Core 2 to get a price cut

Author: Brett Thomas
Published: 19th December 2006
Comments (27) Stumble
Core 2 to get a price cut

Hey, we all like to save a few quid. Isn't it nice when you know when an upcoming sale is?

Next year is just around the corner, and 2007 is promising to be another big year in the CPU industry. Intel wants everyone to smile and say "Conroe," but AMD has other plans - its 65nm parts are due out in Q3 and they don't look too shabby on paper. So what happens when you're the leading performance winner, soon to see your crown evaporate in an ever-repeating struggle of Moore's law?

Easy: you do just like AMD did with Conroe's release, and you slash prices like it's your job. Which is exactly what Intel will be doing in Quarter 2 of 2007 with its whole Core 2 line. If you can't win by performance, you might still win by performance per dollar.

The Core 2 price cuts will accompany the release of a couple new low-budget chips in the lineup during second quarter. However, the cuts will affect all of the lineup, even the new Core 2 Quads. Each chip is getting a reduction of roughly 25-35%, but here are some of the most important figures for you:
  • Core 2 Quad Q6600 - Down to $530 from $851
  • Core 2 Duo E6700 - Down to $316 from $530
  • Core 2 Duo E6600 - Down to $224 from $316
  • Core 2 Duo E6400 - Down to $183 from $224
  • Core 2 Duo E6300 - Down to $163 from $183
Along with the reduction, new chips will be added to the lineup. First will be the 4MB cache versions of each of the current Allendale cores, labeled as E6320 and E6420. As well, a couple lower-end chips (the E4400 and E4300) will make their way into the lineup to replace the old Celeron chips.

All in all, it looks like Intel is taking AMD's Q3 2007 announcements pretty seriously. We may have a good battle on our hands. In the meantime, if you're pretty set on Core 2 Duo (and we can't really blame you), you may just want to wait a little while.

Got a thought on the savings? Let us hear about it in our forums.
Quote customh 19th December 2006, 20:25
So will the 4 series ones be as good of overclockers? Highlan3r has already said the true allendales will be mad.
Quote Ramble 19th December 2006, 20:45
4MB versions of current Allendales?
So that would either be Conroe or the new Allendales, in which case they should overclock like buggery.
Quote Mankz 19th December 2006, 20:52
oohhh...

6700's look nice. however, i also like the look of the 4- series
Quote Firehed 19th December 2006, 22:04
Quad for $530? Niiiiiice.
Quote samkiller42 19th December 2006, 22:24
AMD is no match for Conroe :D

Sam
Quote bluep3ace 19th December 2006, 22:50
so should I get a 6700 instead of 6600? or use the 6600's extra cash for something
Quote zr_ox 19th December 2006, 22:53
Isn't the world just mad. One year ago who would have predicted that Intel would adopt AMD's winning business model, and AMD would some how forget what their model was

With such high performance and such low prices how can anyone complain....Nice one Intel.
Quote samkiller42 19th December 2006, 22:57
Quote:
Originally Posted by bluep3ace
so should I get a 6700 instead of 6600? or use the 6600's extra cash for something
The e6700 is a fantastic cpu, with one sitting in my machine it handles everything thrown at it. Shame the motherboard isnt so reliable
To answer your question, the 66 is still a formidable cpu and for the proce you cant go wrong really, get a 66 and a Striker Extreme board with some good 800mhz and your on the easy road to vista :D

Sam
Quote Gunsmith 20th December 2006, 01:14
wankers! i just bought a 6700 as well!
Quote kazama 20th December 2006, 01:19
wow, price cut for intel cpu's. 2007 i should buy it. quad core is my choice
Quote DXR_13KE 20th December 2006, 01:26
nice.... it could be a nice time to get an upgrade.... :D
Quote Aankhen 20th December 2006, 02:04
I was about to whine (this would have put an E6600 within my reach) when I read the "second quarter". Ah well. :)

The E6700 looks like a really good deal after this price cut. The price cut on the Quad is great, but still places it firmly within the premium segment as far as I'm concerned…
Quote BFGunrunner 20th December 2006, 04:04
I'll probally grab the E6400 snice I'm not all that rich.
Quote Redbeaver 20th December 2006, 05:01
nice-o... 2nd quarter..jjust in time for me to save enough to get a new mobo and RAM as well.... :) 6600 ***!
Quote r4tch3t 20th December 2006, 05:45
Ohh I may just be able to get quad core then
Quote Awoken 20th December 2006, 07:44
I'm going to start saving - dx10 gaming rig here I come!
Quote section8 20th December 2006, 09:29
I just hope that Intel do what they say they are going to do! The AMD prices cuts, if anything to go by, were phenomenal for an 'underdog' company. Although, the conroe/allendale chips are already reasonably priced to be honest - for the performance you get! All we need now is VIA to come in adn get a third chip on the go and then it will be wide open!!!!! Now then, who is up for phoning citrix!!!!

2007 is shaping up to be a very exciting time to be building a new rig... ATI/AMD affiliation.... ATI new DX10 card.... Intel price cuts... Intel bringing in new chip lines.... AMD initiating their final phase 65nm chips.... ITS A GOOD YEAR....!!!
Quote Mother-Goose 20th December 2006, 09:58
Q2 - April Onwards? Fricken sweet I was gonna build at the end of march (ie april lol) so this is brilliant news, the E6600 Quad it is for me. This is good news all round and it is nice to see intel know even they have to get down and dirty and cut prices

3K now seems to be stetching further
Quote GrahamC 20th December 2006, 10:03
Err is it me or anouncements that are maybe 6 whole months in advance and I'm supposed to be excited.... please people get real.
Quote kenco_uk 20th December 2006, 10:30
TBH it means people can plan ahead and budget accordingly for future upgrades. I'll probably go for a 6300 before the price cuts and get a beefier one when the prices come down enough.
Quote Mother-Goose 20th December 2006, 11:36
its 3 months in advanced, Q2 starts in 3 months, so it is some time in that period, not at the end of it.
Quote Mother-Goose 20th December 2006, 11:36
Quote:
Err is it me or anouncements that are maybe 6 whole months in advance and I'm supposed to be excited.... please people get real

its 3 months in advanced, Q2 starts in 3 months, so it is some time in that period, not at the end of it.
Quote Mother-Goose 20th December 2006, 11:37
ah bugger, mods, can u delete the first one of those two posts? ty.....and can yo delete this one?
Quote Iago 20th December 2006, 11:44
At those prices, the E6600 is definitely the sweet spot...with twice the cache of the E6300 and E6400 and a little bit of overclock it's a beast, at only 40$ more than a E6400 .

The E6700 is way, way less attractive. Close to a 50% increase in price for very little performance improvement (10%). With those 92€ of difference, you could get a much better GPU, or go from budget to premium mobo and RAM...both will do more for performance than 266 extra Mghz.

Still...6 months from now...and if Intel is slashing prices they must fear that 65nm X2 will be hell of performers.
Quote Mother-Goose 20th December 2006, 14:03
the Q6600 is flirting with my wallet, the old smoothy, my wallet is blushing
Quote aggies11 20th December 2006, 16:49
Competition is good, as long as it's fairly even, and no one eventually "wins".

As long as these price cuts don't blow AMD out of the water and sink their ship, then it's awesome, as it ultimately means the consumer wins!

Aggies
Quote cleric07 2nd January 2007, 18:54
Is the QX6700 gonna get a price cut?

If not then is it worth getting one or just wait for the price cut of the Q6600 and get one of those?
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