The Phenom X3 chips fill out AMD's family of X86 triple-cores, as the new X3 8450, the X3 8650 and the X3 8750 join the Phenom X3 8000 that was unveiled in early March.

Brent Barry, a spokesman for AMD, said the triple-core chips are a good option for users looking for more than a dual-core processor but aren't ready yet for a move to quad-core technology.

Nathan Brookwood, an analyst at research firm Insight 64 in the US, said in an earlier interview that a triple-core product line is also a smart move for AMD because it allows the company to use quad-core chips coming off a manufacturing line with a damaged core. Instead of tossing it out and wasting the silicon, they can sell it as a triple-core, he said.