AMD 45nm processor lineup details unveiled

Sources at motherboard makers claim AMD will release two 45nm quad-core Deneb processors this month; the Phenom X4 20550 and 20350. Both chips use Socket AM2+ and use the firm's new naming scheme, the 20550 is clocked at 3GHz while the 20350 has a 2.8GHz frequency.

Furthermore, AMD will also unveil six 45nm triple-core processors, Heka and Regor, including 14x00, 12x00 and 1xx00e series. These triple-core chips are expected in the first quarter of 2009.

Another six high-end 45nm quad-core Deneb processors and four entry-level Propus processors will follow in 2009, including 20x00, 18x00, 16x00 and 1xx00e series parts. The 45nm AM3-based dual-core Regor processors won't be available until the third quarter of 2009, because AMD wants to prevent that these three 65W 10x00 series chips impact the sales of the mainstream Athlon X2 processors.

DigiTimes also unveils AMD will release several new 65nm processors:

Although the company will largely enter the 45nm generation, in order to prevent potential yield rate problems from the new process, AMD will launch seven 65nm CPUs including three quad-core Phenom X4 CPUs (Agena) – 9950 (120W), 9850 (95W) and 9450e (65W), and two Athlon X2 CPUs (Kuma) – 7750 and 7550 in the first quarter of 2009, while two low-power Athlon X2 CPUs (Brisbane) – 5050e and 3250e, will launch in the near future.

In addition to adding new CPUs to its lineup, AMD is also clearing CPU inventory by dropping prices and is planning to issue last order notices for the two AM2+ quad-core CPUs scheduled to launch in November, in the second quarter of next year, while the high-end Phenom X4 9950 (140W) and 9850 (125W) are targeting for the end of the first quarter next year. Phenom X4 9750 and 9650 will phase out of the market by the end of the second quarter next year and fourth quarter this year, respectively.

AMD will also issue last order notices for three of its Phenom X3 CPUs including the 8450 between the fourth quarter this year and the end of first quarter next year. Three Athlon X2 CPUs including the 5200+ are set to phase out between the fourth quarter this year and the end of second quarter next year.

Low-power CPUs including the Phenom X3 8250e and Athlon X2 4450e, and the single-core Athlon LE-1640 and Sempron LE-1250 will all be phasing out of the market by the end of the fourth quarter.