Intel launches three budget desktop processors

Chipmaker Intel has quietly released three new desktop processors, according to a Monday report. The new quad-core Q8200 and dual-core E5200 share a more modern 45 nanometer architecture, while the Celeron D 450 is made on the older 65nm topology. The new quad-core chip is meant as a true entry-level quad-core chip and runs at 2.33GHz with a simpler 4MB of L2 cache along with a 1,333MHz front system bus. The dual-core E5200 will trade the extra cores for a 2.5GHz processing speed, also halving its Level 2 cache to 2MB and reducing the system bus to 800MHz. The 65nm Celeron D 450 shares the same-speed bus but uses a 2.2GHz core frequency and just 512KB of L2 cache.

In bulk, 1,000-unit quantities, the chips will be priced at $224 for the Q8200, $84 for the E5200 and $53 for the 450. No word has been given of price cuts to faster models.