Sandy Bridge Celerons on the way

[Zap]

Fudzilla reports that Sandy Bridge Celerons are on the way. I say it is about time, since Intel skipped socket 1156. This means we will soon have top-to-bottom socket 1155 CPUs, and you can build something cheap and still have the opportunity to upgrade to something nice.

The bottom end is a sad single core, but there's a dual core which should sell in the mid $40 range. We're talking about a 2.4GHz Sandy Bridge dual core sans HT and with 2MB cache versus the 3MB cache of the Core i3. I say that would make for a really nice $45-ish CPU for a basic system.

 

[ShadowVVL]

So will it have a IGP or is that unknown atm?

 

[dma0991]

I don't even know what a single core could do these days. I have an old single core rig around and it is horrible to use or at least it doesn't perform at a satisfactory level that I come to expect from using my other dual core.

Most probably it is Intel's way of disposing rejects.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

The sad thing is (presumably) no OCing. I would love another E5200.

 

[podspi]

Actually, a single-core SB, assuming it was clocked decently, wouldn't be THAT bad for a basic browsing machine. I still use single-core machines all the time...

Also, if the dual-core is going to be in the mid $40s, what is the single-core Celly w/ IGP going to sell for? $20 bucks?

 

[Zap]

The sad thing is (presumably) no OCing.

The good thing is a $45 CPU that barely sips power while providing more performance than any stock clocked Athlon II x2/Core 2 Duo, plus provides an upgrade path all the way up to a Core i7.

Also, if the dual-core is going to be in the mid $40s, what is the single-core Celly w/ IGP going to sell for? $20 bucks?

The sad thing is... about $5 less.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

The good thing is a $45 CPU that barely sips power while providing more performance than any stock clocked Athlon II x2/Core 2 Duo, plus provides an upgrade path all the way up to a Core i7.

Wasn't arguing that it is a bad value at $45. Was just being greedy

 

[Red Dawn]

So they are releasing them in September to compete head to head with the Bulldozer??

I'm kidding

Combine one of those with a cheap H67 motherboard for a very inexpensive Home Server.

 

[betasub]

Also, if the dual-core is going to be in the mid $40s, what is the single-core Celly w/ IGP going to sell for? $20 bucks?

Surely not. Production costs aren't half that of the dual-core, & Intel doesn't need to hit such a low price point. I'd expect it to be only slightly less than Intel's cheapest dual-core, while the difference in price still being enough to tempt big OEM orders.

 

[jiffylube1024]

The good thing is a $45 CPU that barely sips power while providing more performance than any stock clocked Athlon II x2/Core 2 Duo, plus provides an upgrade path all the way up to a Core i7.



The sad thing is... about $5 less.

If it's only 2.4 GHz, it will probably only match a 3.0-3.2 GHz Athlon II. Nice for a $40-50 CPU, but nothing special. A 2.8-3.2 GHz SB Celeron would be an unbelievable value chip.

 

[Zap]

Wasn't arguing that it is a bad value at $45. Was just being greedy

Well, let's hope Intel makes the rumored 2120K, and that Micro Center offers it at a good price.

Combine one of those with a cheap H67 motherboard for a very inexpensive Home Server.

Combine with a cheap H61 motherboard for a super cheap super efficient setup.

If it's only 2.4 GHz, it will probably only match a 3.0-3.2 GHz Athlon II. Nice for a $40-50 CPU, but nothing special.

Isn't that where Athlon II maxes out stock? Also, the Celeron would use a lot less power to get that performance, plus the HD 2000 IGP (if that's what it comes with) is very competitive with the best AMD chipset IGP plus the power draw would be even less due to the Northbridge being integrated into the Celeron.

Of course that all possibly changes with Llano. I'm finding myself looking forward to Llano's release. Let's hope that AMD is able to keep power usage down like they have with Zacate, and of course keep the price competitive.

 

[Kenmitch]

A celeron K would be fun/cheap to burn up....Hmm maybe someday

 

[Zap]

A celeron K would be fun/cheap to burn up....Hmm maybe someday

Oh HELL yes! I'd pay $60 for a dual core Sandy Bridge CPU with no HyperThreading, 2MB cache and unlocked multiplier. In a heartbeat! After abusing it to my satisfaction, it can go into an upgrade for some relative, take up HTPC duties or power a home server.

 

[nanaki333]

seems kind of silly to me. they have the new pentiums out already for like $75 and falling. unless these are going to fill the $30-$40 range.

 

[gevorg]

The G440 seems such a waste since for just $5 more you can "double" the speed with G530. Gotta be on extremely thin margins to consider using G440.

 

[RobertPters77]

40$ Single Core Celerons better have HT.

 

[Arkadrel]

These CPUs if priced like that, will give the APUs a run for the money,... even with the ability to Hybrid crossfire (simply because of the price of the cpu's).

Singel cores thought? really?
Dual core + Hyperthreading and it ll be a major hit.

 

[Gigantopithecus]

Well, if the SB Pentiums don't have HT, I seriously doubt the SB Celerons will.

Not sure what the point of these is other than to staunch hemorrhaging due to the Llano and Zacate APUs. These SB Celerons will likely perform CPU-wise better than Zacate but worse than Llano, and the IGP will be shit compared to either. They strike me as nothing more than OEM bottom barrel system parts.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Not sure what the point of these is other than to staunch hemorrhaging due to the Llano and Zacate APUs. These SB Celerons will likely perform CPU-wise better than Zacate but worse than Llano, and the IGP will be shit compared to either. They strike me as nothing more than OEM bottom barrel system parts.

This. Intel is serious (paranoid), and they don't want to cede the low-end to AMD, clearly. Although, I wonder if the existance of these cheaper chips will drive down Intel's ASPs at all.

 

[nonameo]

This. Intel is serious (paranoid), and they don't want to cede the low-end to AMD, clearly. Although, I wonder if the existance of these cheaper chips will drive down Intel's ASPs at all.

Intel has nothing to be paranoid about. worst case scenario, AMD produces to capacity and intel still has a healthy majority of the market.

 

[nyker96]

I think there's plenty cheap cpu at sub 100 range, sandy celeron probably will not change too much of that, amd has a ton of x2 x3 x4s in that price range and all can be OCed. I think a non-ocable celeron might be good news for OEMs that build cheap machines. but even that like I said amd got plenty of this market covered, over covered I'd say.

 

[Blastman]

Ugh, … it's too bad SB is locked down for "FSB" overclocking.

That $42 G530 -- 2 cores, 2.4Ghz, 2 MB L3 processor overclocked to 4.5GHz might just have been a low budget scrape the bottom of the barrel screamer.

We need a G530K for $5 more. Someone put in a request to Intel.

 

[dbcooper1]

Ugh, … it's too bad SB is locked down for "FSB" overclocking.

That $42 G530 -- 2 cores, 2.4Ghz, 2 MB L3 processor overclocked to 4.5GHz might just have been a low budget scrape the bottom of the barrel screamer.

We need a G530K for $5 more. Someone put in a request to Intel.

Or even $10 more

 

[Zap]

This. Intel is serious (paranoid), and they don't want to cede the low-end to AMD, clearly. Although, I wonder if the existance of these cheaper chips will drive down Intel's ASPs at all.

Intel is just replacing the older socket 775 Celerons with better performance and lower power draw Sandy Bridge parts. It isn't a new price bracket for them.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Intel is just replacing the older socket 775 Celerons with better performance and lower power draw Sandy Bridge parts. It isn't a new price bracket for them.

Does this mean that Intel is finally showing Socket 775 the door? I think it does.