AMD today introduced the AMD Athlon XP processor 3000+ ? the world?s highest performing desktop PC processor. Featuring increased cache memory for greater performance [Ed.: Now 512Kb L2 cache], the AMD Athlon XP processor 3000+ outperforms competing desktop PC processors by up to 17 percent on a variety of industry standard software benchmarks. The AMD Athlon XP processor 3000+ features 640KB of total on-chip cache memory ? an increase of nearly 70 percent over previous AMD Athlon XP processors and the highest amount of on-chip cache memory of any desktop PC processor. Increased cache memory allows more information to be stored closer to the processor, leading to greater performance on software applications such as digital content creation, 3-D gaming, media encoding and office productivity. Read more for a list of current reviews. Athlon XP 3000+ @ [H]While many of us were expecting to the Barton utilizing a 200MHz/400MHz Front Side Bus, that is not what has been delivered. All current Barton parts will take advantage of the 166MHz/333MHz bus that we saw specified on the last Thoroughbred launch. There is some speculation on why this is, but we will cover that a bit more later. AMD has little to say at this point, beyond this statement: As a result of customer feedback, AMD is currently evaluating the possibility of increasing the AMD Athlon XP processor to 400FSB. Athlon XP 3000+ @ AceshardwareThis exclusive 512 KB L2-cache works together with the 128 KB L1-cache (64 KB data, 64 KB instruction) to form one impressive 640 KB on-die cache. According to AMD, the extra 256 KB cache boosts, an 2170 MHz Athlon XP from a 2700+ level to a 3000+ one. The 54.3 million transistor 2.17 GHz Barton Athlon XP will thus take on the mighty 55 million transistor 3.06 GHz Pentium 4 with Hyperthreading. Will 256 KB extra cache and a clockrate of 2.17 GHz be enough to compete with the fastest Intel CPU available today? Well, we'll find out in a moment. But before we look at the benchmarks, I'd like to discuss the different L2-caches, as caches are extremely important for modern CPUs. Athlon XP 3000+ @ ExtremeTechWhen Intel introduced the Northwood CPU, with its larger cache size, the slowest Northwood was 2GHz -- the same as the maximum clock rate of the older Willamette core. There was no question as to which Intel CPU would be faster. Here, AMD is introducing a product that clocks slower than its previous top of the line, but with more cache. The net result is that applications that are sensitive to cache size may run better on Barton, but apps which like higher clock rates will run faster on the 2800+. Athlon XP 3000+ @ HotHardwareWell, if our experience is any indication, the overclockers out there are going to be very pleased with AMD's new desktop CPUs. We overclocked our Athlon XP 3000+ by raising the FSB, and were able to take our particular CPU all the way up to 2.43GHz (13x187MHz) at default voltage, using the "stock" cooler provided to us by AMD. That is an almost 13% increase without using exotic cooling, or raising the processor's core voltage. Using a VapoChill or water-cooling the CPU, and jacking up the core voltage would undoubtedly produce even better results. We should also note, that after benchmarking the system while overclocked, we immediately restarted the system and entered the BIOS and never saw the core temperature never exceed 75°C, and at default clock speeds our CPU's temperature hovered between 48° and 52°C. Athlon XP 3000+ @ TheTechReportWhatever the case, the Bartons will have their work cut out for them. The $588 3000+ model is a little cheaper than Intel's P4 3.06GHz, which is currently selling online for about $630. At $375, the list price for the 2800+ is higher than the current street price of about $370 for the Pentium 4 2.8GHz. And the 2500+ will list for $239, again a little higher than the competing Pentium 4 2.53GHz, which goes for about $230 online. Fortunately, the 3000+ and 2800+ variants should be available?for real?right away. AMD says the 2500+ will appear by the end of the first quarter.