Even though it is well known that Advanced Micro Devices has strong intentions to start commercial shipments of its FX-series code-named "Zambezi" microprocessors based on Bulldozer micro-architecture, the intrigue remains when exactly the company formally introduces new chips and reveal its levels of performance.

According to a slide, which presumably comes from a presentation by Gigabyte Technology, a major maker of mainboards, AMD will officially launch FX-series central processing unit (CPU) on June 7, 2011, at Computex trade-show in Taipei, Taiwan. The slide was published by ATI-Forum.de web-site.

While the information is not confirmed by AMD, it has all chances to be correct as back in the past AMD used Computex to discuss, showcase or even announce new microprocessors. Earlier this year AMD launched its first-generation A-series Ontario/Zacate accelerated processing units (APUs) at the Consumer Electronics Show. However, AMD also planned to demonstrate its FX-series Bulldozer microprocessors at CeBIT trade-show in Hannover, Germany, but eventually cancelled the showcase.

The formal launch of the new family of microprocessors at a huge trade-show allows AMD to save marketing funds on special events for journalists worldwide and ensure wide coverage of the introduction. However, during the show AMD is not the only news-maker and therefore the formal release will be one of the many events at the trade-show.

Based on a document seen by X-bit labs, AMD plans to release four eight-core AMD FX8000-series chips, two six-core AMD FX6000-series microprocessors and two quad-core AMD FX4000-series central processing units (CPUs) this year. Shipments of AMD FX-series high-end desktop microprocessors will commence on the week of June 20th, 2011, the same document indicated.

The first breed of AMD FX8000, FX6000 and FX4000 currently known under Zambezi code-name will completely support all the advantages that the Bulldozer micro-architecture is supposed to bring, including new Flex FP floating point processing unit. The new chips in maximum eight-core configurations are projected - by AMD's internal documents - to offer roughly 50% performance improvement over Phenom II-series microprocessors in multimedia applications.

The Sunnyvale, California-based chip designer plans to introduce AMD 900-series chipsets compatible with Zambezi processors in Q2 2011. The Bulldozer processors, Radeon HD 6000 "Northern Islands" discrete graphics cards  and AMD 900-series core-logic sets will power AMD's next-generation enthusiast-class platform code-named Scorpius. While officially only AMD 900-series chipsets and AM3+ mainboards will support the new FX-series CPUs, big mainboard makers like Asustek and MSI already plan to support those chips on current platforms, whereas Gigabyte plans to launch a line of AM3+ motherboards powered by current-gen chipsets.

Tags: AMD, Zambezi, Bulldozer, 32nm, Gigabyte, Phenom