DailyTech reports that AMD plans on dropping the Athlon moniker in favor of a new brand name. According to the story, the new name will be Phenom. The new Phenom brand will be accompanied by a new model numbering scheme that will do away with the current performance rating "plus" numbers. According to DailyTech, a next-gen "Sparta" chip clocked at 2.3GHz with a 45W power envelope will be dubbed LE-1300, for instance, while a 2.3GHz chip based on the existing "Brisbane" core with the same 45W power rating will bear a BE-2400 moniker. DailyTech has also posted some information regarding AMD's 45nm plans. In the second half of next year, the chip maker intends to introduce its first 45nm desktop quad-core processors. The chips will be dubbed "Deneb" and "Deneb FX," and they'll supposedly introduce a new AM3 socket. Deneb FX will include support for DDR3 memory, as well. Mid-range 45nm chips are set to follow some time "closer to 2009."

That "phenom" sounds a little to close to "phantom" to my taste. Lets just hope it resembles the name only :)