Unlike its arch-rival Intel Corp., Advanced Micro Devices plans to launch a rather broad family of six-core central processing units (CPUs) for desktops, sources familiar with the company’s plans told X-bit labs. At present there are at least five code-named Thuban chips are planned for the launch this year.

In the second quarter of 2010 the world’s second largest maker of chips plans to release four AMD Phenom II X6 processors: 1035T with 95W thermal design power (TDP), 1055T with 95W TDP, 1055T with 125W power envelope as well as 1075T with 125W TDP. In the third quarter of the year AMD will speed up the Thuban lineup with a new model (10xxT) and if the things go well, the company may even consider adding sixth chip into the family sometime in Q4 2010.

Considering that AMD plans to implement dynamic acceleration technology that can accelerate certain cores when they are needed while slowing down the unneeded cores to maintain the TDP, it should be noted that AMD Phenom II X6 1055T with 95W TDP and 1055T with 125W power envelope will show different performance levels as the latter will be able to accelerate itself to higher frequencies in case of single-threaded, dual-threaded or triple-threaded applications.

AMD will position its Phenom II X6 processors for those, who demand “massive performance headroom”, however, given the relatively low clock-speed of many-core CPUs, actual market success of the chips will be determined by their ability to dynamically accelerate themselves at the times when performance is needed the most.

AMD did not comment on the news-story.

Tags: AMD, Thuban, Phenom, 45nm, Zosma