AMD: Tri-core soon, bye bye Quad FX

Remember those wacky tri-core CPUs that AMD was said to be preparing for early next year? Well, you had better get ready for them: word on the street is that the tri-core CPUs (code-named "Toliman"), are all set to hit retail in February. According to Digitimes, AMD will launch with two 89W versions of the chip, with clock speeds of 2.5Ghz and 2.3Ghz. Meanwhile, on the dual-core front, the company will also unleash two new Barcelona-based chips, the 6050 and 6250. While both chips are said to be dual-core, 65W models, their clock speeds are currently unknown.

Sure, AMD might giveth but they also know how to taketh away. Case in point: AMD's Suzy Pruitt revealed to Tech Report that the company has decided to phase out its Quad FX enthusiast platform. The company will not offer a Quad FX solution based on future processors though they will offer an upgrade path to the few unlucky souls who purchased Quad FX systems. Given AMD's recent financial woes and Quad FX's disappointing performance, it's hard to fault them for sending the platform out to pasture.

For more on AMD's roadmap:
- see this Ars Technica article