ED#62 : New Intel 65nm Processors & Price Cuts

With the launch of the Intel 45nm desktop (Wolfdale and Yorkfield) and mobile (Penryn) processors fast approaching, it is easy to dismiss Intel's current slew of 65nm processors as yesterday's news. But the fact of the matter is they are just as powerful as they were yesterday. Even compared against Intel's next-generation 45nm processors, they are still no pushovers and definitely pack a hefty punch.

It is evident that while Intel is rapidly ramping up the transition from 65nm to 45nm, they are not just going to just abandon their 65nm processors. In fact, Intel intends to introduce several new 65nm desktop and mobile processors over the next few months. We have recently obtained details of Intel's future roadmap and pricing details for their 65nm processors. Let's take a look at what Intel has in store for us in the coming months!

Desktop Processors

On October 21, Intel will launch the 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo E4600. It will supplant the 2.2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo E4500, which will be adjusted downwards from the current price of $133 to $113.

This puts the E4500 at the same price point as the 2.0GHz E4400. However, Intel does not intend to reduce the price of the E4400.

Intel will also reduce the price of the Intel Pentium 4 631 by $10 to just $59 in quantities of 1000. This is presumably the price for the final batch of the Pentium 4 631 as it is scheduled to be discontinued this month.

On December 2, Intel will introduce the Pentium Dual-Core E2200. It will be a 2.20GHz part priced at $84. Only in January 2008 will Intel reduce the price of the Pentium Dual-Core E2180. It will be pegged at the $74 price point which used to be occupied by the E2160. The Pentium Dual Core E2160 will also be adjusted downwards to $64, the same price point as the lowest-end E2140 model.

Mobile Processors

We have also been told that Intel will be adding a new Intel Core 2 Duo ULV model as well as a new Intel Celeron model on December 30, 2007.

The new Intel Core 2 Duo ULV U7700 will have a 1.33 GHz clock speed, a 533 MHz FSB and a 2 MB L2 cache on December 30, 2007. It will be priced at $289 in quantities of 1,000 - the price point of the current top Core 2 Duo ULV SKU - the 1.20 GHz U7600.

As a result, Intel will adjust the price of the Intel Core 2 Duo ULV U7600 downwards by 9.3 % from $289 to $262 on January 20, 2008. This puts the U7600 on the same price point as the slower U7500 (1.06 GHz, 2MB) and the U2200 (1.20 GHz, 1MB), both of which are not scheduled for any discounts at the moment.

The second new mobile processor model to be launched on December 30, 2007 will be the new 2.13 GHz Intel Celeron 560, priced at $134 in quantities of 1,000. This processor will become the top Celeron model, pushing down the Intel Celeron 550's price from the current $134 to $107 on January 20, 2007.

As that $107 price point is already being occupied by the 1.86 GHz Intel Celeron 540, Intel will adjust the price of that model down from $107 to just $86 on January 20, 2007. The Intel Celeron 540 will then be the same price as the Intel Celeron 530 and Intel Celeron M 530, both running at 1.73 GHz.

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