Intel recently launched its series of new processors, highly cost effective and aimed at budget buyers, and closely following is arch rival AMD, looking to give a tough competition to the giant manufacturer of processors and chips.

Today, AMD announced that it would soon be releasing as many as 5 new desktop CPUs, all hovering around the middle and low price ranges. Major highlight of the range is the Phenom II X2
555 Black Edition, which AMD says is its "fastest-ever dual-core desktop processor". The new offering boasts a clock speed of 3.2 GHz, and is priced at a reasonable $99. Furthermore, a TDP of
80 watts would not garner a huge electricity bill as well.

As far as the other offerings in the range go, there are three Athlon II CPUs, the X2 255, the X3 440 and the X4 635, carrying a price range of $74, $84 and $119, respectively.

Also, there is another Phenom II, the X4 910e, with a TDP of 65 watts and a price tag of $169.

AMD's AM3 socket would be required by all the CPUs.