AMD unveils first x86 triple-core processors

AMD announced the availability of AMD Phenom X3 8000 series triple-core processors, providing gamers and digital media enthusiasts with exceptional performance at mainstream price points.

AMD Phenom X3 processors are designed to improve multi-threaded application performance over dual-core processors at the same clock speed.

As the world’s only triple-core x86 processor, AMD Phenom X3 processors bring multi-core technology to a broader audience in search of desktop PCs that easily handle today’s digital entertainment workloads.

When paired with the AMD 780 series chipset, AMD Phenom X3 processors can deliver significant enhancements in gaming and high-definition experiences for mainstream PC customers.

This AMD desktop solution can provide a full HD experience with support for the latest and most demanding formats, including VC-1, MPEG-2 and H.264 on a mainstream PC.

With the AMD Unified Video Decoder (UVD), the solution can process HD playback on the better-suited GPU rather than the CPU so consumers may enjoy a smooth HD viewing experience — less lag, stalling and dropped scenes — in the latest Blu-ray titles.

“In 2007, AMD committed to delivering AMD Phenom triple-core processors in Q1 2008 and today the company makes good on that promise,” said Bob Brewer, AMD corporate vice president for strategic marketing.

“AMD understands that today’s PC applications are best accelerated with a range of multi-core products from quad- to triple- to dual-core processors, and that’s why we now deliver the broadest multi-core desktop lineup in the industry,” he said.

The AMD Phenom X3 processor and AMD 780G chipset-based desktop PCs offer DirectX 10 game compatibility, so casual gamers can now enjoy enhanced gaming experience such as truly lifelike 3D graphics and dynamic interactivity in the latest game titles.

Gamers looking to scale their performance with the addition of a discrete graphics card can accelerate their performance with ATI Hybrid Graphics Technology, which can harness the graphics power of both an ATI discrete graphics card and the motherboard GPU in tandem, delivering in some applications up to 70 percent improvements in 3D performance.