AMD refreshing high-end CPUs again this year?

If the latest rumours are to be believed, AMD is set to expand its high-end desktop CPU offerings before the end of this year. Details obtained by X-bit labs suggest that the top-of-the-line quad- and hexa-core chips could be getting a little faster, while new low-end Thuban CPUs will make six-core computing even more accessible.

At the top of the stack is the Phenom II X6 1100T, which is set to arrive in the last quarter of this year clocked at 3.3GHz with a turbo speed of 3.7GHz. This is a 100MHz speed-boost over the incumbent 1090T, meaning that it's also likely to be a multiplier-unlocked Black Edition CPU.

According to the leak, the lower-end of the Thuban family will also be fleshed out, putting a CPU at almost every 100MHz interval.  A 2.9GHz 1065T will appear as a 95W part, as well as a reworked 1055T with the same TDP. At the bottom of the pile, the oft-rumoured but rarely-seen 2.6GHz 1035T will be joined by the 2.7GHz 1045T - now listed on the manufacturer's website - which is scheduled to arrive in Q3 with a 95W thermal-envelope.

AMD hasn't forgotten about its quad-core offerings either. Continuing the theme of incremental speed increases, the Phenom II X4 975 is rumoured to be shipping in Q4 with a stock-frequency of 3.6GHz and a 125W TDP. Obviously this is based on the Deneb architecture, so you won't get the benefit of Turbo CORE, though such a high clock-speed should make up for the omission.

Technically this is all a rumour, so AMD has declined to confirm or deny its validity. However, we wouldn't be surprised to see the company continue to tweak its line-up with minor speed-increases to tide us over until the launch of its next generation CPUs.