New Intel CPU pricing
Today, to coincide with the launch of the Core 2 range of CPUs, Intel have updated their price list, adding prices for the newer CPUs and altering the prices of much of their existing stock.
I've summarized the price change/new prices highlights in the table below (note that these prices are for 1,000 CPU tray units, not individual):
| Processor | June '06 Price $ | July '06 Price $ | Change % |
| X6800 Core 2 Extreme | - | 999 | - |
| 965 Extreme Edition | 999 | 999 | 0 |
| 955 Extreme Edition | 999 | 999 | 0 |
| E6700 Core 2 Duo | - | 530 | - |
| E6600 Core 2 Duo | - | 316 | - |
| E6400 Core 2 Duo | - | 224 | - |
| E6300 Core 2 Duo | - | 183 | - |
| 960 D | 530 | 316 | 40 |
| 950 D | 316 | 224 | 29 |
| 945 D | - | 163 | - |
| 940 D | 224 | 183 | 18 |
| 930 D | 178 | 178 | 0 |
| 920 D | 178 | 178 | 0 |
| 915 D | 199 | 133 | 33 |
| 840 D | 423 | 423 | - |
| 830 D | 316 | 316 | - |
| 820 D | 178 | 113 | - |
| 805 D | - | 93 | - |
| 661 | 401 | 183 | 54 |
| 651 | 273 | 163 | 40 |
| 641 | 218 | 163 | 25 |
| 631 | 178 | 163 | 8 |
| 541 | 218 | 84 | 61 |
| 531 | 178 | 74 | 58 |
Complete price list can be found here.
Some things stand out quite dramatically, such as a huge price drop for CPUs such as the 960 D, 915 D, 661, 651, 541 and the 531.
However, when it comes to the 965 and 955 Extreme Edition CPUs, Intel has kept the price fixed at $999. This move mirrors what AMD did with the price of the FX-62 the other day. Again, this doesn't make sense to me because the Core 2 Duo and the Core 2 Extreme CPUs outperform the 965 and 955. Just as with the FX-62, there just isn't a compelling reason any more to choose either the 965 or the 955 for desktop applications. It seems that both AMD and Intel are reluctant to drop the prices of their flagship CPUs - for now at least.
If you're looking to buy or build a new PC, or just looking to upgrade a CPU, there's never been a better time to buy, whether you buy AMD or Intel - just make sure that you buy wisely!