AMD recently launched its Phenom II X4 processor family and even if it is still working with the older Socket AM2+ platform we expected to see the first Socket AM3 processors very soon, perhaps even next month. The first AM3 processors of the Phenom II X4 family will ironically not be running at higher frequencies than the AM2+ siblings. AMD will launch four Phenom II X4 models when it releases the AM3 platform and the top model Phenom II X4 925 will operate at 2.8GHz, 200MHz lower than today’s Phenom II X4 940.
This deficiency will not be compensated by the faster DDR3 memory technology in most applications. AMD will launched two different quad-cores at the same time, Phenom II X4 9xx and Phenom II X4 8xx. The difference is a smaller total cache with the 8xx series (6MB vs. 8MB with 9xx) and somewhat lower clock frequencies. It will also launch a new triple-core series, Phenom II X3 7xx. The two models of this series is more or less identical to the new ones of the 9xx series, except one core less and thus slightly less cache.
Interestingly AMD is planning to launch a new model together with the already known Phenom II X4 945. The latter is a direct reply to today’s flagship, with the same clock frequencies and new DDR3 support.
But at the same time it will announce a new top model in the form of Phenom II X4 950 operating at 3.1GHz, 100MHz higher than the 945-model, which may not be all that overwhelming. If AMD will stick to these plans remains to be seen, but we would not complain if AMD managed to raise the bar even further and perhaps even hit 3.2GHz.
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