AMD quashes Kuma cancelation rumours

All a load of Taiwanese whispers.

Well, it looks like the rumour mill got it partly wrong, as AMD last night finally reacted to whispers that its new dual-core Phenom microprocessor, Kuma, would be canceled, saying "the speculation is completely untrue".

So that’s that, then. Or is it? According to CNET, AMD claimed that, while it wasn’t canceling a dual core Kuma, speculation that the product was a Phenom made on 45 nm technology, was equally untrue.

AMD spokesman Jake Whitman is quoted by CNET as saying "We're still on track to launch a dual-core - code-named Kuma - part in the second half of '08. It will be 65 nanometers, still be based on the Star's core. So, that's coming." He added that the company had never said anything about the Kuma being linked to Phenom, emphasising "Dual-core Phenom? I've never seen that on a road map."

AMD’s Phenom desktop processor line is one based on K10 micro architecture, or Family 10h Processors, as they’re known in the firm. They are currently available in triple-core versions (Toliman) belonging to the Phenom 8000 series; quad core versions (Agena) belonging to the Phenom 9000 series, and high-end versions (Agena FX) belonging to the Phenom FX series. AMD has said in the past that a dual core phenom was a distinct possibility, but the firm denies that these were ever dubbed Kuma.