AMD vs Intel on the cheap CPU market

Intel has decided to introduce a 45 nm replacement for the Core 2 Quad Q6600 (less than 800$ PCs). Also a new cheap dual-core processor for $500 PCs is available.

Core 2 Quad Q6600, the 2.4 GHz quad-core CPU was part of Intel’s first quad-core CPUs with Kentsfield core in 2006 and was originally introduced as a quad-core CPU for expensive mainstream PCs with prices of about $1200. In time, the Core 2 Quad Q6600 became the first quad-core CPU in mainstream PCs with prices below $800 and most recently served as Intel’s main quad-core defense against AMD’s aggressively priced triple-core and quad-core processors – and protected the high margins of the 65 nm Q6700 (2.66 GHz) and the newer 45 nm quad-cores.

The Core 2 Quad Q6600 is currently sold at $193, while the Q6700 lists for $266 and the 45 nm Q9000 series between $266 to $530. On the second semester of this year, Intel added the Q8200 (2.33 GHz) with a price of $224. This new processor is based on Intel’s 45 nm process and supports FSB1333, but includes only 4 MB L2 cache compared to the 6 or 12 MB of the Q9000 series and 8 MB of the Q6000 series. Certainly, this processor will make its way into sub-$800 PCs, under the Christmas tree.

Intel also added a 45 nm dual-core processor, the 2.5 GHz E5200 (2 MB L2 cache, FSB800), which is positioned as the first E5000 series processor and the very bottom of the Core 2 Duo lineup. At $84, the CPU is about 25% cheaper than the least expensive 65 nm E4000 series chip (the 2.2 GHz E4500 lists for $113). The E5200 is aligned with AMD’s Athlon X2 6000+ ($112).

For the entry-level segment, Intel now offers a slight speed upgrade for the Celeron D family. The new 2.2 GHz 450 model lists for a tray price of $53, or $9 more than the 2.0 GHz 440, which lists for $44.

AMD has also made some adjustments to its lineup of desktop CPUs opting for lowering the prices for several of its current processors.
On price cut list there are both the Athlon and Phenom ranges of processors. The Phenom X4 9950 Black Edition processor, has suffered one of the most considerable price cuts, of almost $50. This is a processor that is built on a 65nm manufacturing technology, and has a core speed of 2.6 GHz, while the L3 Cache is set at 2 MB. Its performance levels can be compared to Intel’s 45nm-based Q8200, whose availability the company has recently announced for a price point of $224, while AMD’s Phenom X4 9950 Black Edition will now be available for $186 per chip in 1,000 unit quantities.

In the triple-core segment, the Phenom X3 8750’s price has been lowered from $175 to a more decent $134. This triple-core model features a core speed of 2.4 GHz with a L2 cache size of 512KB.

In the entry-level segment, several dual-core Athlon X2 CPUs have been included in the price cuts, the Athlon X2 5200+ now offered for a price of $68.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008 at 2:12 pm and is filed under AMD, CPU, Hardware, INTEL, Technology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.