The New Nation - Internet Edition

Wolfgang Gruener

Santa Clara (CA) - The Core 2 Quad Q6600 has been Intel’s quad-core economy package for more than 18 months, but Intel has finally decided to introduce a 45 nm replacement for the sub-$800 PC segment. There is also a new cheap dual-core processor for $500 PCs.

If there is a processor in Intel’s product family that has had a near-perfect product life-cycle, then it is certainly the 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 processor for expensive mainstream PCs with prices of about $1200. Over time, the Q6600 became the first quad-core processor 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 Q6600 is currently offered at a tray price of $193, while the Q6700 lists for $266 and the 45 nm Q9000 series between $266 to $530. On August 31, Intel quietly 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.

Expect this processor to make its way into sub-$800 PCs this Christmas season. On a competitive level, the Q8200 is positioned right between AMD’s fastest Phenom X4 9550 ($235) and the Phenom X4 9850 Black Edition ($205).

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). Pricewise, the E5200 is aligned with AMD’s Athlon X2 6000+ ($112).