Digital Trends

AMD is finally shipping its triple-core Phenom X3 processors, offering more punch than a dual-core model...but is it enough to win PC enthusiasts' hearts?

Chipmaker AMD has offically lauched its triple-core Phenom X3 processors, hoping to capture the hearts and minds of both PC enthusiasts and systems designers by offering more power than now-everyday dual-core processors, but without the higher price—and higher power consumption—of quad-core systems. The Phenom X3 processors are initially available in 2.1, 2.3, and 2.4 GHz speeds at $145, $165, and $195, respectively.

AMD initially announced the triple-core variety of its Phenom processors back in September of 2007, hoping the chips would stake out a middle ground between mainstream dual-core systems and high-end quad-core systems. However, since the triple-core announcement, AMD itself has rolled out a quad-core Phenom processor and prices for quad-core systems have begun to decline, leading many industry watchers to wonder just how much of a market segment might exist between two- and four-core designs—particularly since AMD's quad-core offerings are currently topping out at 2.5 GHz, instead of the 2.8 GHz the company originally anticipated.

Systems designers, however, may see value in the Phenom X3 paired with AMD's 780G integrated graphics chipset, which significantly outperforms Intel's current integrated graphics offerings with full support for high-definition video without using a separate graphics controller.