New Llano CPU core revision is coming

First AMD desktop processors with Llano core launched in July of this year. They were quad-core chips from A6- and A8-Series, that integrated graphics unit, and were marketed as Accelerated Processing Units (APUs). The quad-cores were followed by triple-core A6-3500, and dual-core A4-3300 and A4-3400. These products had the same core stepping (B0), identified by part number suffix "GX", and they were based on the same die as earlier released quad-core APUs. Last month CPU support lists on Biostar and MSI websites revealed several new microprocessors with different suffix "HX": AD3300OJZ22HX, AD3400OJZ22HX, AD3420OJZ22HX and ED3200OJZ22HX. What's more, two of these processors, A4-3300 and A4-3400, can be pre-ordered in a few US online shops. For example, PCSuperStore has AD3300OJHXBOX, which is a boxed version of AD3300OJZ22HX, on pre-order for $76.17. AD3400OJHXBOX, boxed version of AD3400OJZ22HX, is listed for $81.95. The prices of upcoming models are identical to prices of APUs with "GX" suffix.

Currently, we don't have any information on the differences between "GX" and "HX" CPUs. Different suffixes in AMD part numbers are used for processors with different steppings, or minor core revisions within a stepping. MSI A75MA-G55 CPU support page states that new APUs have B0 stepping. This means that the changes in the "HX" microprocessors could be minor and insignificant. The fact that new revisions appeared only on dual-core CPUs could also mean that the "HX" parts are based on dual-core die design.

Currently, the AD3300OJZ22HX and AD3400OJZ22HX processors are not available for sale yet, therefore it's too early to tell which of these theories is correct. If the upcoming chips have different die, we may be able to recognize it from CPUID, or the chip markings. Two letter code on the third line of AMD microprocessors stands for die design. Original Llano APUs had "DA" code. If "HX" parts do have new die design then the two-letter code should be different.