AMD's latest desktop processors are the socket AM3 line - an upgrade to the previous AM2 and AM2+ models. The biggest new feature, and the inspiration for the name, is the addition of DDR3 memory support.

Currently AMD offers up to six-core processors for this socket. The notation of X2, X4, or X6 at the end of a model name identifies how many cores it has.

There are also two main processor lines: the Athlon II and Phenom II. They are very similar internally, with the main difference being that the Phenom II has an additional cache level (L3) that is shared by all the cores. This can improve performance in many applications, but the Athlon IIs without that are much more affordable.