Sources that are allegedly familiar with the company’s plans have “confirmed” to Xbit Labs that AMD is preparing a hexa-core processor for the desktop market.

The rumor goes that the chip is codenamed Thuban and it is believed to be a direct port of the 6-core Istanbul chip AMD currently offers in the server space. Should this bear out, it means the chip will use a dual channel DDR3-1333 IMC, fit into existing AM3 boards, and boast 6MB of shared L3 cache.

Whispers indicate that the chip is on track for early 2010, or right around the time rival firm Intel plans to release the 6-core Gulftown chip. The chip will presumably be marketed under the Phenom II X6 branding.

BONUS TRIVIA: Thuban is another name for Alpha Draconis, a star in the constellation of Draco. It served as the northern pole star for more than 2000 years between 3942 and 1900 BC. While Polaris in the constellation Ursa Minor is today’s northern pole star, Thuban will once again take that mantle in 20346 AD when the earth’s processional movements places the star back to our celestial north.

The Thuban codename makes particular sense when viewed in the context of other Phenom products, collectively known as the stars family. Deneb (Phenom II X4) is a star in the constellation Cygnus, Heka (Phenom II X3) is a star in the constellation Orion, and Regor (Athlon II X2) is a star in the constellation Vela.