AMD has rolled out a trio of tri-core processors, all revised versions of the Phenom X3 CPUs it introduced last month.

The new line-up comprises the 2.4GHz 8750, the 2.3GHz 8650 and the 2.1GHz 8450. They're priced at $195, $165 and $145, respectively.

All three contain 'B3' cores, an improved version of the 'B2' X3s released to PC makers less than a month ago. At the time, AMD provided benchmark numbers that indicated a small but significant performance boost over the B2 models.

For example, the 8650 yielded numbers up nine per cent on those produced by the 8600, despite identical specs beyond the core stepping.

AMD insisted the older core was "perfectly fine". But not so fine that the 8400, 8600 and 8700 haven't been kept on the chip maker's official price list. All three have been dropped to make room for the new versions.

AMD also introduced two low-power, 45W Athlon X2 chips, the 4450e and the 4050e, clocked at 2.3GHz and 2.1GHz, respectively.

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