Intel

Intel Prices

Intel CPUs
CPU	Current	10/08/01	Change	Company	Rating
Pentium 4 2.0 GHz 478-pin	$415	$562	-147	NewEgg	6.5/7
Pentium 4 1.9 GHz 478-pin	$284	$369	-85	NewEgg	6.5/7
Pentium 4 1.8 GHz 478-pin	$229	$275	-46	NewEgg	6.5/7
Pentium 4 1.7 GHz 478-pin	$205	$197	+8	NewEgg	6.5/7
Pentium 4 1.6 GHz 478-pin	$173	$179	-6	NewEgg	6.5/7
Pentium4 2.0 GHz 423-pin	$432	$562	-130	NewEgg	6.4/7
Pentium 4 1.9 GHz 423-pin	$299	-	N/A	MultiWave	5.6/7
Pentium 4 1.8 GHz 423-pin	$229	$252	-23	NewEgg	6.5/7
Pentium 4 1.7 GHz 423-pin	$185	$185	0	NewEgg	6.5/7
Pentium 4 1.6 GHz 423-pin	$160	$179	-19	Krex	5.6/7
Pentium 4 1.5 GHz 423-pin	$152	$130	+22	NewEgg	6.57
Pentium 4 1.4 GHz 423-pin	$127	$127	0	NewEgg	6.5/7
Pentium 4 1.3 GHz 423-pin	$112	$112	0	NewEgg	6.5/7
Pentium III 1.2 GHz Tualtin	$277	$314	-37	Spartan	5.0/7
Pentium III 1 GHz	$148	$164	-16	TCWO	6.0/7
Pentium III 933 MHz	$142	$145	-3	TCWO	6.0/7
Pentium III 800EB MHz	$99	$102	-3	TCWO	6.0/7
Pentium III 700E MHz	$91	$91	-2	Axion	5.8/7
Celeron 1.1 GHz	$93	-	N/A	NewEgg	6.5/7
Celeron 1.0 GHz	$61	$77	-16	TCWO	6.0/7
Celeron 900 MHz	$51	$51	0	TCWO	6.0/7
Celeron 850 MHz	$45	$49	-4	TCWO	6.0/7
Celeron 800 MHz	$42	$44	-2	TCWO	6.0/7

Comments

Pentium4 pricing has taken quite a beating on the flagship level. The 2.0 GHz dropped an astonishing 26%. Mind you we are only using prices from companies that have a 5.2 Resellerrating or higher. Much lower prices can be had, should you be willing to take the risk on some of the lesser-established retailers. The lowest the 2.0 GHz was going is around $390, putting the price drop in the 30% range. The 1.9 and 1.8 GHz varieties had rather substantial cuts, approximately 20% and 15% respectively. Processors below 1.8 GHz were essentially static over the last month. If you are in the market for a Pentium4, we suggest getting a 1.8 GHz processor, and as before avoid the socket 423 processors like the plague. They are essentially discontinued.

Aside from the release of the 1.1 GHz Celeron, not too much happened in the Pentium III and Celeron areas, though the 1 GHz varieties of both the P3 and Celeron dropped a decent amount. Our recommendation on these processors remains the same as always. Only buy these if you want to upgrade an existing system. Buying a new motherboard for a Pentium III setup is essentially a waste of time, as this is a dead product line.

Wrap

Don't let anyone tell you that nothing can happen in four short weeks. In the CPU arena, prices can drop in the same manner that cows fly. The new Athlon XPs are turning out to be rather good performers for the price. We can't make a comment on how the various CPUs overclock, hopefully we'll have some idea relatively soon. On the Intel side, the price drops are a nice touch, but the Athlon XP 1900+ lays down the law when it comes to raw performance, even the 2.0 GHz Pentium4 must pay homage. With margins getting thinner and thinner, and sales dropping further this will indeed prove to be the buyers market. If you have the cash reserves to take advantage of the situation you can build your self an absurdly powerfully system for a fraction of the price that it took before.