Semiconductor old timer Intel has this week lower the price tags of a number of Core 2 Quad/Duo, Pentium Dual-Core, and Celeron processors, and the Xeon 3330. Between the upcoming release of the first LGA 1156 CPUs and AMD’s wave of AM3 parts, the cuts are set to make the LGA 775 line-up a bit more attractive, although we cannot go over the fact that the highest-clocked Core 2 Quads, the Q9550 and Q9650 have maintained their prices. Still, a price cut is always nice so see the table below for something you might like.

source:tcmagazine.com

The first quad-core CPU for notebooks in AMD’s line will be code-named “Champlain” and will be the base of the code-named “Danube” platform. There are no details about the chip, but since the processor will only emerge sometime in 2010, it has good chances to be made using 32nm process technology.

Before the “Danube” platform emerges in 2010, AMD plans to release “Tigris” platform in 2009. The forthcoming platform will be based on dual-core code-named “Caspian” CPU manufacturing using 45nm fabrication process as well as next-generation RS880M+SB710 core-logic set.

According to Jon Peddie Research analysts, desktop replacement notebooks for gamers are “showing strong gains”. Therefore, it is pretty regrettable that AMD decided not to introduce quad-core mobile microprocessors in 2009. Intel already has a quad-core processor for high-performance notebooks and the lineup is likely to expand next year.

The new Intel Core 2 Quad processors with reduced power consumption will have thermal design power (TDP) of 65W, whereas previously such chips had 95W or even higher thermal envelope, which kept them away from quiet small form-factor systems. The low-power quad-core central processing units from Intel will be launched on the 18th of January, 2009, according to documents seen by X-bit labs.

Three new low-power quad-core processors from Intel will compete against AMD’s energy efficient Phenom X4 chips for the place in low-power systems. But the competition will not be direct: AMD Phenom X4 models 9350e (2.0GHz) and 9150e (1.80GHz) are sold for $174 and $175, respectively, and offer much lower performance compared to Intel Core 2 Quad at 2.33GHz and beyond. Even the Phenom X4 9450e (2.10GHz) will hardly match even the lowest-performing Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200s.
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