14 DAY TRIAL // AMD is expected to unveil a new desktop platform, which will provide users with the computing power of the company's latest Phenom II processors, designed using a 45nm process technology. While the new CPUs would be supported by the current AM2/AM2+ - based motherboards, they are designed to work on the new AM3 socket, which will provide users with support for the new DDR3 memory standard.
When released, the platform will be supported by an updated version of the company's RD790 chipset, enabling features that are very similar to those of the current AM2 and AM2+ platforms. However, later in 2009, the Sunnyvale, California-based chip maker will debut a new RD890 northbridge and an SB800 southbridge.
The rumored chipset combo is expected to fully unveil the overclocking potential of the company's latest 45nm-based processors, despite the fact that the current RD790 chipset is capable of enabling the Phenom II X4 945 to an overclocked core speed of approximately 6GHz, according to recent details on the Internet. The new chipset will be designed to provide users with a real upgrade choice, as it will offer new features, especially in the overclocking sector.
In addition, AMD's upcoming SB800 southbridge will integrate Gigabit Ethernet and support for up to four graphics cards working at 8x bandwidth each, or two cards featured at full 16x PCIe 2.0 bandwidth. Additionally, the southbridge will provide for better and enhanced SATA support and speed, more USB and SATA ports, a faster link between the CPU and the northbridge and an updated hardware monitor. All of the above are expected to become available sometime in the second quarter of the upcoming year. However, given the upcoming computer shows, we might see more of the RD890+SB800 combo, even before its official release.
It will be interesting to see how the new chipset and processor offer from AMD will help the company compete with its archival, the Santa Clara, California-based Intel.