The tried-and-true Core 2 Quad Q6600 processor now has a similarly cheap alternative from Intel that's based on a 45nm fab. The new Core 2 Quad Q8200 is the first of Intel's Q8000 series, running at 2.66GHz with 1,333MHz front-side bus and with only 4MB of L2 cache.

The Q8200'S L2 cache is currently the smallest offered in the Core 2 Quad family — compared to the 6MB, 8MB or 12MB found elsewhere in the line. It's priced at $224 in thousand-unit quantities, making it the second cheapest Core 2 Quad Intel offers next to the 65nm, 2.4GHz Q6600.

Chipzilla also released the Core 2 Duo E5200, the new entry-level to the Core 2 Duo line and also sporting a 45nm fab process. It offers a 2.5GHz clock, 800MHz front-side bus and 2MB of L2 cache. The chip is priced at a relatively cheap $84 in thousand-unit quantities. That's about 25 per cent less expensive than the cheapest chip in the 65nm E4000 line.

Finally, Intel added a slight speed boost to its Celeron D processors. The new 450 model offers 2.2GHz clock (compared with 2GHz in the 440), 800MHz front-side bus, and 512k L2 cache on a 65nm process. It's listed at $53 per in thousand-unit quantities. By the way, you may have thought Intel ditched the "D" moniker when Celeron went core, but apparently this isn't the case according to its listings.