14 DAY TRIAL // AMD has made the official introduction of its 8-core and 12-core Magny Cours server processors but there seems to be no intention to relax on the company's part. Instead, the CPU and GPU maker appears set on soon launching a series of CPUs for the consumer market. These new chips won't necessarily be new models, but optimized or more efficient versions of existing chips. Specifically, AMD will unveil fresh members for both the Athlon II and the Phenom II lines.
Fudzilla reports that Advanced Micro Devices is gearing up to launch a set of new dual-core and triple-core CPUs in the Athlon II series. The Athlon II X2 260 and Athlon II X2 220 have clock speeds of 3.2GHz and 2.8 GHz, respectively, as well as a thermal design power (TDP) of 65W.
The triple-core versions are also two in number. The Athlon II X3 445 will be the fastest to date, with a frequency of 3.1GHz and a TDP of 95W. The other three-core processor will be known as the 415e and will run at 2.5GHz while consuming only 45W.
Out of the upcoming Phenom II chips, some have already been revealed by previous reports, namely the 805 and 820, which consume 95W, and reach 2.5GHz and 2.8GHz, respectively. What previous rumors had not revealed was AMD's reported intention to launch a new version of the quad-core Phenom II X4 955, known as the HDX955WFK4DGM.
This processor will likely not have a higher frequency than the current unit, but will consume 95W instead of 125W. Obviously, this represents a significant improvement in efficiency, which is likely the reason why the company will also be introducing three-core chips with the same TDP, namely the 3.0 GHz Phenom II X3 740 and the 2.8GHz 715.
Unfortunately, the launch dates and exact prices of these chips are still shrouded in mystery.