[evildede]

I'm surprised this hasn't gotten its own thread yet, but it has been announced everywhere that prices on Intel processors will go down this month on the 22. Some processors drop in price by half which is really crazy and could mean something to potential Mac Pro buyers I guess as this could mean Apple will lower the price or maybe change the configuration of the computer on its website. The news can be found here. But for those too lazy to click the link, here is the news:

While AMD AM2+ processors are due out in Q3, Intel announced another plan on price reduction just 3 months after the previous drop on April 22. With a remarkable cut at 50%, AMD is facing another harsh battle with Intel.

As reported before, Intel has had hinted a price drop in Q3, expecting a second price drop someday in August and September. However, the exact date turns out surprisingly on July 22 as the first hand information we have received. Undoubtedly, the move give certain impact on the sales of AMD processors. Not until the release of next-generation AM2+ processors, it’s hard for AMD to get profit from their existing products.

In the most updated plan, Intel Quad-Core Core 2 Quad Q6600 (2.4GHz/4MB L2 x2/1066MHzFSB) will be further cut to $266, a second drop within 4 months since its release on March with 68.7% accumulated price drop. For the original price segment of Core 2 Quad Q6600, now it will be replaced by a new model Quad Q6700 (2.66GHz/4MB L2 x2/1066MHzFSB), pricing at $530.

For the mainstream desktop processors, while Core 2 Duo E6000 family has no price update information at this moment, its relatives, Core 2 Duo 6050 family which features 1333MHz FSB releasing on July 22, has got a very impressive price advantage. The 3 models including E6550 (2.33GHz), E6750 (2.66GHz), and E6850 (3GHz) are only priced at $266, $183, and $163, around 40% cheaper than its 1066MHz version. Together with the new release of Bearlake featuring 1333MHz FSB, the both releases are expected to have great sales.

For the Value segment, Core 2 Duo E4500 will be a new release on July 22. Featuring 2.2GHz clock speed, 2MB L2 Cache and 800MHz FSB, its price is set at $133, while E4400 will further drop to $113.

[Simon]

This has already been discussed several times on this board.

However, it's important to note that none of the CPUs you mentioned are actually used by Apple. Macs currently use Merom T7x00, Woodcrest X51x0, or the X5365 Clovertown. And Intel hasn't announced that they will reduce the prices on these CPUs (yet). The T7700 and T7500 are rumored to drop in price by September though.

[mduell]

The Xeons (5100 and 5300) drop on July 29th; I think the desktop quads price drop may also be pushed back a week.
5300 (quad) series will drop to the same prices as the current 5100 (dual) series (about a $400 drop). The 5100s should also drop $200-300, but I haven't confirmed the prices for those yet.

[SierraDragon]

My guess is we will see new pricing concurrent with new MP towers, no later than the end of September. MP graphics and memory issues have been far below state-of-the-art for many months now. And as noted Intel's road map marches on.

-Allen Wicks

[Simon]

Originally Posted by SierraDragon 

My guess is we will see new pricing concurrent with new MP towers, no later than the end of September.

That sounds about right.

It's also interesting that the recently leaked X5450 quad-core Penryn Xeon at 3 GHz will be priced exactly the same as the dual-core X5160 3 GHz Woodcrest used in the MP now. So once the X54x0 Penryn Xeons arrive it should be no problem for Apple to move the MP to dual quads across the line. That would of course leave a lot of room for a cheaper quad-core "Yikes" MP.

[lkavaney]

do you think it'd be worth my while to wait a couple of months before purchasing my mac pro then? Im in no major hurry to get it as I can "make do" a bit longer and the prospect of getting more for my money by holding back a month or 2 is appealing for sure!!

[Suikolove]

Of course, just because the price of intel processors goes down, doesn't mean Apple is obligated to lower their prices.

[Simon]

Originally Posted by lkavaney 

do you think it'd be worth my while to wait a couple of months before purchasing my mac pro then? Im in no major hurry to get it as I can "make do" a bit longer and the prospect of getting more for my money by holding back a month or 2 is appealing for sure!!

As always, if you can wait you will likely get more for your money later. But OTOH waiting can also mean lost revenue depending on what business you're in. The MP is overdue for an update and BTO option changes. I'd expect to see that happen no later than September. If you can hold out that long is something only you know.

[Simon]

Originally Posted by Suikolove 

Of course, just because the price of intel processors goes down, doesn't mean Apple is obligated to lower their prices.

In principal that's true, but nevertheless it's likely. And even if prices stay exactly where they are now, you can expect the feature set to be improved significantly (octo cores, better graphics, etc.).

[Faust]

Originally Posted by Suikolove 

Of course, just because the price of intel processors goes down, doesn't mean Apple is obligated to lower their prices.

That's true. But it would be very very nice if they'd go down just a tiny bit. Just slightly.