Aiming for the middle
Processor maker AMD launched five new Phenom II CPUs today, which are designed to occupy the "mainstream" segment beneath the high-end Phenom II X4 920 and 940 launched a month or so ago.
Accordingly the stated channel pricing ranges from $175 to $125, effectively rendering the first generation of Phenom quad cores obsolete. The Phenom II X4 920 is listed at $195.
As well as filling out the mid range, AMD is also launching its next generation socket - AM3 - which is compatible with DDR3 memory. The AM3 CPUs that natively support the new socket and associated boards are backwardly-compatible with AM2+ (DDR2) boards, for those not inclined to move to DDR3 yet.
One of the unique selling points AMD is attaching to this launch is that these processors are future proof as you can put them in DDR2 systems now but can move them to DDR3 systems when the mood takes you.
That's a perfectly reasonable USP, but the problem is the 920 and 940 were launched as AM2+ parts. So if buying these AM3 CPUs is such a great idea, does that mean buying the 920 or 940 isn't?
Here are a couple of slides from AMD explaining the positioning of this launch.
