SLCentral Forum - Hmm...maybe the P4 is worth it now?

08-07-01, 07:47 AM

Dave

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Hmm...maybe the P4 is worth it now?

According to ZDNET:

Quote:

Intel is hatching a plan to regain market share from AMD sparking a price war that will hurt earnings. The plans are to cut prices by 50 percent on its high-end Pentium 4 chip. The chip giant will cut the price on its 1.8GHz Pentium 4 from $562 to $260. And if that cut doesn't work, there could be "an additional 10 percent to 25 percent price cut on Oct. 28.". Intel will make its move Aug. 26.

This means prices on the actual processor will be very comparable to AMD. I believe this is also when Intel will release Northwood.

What are your opinions? Would you buy one over an Athlon at that price?

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08-07-01, 10:43 AM

Paul

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You realize that we're too lazy to find the prices of the top-of-the-line athlons, right? Do the work for us, and then we might do some thinking, if all the information were in the same place

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08-07-01, 05:35 PM

Tom

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well I think it'll get a few more people who wanted the P4 but couldn't afford it... and pave the way for the new chip... As for winning the battle with AMD... well the people that have already gone the AMD route are probably gonna stick to that, but those that are undecided may very well turn to the P4 if it's affordable... and when the P4 supports SDRAM and DDR, well probably more will go that route just to get a P4 now and use their existing RAM and wait until RAMBUS gets cheaper...

08-07-01, 05:45 PM

Paul

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While they're dropping prices, and while the price of RDRAM has also come down, they're no longer bundling RDRAM with the CPU, so I think it won't have QUITE the same impact that it would otherwise have, especially in the DIY market (which is admittedly small).

I think it'll have a bigger impact upon systems integrators, which simply has a larger market. AMD typically "got more" of the DIY market, simply because they're the more knowledgeable users, and tended to be willing to "take a risk." So by default, the lowered price, but lack of RDRAM bundling means that the bigger part of the market will soak up some more P4's.

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08-07-01, 06:32 PM

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You gotta remember 90% of the public aren't computer freaks like us that will upgrade our pc the moment a processor prices are slashed.

Now laypeople will always trust the Intel name and go for the "brand name". I myself own an AMD and my view on buying a p4 and waiting until rambus gets cheaper? no way. By the time I go out and buy rambus, I'll want another processor w/ a higher clock setting. Just looking at Intel, the way they can slash prices like that, now are we just paying for the name or what?

08-07-01, 07:02 PM

Paul

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Quote:

You gotta remember 90% of the public aren't computer freaks like us that will upgrade our pc the moment a processor prices are slashed.

So true! But the costs of Intel based systems will come down much closer to the prices of AMD based systems, and the price-wars will heat up....

08-08-01, 08:54 AM

Paul

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Well, I've thought about it, and I'm not getting a current big willy. If I had the money (note: big if

), I'd entertain the possibility of a P4. I think a huge price-drop like that simply brings Intel back into the equation (for me), but it doesn't mean I'd switch camps.

08-11-01, 10:34 PM

esr

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Sounds good

I was planning on building a 1 GHz PIII system at the end of the month, now I'm looking to do PIV, I would love the added FSB for all the appz I use. I should notice the difference from 800 MHz to 1.8 GHz.

-esr

08-11-01, 11:21 PM

Tom

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yea the upcoming price cuts should be good... the upgrade from your current system to a PIV is still probably gonna cost you... I'm assuming you're getting a Chip, HSF, Memory, new motherboard, new case and power supply.

This as opposed to just getting a 1 GHz PIII and swapping it with your 800, assuming the mobo supports up to 1 ghz, which is should.... of course, your performance will be more improved with the PIV setup, but it depends on your appz if it's worth it...

#10

08-12-01, 06:39 AM

jonnyGURU

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Given that with equally clocked CPUs, Athlons bench faster, and at the same price, even with the price drop, AMD gives you higher clock speed CPUs, the price of RIMMs today and how much a Brookdale with SDRAM **CRIPPLES** the P4, I don't think I'm buying anything P4 until I can assess the Northwood with DDR.

Then we can talk.

I think I feel another rant coming.

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