Usually, as a brand-new processor is launched, a new series of chipsets is also launched to support it. But in the case of AMD’s first CPUs based on the Bulldozer microarchitecture (codename Zambezi), things were a little different. The chipset was launched first and the Bulldozer-based processor is expected to be launched in a couple of months.

The recently-launched AMD 9-series chipsets support today’s socket AM3 processors and the upcoming socket AM3+ CPUs based on the Bulldozer microarchitecture. It means that you can buy a motherboard based on an AMD 9-Series chipset, and install an existing socket AM3 CPU (such as Phenom II, Athlon II etc.), but you won’t be able to install a Bulldozer processor on a current socket AM3 motherboard.

The AMD 9-series family is comprised with the following models:

• AMD 990FX
• AMD 990X
• AMD 970

Technically speaking, the AMD 9-series is identical to the AMD 8-series. The new name is just to clarify compatibility with Bulldozer-based processors, i.e., users can easily know that motherboards using a 9-series chipset are a socket AM3+ model.

Several manufacturers have launched motherboards based on this new chipset, as you can see below.

• ASUS
• ECS
• Gigabyte
• MSI