Advanced Micro Devices has been the target of all bad things that could happen to a chip manufacturer. There was the Phenom delay, then the Phenom malfunctioning, the Barcelona fiasco, the ATI goodwill impairment scandal and the shameful, soap-opera-like Analyst Day. The company is bruised and limping, yet, everybody must go back to work, as the big Phenom (which may be regarded as the goose that lays golden eggs) needs fixing.

AMD is pretty shaken up and has now come with a make-up gift for the Phenom fiasco. According to the German site Planet3DNow.de, the AMD marketing division has bombed customers with promotional newsletters reading that the company is willing to offer Phenom CPUs at the cost of current dual-core CPUs. That is not it: Black Edition 9500, 9600 and 9700 processors will also start shipping.

The good side in the AMD operation is that the massive discount will help re-gain the users' confidence and loyalty. On the other side, it has only been a month since the official launch and Advanced Micro Devices is selling the newest product at prices that would seem suitable for the oldest technology. The Athlon X2 6400 is also on discount and can be purchased for 120 Euros a piece.

This major price cut may be a refreshing shower for the company's crippled image, yet, massive sales are expected and the retail price barely covers the production costs. Given the company's financial history, it is needless to say that the move will not contribute to AMD's welfare. At the same time, once the processor stock gets depleted, it is likely that the next shipment will not see the shelves until February next year.

Intel have announced that they are to launch the QX9770, 1600 MHz quad-core processor line in the first quarter of 2008. Therefore, it would be vital for AMD to have the competing Phenom up and running by then, and especially, to have it ready on the retailers' shelves.