Tommy Nation

The new 65 nm CPU family from AMD, known as Phenom, is getting quite the rocket launch this month. With aggressive pricing, AMD is hoping to reclaim some of their recent market share losses. Three CPUs are getting launched initially - the Phenom 9500, 9600 and 9700 - clocking in at 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4 GHz, respectively. The 2.4 GHz 9700 model is expected to launch with a $288 price tag, with its two siblings following suit at $247 for the 9500 and $278 for the 9600.

With Intel pricing their low-end 65 nm and upcoming 45nm quad core CPUs at about the same level, AMD will have to compete on pricing unless performance is superior to their nemesis’ quad creations.

A 3 GHz version of Phenom is expected to be announced, but when and at what price is still unknown.

This has been a losing year for AMD, but during the first quarter of 2008 they will be launching their triple core Toliman CPU, targeted at gamers and for general desktop use with very aggressive pricing. Also, sometime next year, AMD will finally come out with their first 45 nm CPU, tentatively known as “Shanghai”.