Advanced Micro Devices is reportedly showing off its six-core desktop microprocessor code-named Thuban at the CeBIT trade-show in Hannover, Germany. Unfortunately, AMD still has to reveal specifications of the new chip and announce its pricing.

According to Golem.de web-site, AMD is showing off its next-generation high-performance Leo platform powered by the company’s six-core AMD Phenom II X6 “Thuban” chip, AMD 8-series core-logic sets and ATI Radeon HD 5000-series graphics cards. The Sunnyvale, California-based maker of microprocessors did not reveal clock-speed of the chip, but it is rumoured that the highest possible frequency of AMD’s six-core chip will be 2.80GHz. By contrast, AMD’s most advanced quad-core desktop chip – Phenom II 965 – is clocked at 3.40GHz.

In order to compensate relatively low clock-speed of six-core microprocessors, AMD plans to implement dynamic acceleration technology that can accelerate certain cores when they are needed while slowing down the unneeded cores. It remains to be seen whether the new Thuban chips will be compatible with existing AM2+/AM3 platforms and the dynamic acceleration technology will function on existing mainboards as well.

According to certain media reports, AMD will only start selling its six-core Phenom II X6 microprocessors in late April, but at present there are only a limited amount of samples available.

Tags: AMD, Phenom, Thuban, 45nm