Before Intel even has a chance to ship the first next-generation Nehalem processors, competitor AMD is bound to update its CPU offering with new triple-core Phenoms designed for high-performance. The new CPUs will not be able to compete with Intel’s newly released high-end processors, but they do allow AMD to get hold of a significant share of the CPU market, where Intel is currently very well positioned.

The Sunnyvale-based chip maker plans to release its biggest-performance triple-core Phenom yet, with the introduction of the Phenom X3 8850 model. As you might have expected, this new CPU will be manufactured on a 65nm process technology, as AMD is yet to unveil its very first 45nm-built Phenom CPU. The upcoming processor will be designed to support AM2+ platforms, and will come with a 2.5GHz core speed. Other technical details include a TDP level of 95W and 2MB of L3 cache.