AMD Unveils Three Phenom II Multicore Processors

The three new CPUs are the Phenom II X4 975 Black Edition, the eight-core X6 1065T processor, as well as the entry-level quad-core Phenom II X4 840.

AMD says the Phenom X6 1065T is its fastest sub-100 watt hexa-core processor yet, while the II X4 975 Black Edition is its fastest quad-core processor yet.

The Phenom II X6 1065T processor is based on AMD's Thuban architecture and runs at 2.9 GHz, which can be upgraded to 3.4 GHz with an additional, third core.

The Phenom II X4 975 Black Edition based on the Deneb core ships with a standard clock speed of 3.6 GHz and is rated at a thermal design power (TDP) of 125 watts. It is priced at $195 and comes with an unlocked multiplier.

The Phenom II X4 840 runs at 3.2 GHz and has a thermal design point of 95 watts. AMD says its low-end Phenom offering consumes less power than its predecessor, the 2.8 GHz 1055T.

The release of powerful, multicore CPUs goes against the grain of AMD's recent product roadmap. AMD has sought to compete in the semiconductor market for desktop PCs by offering the best value per performance, while AMD executives believe the number of cores in each processor offering is no longer as important to customers.

Just last month AMD launched three processors in its Phenom II and Athlon II product families achieving significant performance and high processing speeds. CRN's Test Center found that the 3.3-GHz Phenom 1100T achieved a high score of 10,601 on GeekBench 2.1, breaking 10,000 for the first time and securing a decisive victory over those that came before.

The Phenom X4 975 is available for a starting price of $195, while the Phenom II X4 840, is available for a starting price of $102. Meanwhile, pricing details for the eight-core 1065T high-end processor were not made available, although it is sure to occupy the highest price range of the three.