Intel

Intel Prices

Intel CPUs
CPU	Current	11/06/01	Change	Company	Rating
Pentium 4 2.0 GHz 478-pin	$432	$415	+17	NewEgg	6.5/7
Pentium 4 1.9 GHz 478-pin	$276	$284	-8	NewEgg	6.5/7
Pentium 4 1.8 GHz 478-pin	$223	$229	-6	Krex	5.6/7
Pentium 4 1.7 GHz 478-pin	$208	$205	+3	NewEgg	6.5/7
Pentium 4 1.6 GHz 478-pin	$165	$173	-8	Krex	5.6/7
Pentium III 1.2 GHz Tualtin	$255	$277	-22	JazzTech	5.2/7
Pentium III 1 GHz	$141	$148	-7	TCWO	6.0/7
Pentium III 933 MHz	$130	$142	-12	NewEgg	6.5/7
Pentium III 800EB MHz	$116	$99	+17	TCWO	6.0/7
Pentium III 700E MHz	$104	$91	+13	Krex	5.6/7
Celeron 1.1 GHz	$89	$93	-4	NewEgg	6.5/7
Celeron 1.0 GHz	$63	$61	+2	TCWO	6.0/7
Celeron 900 MHz	$51	$51	0	TCWO	6.0/7
Celeron 850 MHz	$47	$45	+2	TCWO	6.0/7
Celeron 800 MHz	$45	$42	+3	TCWO	6.0/7

Comments

With the price difference between SDRAM and RIMMs getting smaller with each passing day, and the impending arrival of the 845 DDR, the Intel scene is getting to be lucrative again. This month, most of the P4 prices didn't really budge much, except for the flagship jumping in price by about twenty dollars. While this variety of CPU has gotten considerably cheaper, the majority of them still cost a decent amount of cash in comparison to the Athlon XP. If you feel the need for a P4, we'd recommend getting the 1.8 GHz chip. Also if you haven't noticed, we removed all socket 423 CPUs from the guide. Unless you already have a 423 board, getting one of these CPUs is a waste of time. Our other reason is that it is a bit more difficult in obtaining good prices for these CPUs. Pricewatch makes no distinction between the two varieties.

The Pentium III scene, oddly enough, was rather active, with prices going in every direction. Our previous recommendation still stands. Unless you want a quick upgrade to an older system, there is no other reason to buy these CPUs for a conventional desktop computer.

Prices for the Celerons didn't budge too much this time around, with numbers fluctuating by a handful of dollars. Our recommendation for the Celeron is the same as for the P3. Don't buy it unless you have a system that needs a quick fix.

Wrap

This months guide was fairly tame. No new CPUs, no drastic price cuts - nothing at all. Not that prices are bad, we just expected a bit more movement. Overall we'd still put our money on AMD. Performance-wise the AMD reigns supreme; the only thing it might fear is the coming of the Intel Northwood, a modification to the Pentium 4. Cost-wise the AMD also gives you a better price to performance ratio on the CPU side of things. So until next time, with any luck the post holiday season will bring us one step closer to CPU nirvana.