Value

Both the Pentium 4-2.2 and 2.0A processors are already on the street with verifiable retail prices. The Pentium 4 2.0A sits at approximately $400, with virtually no price difference to the current Pentium 4-2.0 GHz 478-pin model, and it is actually less expensive than the 423-pin CPU. This means there is really no reason to even contemplate the older models if 2 GHz is in your future.

The Pentium 4-2.2 GHz is a bit different story and this processor continues the Intel tradition of ultra-high prices at the top-end. Current retail brings bring this CPU in at around $650, making it the most expensive desktop CPU on the market. If having the fastest rig on the block is important, then you'll have to swallow the high price, but the Pentium 4-2.0A looks like a better bang for the buck at this time. Athlon XP prices are lower than a comparable Pentium 4, with the XP 2000+ having an estimated retail price of $335 and the XP 1900+ checking in at $230.

Final Comments

The Pentium 4-2.2 and 2.0A are two very impressive processor releases from Intel, and when teamed with a high-performance platform like the i850, can surpass the Athlon XP 2000+ in many areas. These new Pentium 4 CPUs also run extremely cool, have a lower voltage requirement and are better suited for quieter, cooler and more efficient overall system designs. What may be far more important are the inherent benefits of the new 0.13-micron Northwood core, as Intel now has a lower-cost production model and a much higher ceiling for future clock speed increases.

Pros:

• 512K Cache and 0.13-micron
• Easy Upgradeability for RDRAM, DDR or SDRAM systems
• Cool running CPU

• Pentium 4-2.2 GHz is expensive
• Lower Relative Performance on DDR