AMD Unveils New Quad-Core Chip

SAN FRANCISCO -- Advanced Micro Devices(AMD Quote) released its latest microprocessor Monday, as the struggling chipmaker looks to plug an important gap in its product lineup.

AMD's new Phenom processor gives the company a quad-core processor for the desktop PC market, a year after Intel's(INTC Quote) first quad-core chips were released.

In addition to the new processor, AMD also unveiled an all-in-one bundle of silicon components for desktop PCs, dubbed Spider.

The Spider platform pairs AMD's Phenom processor with an ATI Radeon HD 3800 graphics accelerator and a so-called chipset that supports key PC functions, representing the first tangible product to come out of AMD's $5.4 billion acquisition of the Canadian graphics firm ATI in 2006.

"It's a good example of the integration of AMD and ATI," an AMD spokesperson said. "It's one of our first platform launches that includes all the components from both companies."

Shares of AMD were recently off 3.8%, or 48 cents, at $12.16 in a down session for the overall market Monday. The stock is down nearly one-third since mid-July.

With the holiday shopping season about to begin, AMD is aiming its Spider package at video gamers and other consumers who make up the so-called enthusiast market for desktop PCs. According to AMD, the new technology offers improvements in performance and energy-efficiency, as well as the ability to build up by adding up to four graphics cards in one desktop PC.