CPU pricing, any justification?

[Da_Big_Jeff]

It has always been the way. Top end models of CPUs are just stupidly priced for the increase in power over lower models. i.e. E6600 core 2 duo = £200 odd, E6700 = £350 odd with only a 0.27 GHz increase in speed (I know clock speed isn't the most accurate measure of prossessing power). Compared to the mid range jump of around £30 between models with similar jump in clock speed (and even an extra 2 meg L2 between the E6400 and E6600).
Is this purely because some people will buy the fastest chip out there no matter what the price or is there any logic behind the price hike such as smaller production success for top end models?

 

[fumbles]

I think (have no idea if true) that the E6700 has a higher multiplier then the E6600. (10 vs 9)

I think the X6800 has an unlocked multiplier too.

 

[eXor]

Those R&D / Manufacturing costs have to be recouped somehow.

 

[MAllen]

The fastest CPU will be much more expensive as it is always harder to make them. Do a bit of Googling on the manufacturing process and you will see that all CPUs come off the same production line. They are then "speed bin" tested. i.e. they pick up a random chip, and try and run it at the top spec speed. If it works - then it is marked up at that speed. If it doesn't work, then it will be tested at the next speed down.

This is why overclocking works so well. If there is a demand for a mid range or low range chip, then the manufacturers walk up to that same production line and test for mid-range compatibilty, and mark up the processor at that lower speed.

So in a "good" production week, everything coming off the line may be top quality, but gets marked with whatever speeds are required.

In a "bad" production week, they are hard pushed to get enough "top speed" processors out, hence why the costs can be so high. Demand is big and supply is load - which pushes prices up.

When something is rare, it costs a lot more.


Also - you are dead right. Sting those customers hard who really must have "the fastest".