The Sunnyvale, California-based chip maker Advanced Micro Devices is currently planning the release of its highly anticipated Deneb processors, which will mark the company's first 45nm-based consumer desktop CPUs. The new processors are expected to significantly improve performance, as they are built on the recently released, server-class Shanghai processor.

Codenamed Deneb, the first series of 45nm AMD processors are expected to be unveiled during next year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES), scheduled to kick off on January 8, 2009. By that time, chances are we will also have the first reviews of AMD's next-generation desktop processors, with fans and users expecting an enhanced performance level from what is reportedly to be dubbed Phenom II.

What is even more interesting is that, although initially believed to be dubbed Phenom X4 20350 and 20550, the processors are now said to come out as the Phenom II X4 920 and Phenom II X4 940 Black Edition, respectively. The resemblance to Intel's own naming scheme is more than obvious, especially since the Santa Clara, California-based leading chip maker has already officially launched its highly anticipated lineup of Core i7 processors, which includes the 920 and 940 models.

On the other hand, Intel's new Core i7 processors are known for having integrated technologies that had been previously available only on AMD's processors, such as the integrated memory controller and the QPI (QuickPath Interconnect) technology, used instead of the older FSB.

The Phenom II X4 920 and Phenom II X4 940 Black Edition have been delayed from this month, until January next year. Later on, in the second quarter of 2009, Intel's longtime archrival is expected to unveil its 45nm AM3-based CPUs, which are said to be branded as Phenom II X4 900, X4 800 and X3 700 series. The company is also planning the release of a new quad-core high-end CPU, the Phenom II X4 945 Black Edition, which will be unveiled along with the Phenom II X3 600 and the Phenom II X2 200 series, in Q2 2009.

AMD's upcoming Phenoms are believed to provide a substantially higher performance level thanks to the larger cache and architectural improvements, while the frequency levels will remain somewhere in the range of 2.8GHz to 3GHz. The new processors will be part of the company's new enthusiast range Dragon platform, which is to replace the current Spider platform, launched at the end of 2007, alongside the first Phenom processors.