Intel recently added two processors to its list of parts that are soon to be dicontinued forever.The models planned for retirement are the desktop 90nm 2.53 GHz Intel Celeron D 326 (256 KB L2 cache) and the tray version of the mobile 65nm 2.60 GHz Intel Core 2 Extreme X7800 (4 MB L2 cache). The Celeron 326 will be available for orders up until March 12, 2010 and ship till September 10, 2010. The mobile X7800 will be listed till June 19, 2009 and ship until February 19, 2010.

Intel made additions of three new chips to its mainstream thru value lineup of desktop processors. They include Core 2 Quad Q8300, Pentium Dual Core E5300 and Celeron Dual Core E1500.

The Core 2 Quad is based on the 45nm Yorkfield-4M core. It has an operating frequency of 2.50 GHz and a FSB configuration of (7.5 * 333 MHz) with an effective FSB of 1333 MHz. It has a total L2 cache of 4 MB. This chip will be priced at US $224 (1000 unit tray). Pentium Dual Core E5300, based on Wolfdale-2M sports 2 MB of L2 cache and a clock speed of 2.60 GHz (13.0 * 200 MHz) with an FSB of 800 MHz. It will be priced at $86, displacing the E5200. The Celeron series is now lead by E1500, clocked at 2.20 GHz and an L2 cache of 512 KB. This chip is based on the older 65nm Allendale core, and is priced at $53.

Intel launched three budget processors that include the Core 2 Quad Q8200, Core 2 Duo E5200 and Celeron D 450. The Q8200 quad-core chip comes with a clock-speed of 2.33 GHz. This processor is based on the newer 45 nm silicon fabrication process and comes with a total of 4 MB L2 cache. Owing to a front-side bus frequency of 1333 MHz, it comes with a FSB multiplier of 7x. This part is priced at US $224 in thousand-unit tray quantities.

The Core 2 Duo E5200 is clocked at 2.50 GHz, comes with 2 MB of L2 cache and 800 MHz FSB with a multiplier of 12.5x. It is priced at $84. This one is based on the 45nm process as well. The Celeron D 450 is clocked at 2.2 GHz with 800 MHz memory and features 512 KB of L2 cache. It is priced at $53 per piece. This however, is based on the older 65nm process.

Intel has sent a notification to system vendors that it has begun removing the Celeron D 331 and 336 models from its product portfolio. The two Celeron D processors are based on the 90nm Prescott core and Intel's Netburst architecture. The 331 (2.66GHz 256KB L2 Cache) and 336 (2.8GHz 256KB L2 Cache) are currently offered as the two cheapest processors in the firm's desktop processor portfolio. Both CPUs are selling for a tray price of $34 and $37 respectively. According to Intel's product change notification, the Celeron D 331 and 336 will be available for order until September 7 of this year, while the last shipment is scheduled for May 9, 2008.