14 DAY TRIAL // The latest news on Advanced Micro Devices unveiled the fact that the chipmaker plans to launch two 45nm quad-core desktop CPUs in November this year. The new Deneb processors, dubbed Phenom X4 20550 and 20350, are meant for socket AM2+ systems and feature core speeds of 3GHz and 2.8GHz, respectively, reports news site Digitimes.
In addition, the Sunnyvale company will release six 45nm triple-core CPUs code-named Heka and Regor in the first quarter of the next year. The triple-core CPUs will be known as 14x00, 12x00 and 1xx00e series and are expected to enter design validation test in a short while. Moreover, AMD will also launch six high-end 45nm quad-core Deneb CPUs and four entry-level Propus processors. The list includes the 20x00, 18x00, 16x00 and 1xx00e series.
It seems that AMD is also concerned about the impact the new chips will have on its mainstream dual-core Athlon X2 CPUs, which determined it to move its 45nm AM3-based dual-core Regor CPU into the DVT stage in the second quarter next year, while shipping will start in the third quarter. This category will include three 65W CPUs model numbered 10x00.
The chipmaker already announced its objective to enter the 45nm process at full capacity. Even so, it wants to avoid potential yield rate problems, so it is reported to be planning the launch of seven 65nm CPUs. In the first quarter of the next year, five of them will be released, including three quad-core Phenom X4 Agena CPUs - 9950 (120W), 9850 (95W) and 9450e (65W), and two Athlon X2 Kuma CPUs - 7750 and 7550, while two low-power Athlon X2 Brisbane CPUs - 5050e and 3250e, are expected for the near future.
Besides the launches, AMD is also reported to be preparing a clearing of its CPU lineup. The news said the Sunnyvale based is dropping prices for some CPUs and that it intends to release last order notices in the second quarter of next year for the two AM2+ quad-core CPUs slated for launch in November. Besides, the high-end Phenom X4 9950 (140W) and 9850 (125W) are said to phase out by the end of the first quarter next year. The Phenom X4 9750 and 9650 CPUs will get the ax by the end of the second quarter of 2009 and the fourth quarter of 2008, respectively.
Moreover, AMD is said to be planning last order notices for three Phenom X3 CPUs, including the 8450, which will be issued between the fourth quarter this year and the end of the first quarter next year. By the end of 2Q09, AMD will also phase out three Athlon X2 CPUs, including 5200+. The company will phase out low-power CPUs like the Phenom X3 8250e and Athlon X2 4450e, as well as the single-core Athlon LE-1640 and Sempron LE-1250 by the end of Q4.
According to Digitimes, AMD refrained itself from commenting on the news.