AMD’s initial Phenom quad-core chips, as Phenom 9600 did not particularly wow us, but the TLB-fixe revisions, for example, the Phenom X4 9850, were much better processors. So while AMDs new tri-core Phenom X3s must be three-quarters as good as a quad-core and 50 percent higher than a dual-core chip, is not it?

Well, you’ll have to wait until we have actually revised for an answer to that one, or take the plunge and just buy one. On paper at least the prospect is quite promising. Three X3s are available, the 2.1GHz Phenom X3 8450, the 2.3GHz Phenom X3 8650 and the high-end, clocked at 2.4 GHz Phenom 8750.

As previously speculated, X3 CPU are in fact an X4 processor with a disability. AMD is not commenting on why it was done, but the assumption is obvious that the manufacturing process is ill yields. That is to say, some quad-core are coming off the production line as tri-cores anyway, so why not sell them rather than garbage?

The biggest problem for the X3s will be pricing. Currently costs about £ 95, £ 110 and £ 130 for 8450, 8650 and 8750 respectively, depending on where you shop, you can be pushed hard not to consider a quad-core instead. Besides, if you do not need the extra power multitasking a third basic offering, much faster clock dual-core CPU could adapt the bill just as well. In adjust the price, however, AMD could have a winner on its hands.