Those of you that carry retired heavily rib tasks such as qualifier 3D work, video encoding, or Excel modeling would let asterisked down March 2010 as this was when Intel released their prototypical screen background hexa-core processor. Razor-backed with Hyper-Threading support, the Core i7 980X provides 12 running togs that grant considerable carrying out gains over its quad-core siblings in a number of applications.

Moreover, by reducing the design outgrowth to 32nm, these extra cores and the extra performance come at no additional major power expense. This was a lot to get us intoxicated about, only the like most Intel Extreme Variation processors the Sum i7 980X is a tough sell given its $1,000 lean price.

If money is no physical object then the six-core Core i7 980X processor is as favourable as it gets right now. Conversely, today's announcement from AMD is meant to abide by the same trend as with recent Phenom CPU releases. AMD is hoping to offer a more than taking sixer-core processor by providing their Phenom II X6 1090T Black Edition and Phenom II X6 1055T models at far more realistic prices.

The Phenom II X6 1090T BE is expected to hit shelves at just under $300, making it threefold more affordable than the Core i7 980X.

At this price point, this 3.2GHz hexa-core AMD processor will be sitting alongside the Core i7 930 and Core i7 860 from Intel. Let ME remind you that this is a full unbolted Black Edition Saratoga chip that depending on how it overclocks could be a real bargain for those of you willing to tweak your hardware a little.

Those looking for something even cheaper, today's AMD announcement will not disappoint. The Phenom II X6 1055T will be sold-out for just $220, a plain $20 more than the Burden i5 750. This should make for an interesting shoot out.

AMD is certainly making the necessary moves to provide Intel with some harsh competition. Our recent CPU rounded-up that looked at processors in the $100-$200 range saw AMD gaining ground in the value and mainstream targets, while lacking horsepower as we moved toward the high-end models. If things fall under the right places, AMD could finally have an answer for the Burden i5 750 and possibly processors beyond that mark.

Like all Phenom Deuce processors, these new hexa-core versions are designed to work with DDR3 memory on the AM3 platform, simply ass also be coupled with older AM2/AM2+ motherboards victimization DDR2 memory. Nary doubt, an upgrader's dream come true considering the older platform is nigh 4 years old.

For today's tests we will be victimisation the newer AM3 platform with the untested 890FX chipset that is also organism introduced today.