by Anton Shilov
09/18/2007 | 01:23 PM
Advanced Micro Devices on Monday officially confirmed that it would release triple-core central processing units (CPUs) for desktops in Q1 2008. The AMD Phenom X3 chips will help the company to offer a unique solution for personal computers (PCs), however, it is hardly going to be easy for AMD to position the new chips keeping in mind the current condition of the market.
<%BANNER[article]%>“With our advanced multi-core architecture, AMD is in a unique position to enable a wider range of premium desktop solutions, providing a smarter choice for customers and end users. This innovation is a direct result of our development of the industry’s first true, native quad-core design, coupled with AMD’s manufacturing flexibility, to create multi-core processors in two, three, and four computational core configurations on a single die of silicon,” said Greg White, vice president and general manager, desktop division, AMD.
AMD did not unveil specifications of the new AMD Phenom triple-core microprocessors, but said that the chips will feature shared level three cache, built-in memory controller as well as HyperTransport 3.0 bus, just like the rest desktop CPUs based on the new code-named K10 micro-architecture.
Nevertheless, the company revealed that triple core processors can provide “significant performance advantages over similar dual-core AMD processors” in benchmarks like SYSmark 2007 and 3DMark 2006, as well as “ over similar quad-core AMD processors” in certain gaming and digital content creation scenarios. While the company did not elaborate over the nature of “similarity” between dual-, triple- and quad-core processors, it is highly likely that clock-speeds of triple core CPUs will be higher than those of quad-core products, but a bit lower compared to dual-core offerings from AMD.
AMD also did not disclose whether the company’s triple-core offerings will feature quad-core silicon with one core disabled, or the chipmaker will develop a separate design with only three cores available.
But while AMD’s triple-core microprocessors will be rather unique on the market, even the current Intel’s lineup of dual-core and quad-core microprocessors may pose a threat AMD’s triple-core offering, as the price of quad-core chips begins only at $266, the price of the most advanced dual-core chip from Intel.