How could 2.4 GHz be half the price of 2.33 GHz?

The price of 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo is around US$ 322 http://shop.resellerratings.com/sf-1/pid-41854881/MD-0

The price of older 2.33 GHz Core 2 Duo is around $640
http://shop.resellerratings.com/SF-6/BEFID-1719/keyword-t7600/MD-0

How come the price of newer and faster CPU from similar family costs half?

 

because they want to get the new stuff out, and the slower one is probably older, which means more money made for replaced cpu's.

 

The newer Core 2's have also been 'victim' to price cuts

Those price cuts didn't hit the older Core 2's because they were 'discontinued' when Santa Rosa came out.

Also, please be aware: the 2.33 and 2.4GHz model mobile processors do not use the same chipset. If a notebook takes one of them, it will not take the other...and vise versa.

 

OK, when can I expect the future price of 2.33 GHz to match the price of current 2.4 GHz?

 

I don't think it will drop unless it is on clearence and out of production. Basically the 2.33 is top of the line for the chipset you have. The only way a price drop will occur is a faster processor is made to supercede it for that chipset.

Since they are not advancing cpu in that chipset anymore, nothing going to be faster. So basically the price is frozen as it is, until put on clearence by the vendor. And it takes years for it to get on clearence.

They know that they can charge whatever they want for the chip because they know unless you get a new laptop, you have to buy the cpu at that price if you want to upgrade.

http://www.superwarehouse.com/Intel_Pentium_M_770_2.13_GHZ_Processor/BX80536GE2133FJ/p/1483445

http://www.monstronix.com/bx80537t7500-p-341476.html

http://www.monstronix.com/bx80536ge2133fj-p-118367.html

And the processor you desire.
http://www.monstronix.com/bx80537t7600-p-235471.html

This chip is close to 3 years old and look at the price. I bought it at that price 2 years ago. The only cheap source you will find soonest is ebay.

 

the ghz does not always tell the full picture. there may be additional features involved, especially if it is considered a significant update in intel product roadmap.

 

In this case, however, the new features are all with the newer T7700 (2.4 GHz). But yes, in some cases GHz is only half the picture.

 

Right - Intel has certain pricing slots - the T7600 happens to be the highest-end Core 2 Duo for the older platform for all intents and purposes (unless you want to count the rare T7600G) and therefore occupies the highest pricing slot. The T7700 on the other hand is not the top-of-the-line chip; it is second to the T7800.