together, the desktop components play host to a variety of new technologies, including ATI PowerPlay and Cool’n’Quiet 2.0 for energy efficiency, and Microsoft DirectX 10.1 support, HyperTransport 3.0, ATI CrossfireX and PCI Express 2.0 for performance.

Currently released HD 3800 series cards retail for $179 and $219, depending on model. AMD’s Phenom processors are now selling to retailers in bulk, with the 2.2 Ghz model going for $251 and the 2.3 Ghz model costing $283.