AMD makes full shift to 45nm

Quarter 3 this year will see a major shift in AMD's die process, and new CPUs.

AMD is likely to shift production of desktop CPUs to 45nm process technology by the third quarter of 2009 and launch several new CPUs, say sources in the know.

The littler chipper, which spun off its manufacturing arm into GlobalFoundries a few months back, wants to move its dual-core Phenom II X2 500 (Callisto), Athlon II X2 200, quad-core Athlon II X4 600 and triple-core Athlon II X3 400 (Rana) series to cost-saving 45nm within months.

The firm is already using a 45nm process on its quad-core Phenom II X4 800 and 900 series (Deneb) as well as on its triple-core Phenom II X3 700 series (Heka).

Jon Carvill, Head of Communications at GlobalFoundries told the INQ, "All new wafer starts in Dresden are now on 45nm process technology," but he declined to give any further specific details.

John Taylor, a spokesman for AMD was also tight lipped about the chipmaker's specific plans, but told the INQ his firm was "looking forward to introducing platforms with new 45nm processors later this year."

It's widely believed GloFo is already ramping 45nm production for all or most of AMD's new desktop and mobile parts for the second half of this year, so the Taiwanese whisperers may have gotten that one right.

Also doing the rounds in motherboard maker gossip columns is the fact AMD will launch a plethora of new processors between now and Q309, including no less than 10 low-power CPUs thought to include the Phenom II X4 905e, Phenom II X3 705e and Athlon II X4 605e.

The dual-core Phenom II X2 550 and 545 are thought to be about to make an appearance by the end of Q209, with the quad-core Phenom II X4 945 (95W), 8xx (95W), triple-core Phenom II X3 7xx (95W), quad-core Athlon II X4 630/620, triple-core Athlon II X3 435/ 425 and dual-core Athlon II X2 250/245/240 hot on their heels in the early third quarter.

If correct, this would mean most of AMD's upcoming offerings will launch just before Intel's planned release of its three quad-core Lynnfield CPUs in the third quarter.

Should make for interesting competition.