processor Pricing.

[ZeroCPI]

hey guys when do you think intel will release there new processor(s)

also im just wondering if prices tend to fall immediatly after the release of a new processor or does it take time to trickle through?

and finally i suppose how long do you guys think that the i7 will have left before they release the next family of processors?

just deciding if i should wait a bit before buying parts because if there new processor line has a different socket number/extension. then that means having to buy another motherboard & processor for an upgrade. doesnt it?

 

[SeraphX]

i'm pretty sure the news is, the new Hexacores are coming later on this year
prices trickle down slowly, specially on decent intel chips
i7 i think is going to be around until Haswell? comes out, might be wrong on that but dont think anyone can answer what intel are going to do years down the line
intel aren't moving to another socket this year, your safe buying socket 1155 or 1366, it's just the 1156's that are out of date now

 

[cmndr_andi]

Well intel just released their new CPUs using the next-generation architecture a few weeks ago, these CPUs use the LGA 1155 socket. These "Sandy Bridge" CPUs are pretty much top-dog right now, here is an in-depth review.

The next round of intel CPUs will be in Q3 of this year - and will be the "enthusiast" level parts using the LGA 2011 socket.

As for prices coming down, I wouldn't expect any price drops on these sandy bridge CPUs for months. AMD release their new "Bulldozer" CPUs around April time, if they beat the sandy bridge CPUs heavily in the price/performance stakes - then I reckon we may see some intel price reductions and some very good options from the AMD side of the tracks.

My recommendation is that if you want and need a new system now - then get it now and go for a sandy bridge system (the i5 2500K is the best value CPU of the lot). The next big thing isn't expected until April - which is a long time to wait.

 

[ZeroCPI]

thanks, i myself was interested in getting the i7 2600k, it seems like a nice processor and just browsing online i can see it has pretty good overclocking potential.

im just pondering on weather to wait just a little longer or not though. i mean i may have to wait until April before i make a decision on the other hand if i really pressed it, i could buy this processor now and start building my pc.

its a hard decision because as you've said when AMD release there new processor i could just as easily get an AMD Phenom II X4 Quad Core which would rival the i7 2600k.

any thoughts on what i should do?

 

[SeraphX]

make a choice and bear it when new stuff comes up, thats all you can do, new stuff is coming out it's just up to you, FYI, the i7 2600k absolutely destroys any phenom quad

 

[cmndr_andi]

its a hard decision because as you've said when AMD release there new processor i could just as easily get an AMD Phenom II X4 Quad Core which would rival the i7 2600k.

I'm not sure what you mean here, the Phenom II X4 is a currently available CPU that is much slower than the i7 2600K (have a look at this chart).

If you are meaning the Bulldozer variant - then the main benefit these CPUs will bring to the table is more cores (up to eight). Each core will be faster than a phenom II core - but not as fast as an Intel Sandy Bridge core.

May I ask what you will be using the PC for?