http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1558,1820856,00.asp?kc=ETRSS02129TX1K0000532
LONDON -- The "D" in "Pentium D" apparently stands for "discount". Intel Corp. lowballed its way into the mainstream dual-core market on Thursday, launching the Pentium D at a price that's less than half of AMD's own dual-core chip.
Intel introduced three models of the Pentium D on Thursday: the 2.8-GHz Pentium D 820, the 3.0-GHz Pentium D 830, and the 3.2-GHz Pentium D 840. The three chips are priced at $241, $316, and $530, in lots of 1,000 units. Intel also introduced the Pentium 4 670, a 3.8-GHz 64-bit chip that will round out the top end of its single-core platform, at $851.
Compared to the AMD Athlon X2, however, Intel's new Pentium D offers a dramatic discount. AMD's slowest 2.2-GHz 4200+ Athlon X2 is priced at $537, while the slowest Intel Pentium D, the 2.8-GHz 820, is priced at $241. Intel also offers a premium dual-core part, the Pentium 4 Extreme Edition, priced at $999. AMD has yet to update its microprocessor pricing page with the price of the X2, although executives have quoted those prices in briefings.
The discrepancy casts the differences between AMD and Intel into sharp focus. All of Intel's production fabs are producing wafers using 90-nm wafers; AMD has but a single fab, although it is close to ramping a second facility next door in Dresden, Germany.
As AMD and Intel segment their product lines to meet the needs of divergent markets, AMD's fab capacity may be stretched thinner. One analyst had already suspected that the X2 would be a premium part, given that AMD is restricted to a single fab.
"AMD is not in a position to move its product line to dual-core until it brings on an additional fab--either it's own Fab 36 or a foundry," Kevin Krewell, an analyst for In-Stat and editor of the Microprocessor Report, said Thursday. "Dual core equals two regular CPU dice, so it's not cost effective for AMD to ship dual-core [chips] for the same price as single-core. AMD needs to keep dollars per wafer growing, and aggressive pricing of dual-core would reduce it."
AMD, meanwhile, views the X2 as a boutique chip.
"Our desktop dual-core AMD Athlon 64 X2 products are priced based on performance," said Cathy Abbinanti, an AMD spokeswoman, when asked for comment on the pricing discrepancy. "Based on the performance benchmark information in recent third-party reviews of the competition's dual-core desktop product, we believe our lowest performing AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual-core processor will outperform Intel's highest performing dual-core part."
That's true, according to ExtremeTech tests. However, it may end up being a moot point.
"So while Intel is losing in the performance game, it may very well win in the perceived value side of the equation," analyst Loyd Case wrote in his review. "We're likely to see a host of relatively low-cost dual-core systems shipping in the near future. We'll have to see what AMD's response will be."
Intel SLAPS AMD in the face! Pentium D half price!!!!
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YARDofSTUF
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might be a good time to invest in intel stock.
beyond this, there is still a TINY chance that apple MIGHT pick up intel. That'd be an enormous boost to the stock as well.
Plus:
Forward P/E (1 yr): 18.38
pretty good stats for a company that isn't going away anytime soon.
beyond this, there is still a TINY chance that apple MIGHT pick up intel. That'd be an enormous boost to the stock as well.
Plus:
Forward P/E (1 yr): 18.38
pretty good stats for a company that isn't going away anytime soon.
Strap It On Whenever It Seems Appropriate
tomsclan.com
tomsclan.com
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YARDofSTUF
- Posts: 70006
- Joined: Sat Nov 11, 2000 12:00 am
- Location: USA
