Where the hell did AMD's "LE" range come from?

[Mike Fishcake]

OK, so I've not been checking out tech websites as much as I used to, but finding loads of new types of Sempron CPUs on a load of websites was a bit of a surprise... I was looking for a Sempron 3200, but around the same price range is a Sempron LE-1100... I've had a quick scootch around, but is there anywhere obvious that has got some benchmarks online?

Cheers

[scrandman]

You're going to struggle to find reviews as these are "old" tech and everyone can't see past Intel these days.

The LE CPUs are based on Brisbane technology (65nm) but are extremely low power consumption (35 - 45W). In theory they should be good overclockers, however that theory didn't always hold true with AMDs initial change to 65nm on the earlier Windsor cores (62W+) when compared with earlier 90nm S939 offerings.

[fathazza]

the brisbane cores are the BE series no?
as in the one i have which is a BE-2350 and is a 45W jobby

[sawyen]

LE does not mean they're good for OC, just that they run cooler..

The BE line are practically <oi!> for OC anyways..

BUt they do make perfect home/office PC as they're dirt cheap

Phenom is the only chance now..

[jimbouk]

Budget is where it's at now. I am supprised dell aren't just buying up all the &#163;20 AMD CPU and flogging them as overpriced dual core machines...

[Mike Fishcake]

Cheers for the info. I mustn't be reading enough tech news

[scrandman]

the brisbane cores are the BE series no?
as in the one i have which is a BE-2350 and is a 45W jobby

Yes - that is why I said they were based on the Brisbane 65nm technology as opposed to actually being Brisbane cores.

Budget is where it's at now. I am supprised dell aren't just buying up all the &#163;20 AMD CPU and flogging them as overpriced dual core machines...

I'm pretty sure the LE CPUs are single core - even Dell wouldn't stoop so low as to claim they were x2.

Like I said earlier, there are no guarantees to overclocking these things. AMD went through a purple patch for o/cing when they went from 130nm to 90nm on S754 & S939 and further again when they went from 90W to 65W on the 90nm dies (the Venice & San Diego cores). The same was not true when they went to 65nm, hence why I urged caution about the drop in power from ~65W to 45W not being a guarantee to better overclocking. If you missed the S939 overclocking revolution, then it's kind of irrelevant I guess.

Anyway, for budget rigs & HTPC they are great CPUs running cool, and allowing passive cooling solutions.