AMD pushes out three more triple-core chips

Chip maker targets gamers and digital content creators with desktop processors
Advanced Micro Devices Inc. today unveiled more triple-core processors, adding to several models released earlier this year.

The announcement comes amid Internet rumors that the chip maker may be announcing plans to spin off its manufacturing operations as soon as next week.

John Lau, senior semiconductor analyst and managing director of Jefferies & Co., said last week that AMD is looking to spin off its fabrication plants into a separate company funded by a Middle East consortium. The company, according to Lau, will handle AMD's manufacturing but will also be free to build chips for other companies.

An AMD spokesman last week said that the company would not respond to rumors.

Today, however, the AMD is focused on announcing its new desktop processors: the Phenom X3 8750 Black Edition, with a Clock Multiplier Control and tunable performance; and the energy-efficient Phenom X3 8450e and Phenom X3 8250e.

The chip maker noted in an e-mail to Computerworld that the chips are aimed at the gaming community and at digital content creators.

Dan Olds, principal analyst at Gabriel Consulting Group Inc., noted that while AMD's technology is still well behind that of rival Intel Corp., the triple cores are a welcome addition to the chips being offered.

"They do fill a slot in the market, providing a balance of price vs. power," Olds added. "They'll be speedy enough to handle demanding games and applications, but at a reasonable price."

AMD released its first triple-core chip in March, with three more available a month later. AMD released another one last month.