Source: http://www.behardware.com/html/news/

The names and specs of the 2, 3 and 4 core Athlon II range have been unveiled by chance by MSI. We learn that this processor range, expected for Q4 of 2009, will be made up of no less than ten models and that the Athlon X3s will have just 1.5 MB of L2 cache while the X2s and X4s will have 2 MB.


Looks like AMD is preparing the X3 range to go against the i3,given that 50% more cores should be enough to offset the SMT in the i3s. Good thing about these models is that they are very small and cost effective dice and that we will probably see the return of the unlocking game with the X3s since these are based on the Propus die. The 45 W X2,X3 and X4 models look like a perfect candidates for notebook CPUs and with a bit of more binning we may see them in the sub-45W range. The only thing that may be a (big) plus when it comes to the i3 series is the Turbo mode functionality.