Why the price difference?

[Tohst]

Can someone plz explain to me why this cpu:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103846

is $20 more expensive than this cpu:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103873

when they are both dual core 3.2GHZ processors?

 

[Supernova1138]

Clock speed is not the only factor in determining how fast a CPU is. The architecture used, and the memory cache on the CPU will also affect speed. The Phenom II is a faster architecture than the Athlon II, the Phenom II also has a larger memory cache than the Athlon II, hence the price difference. While they're both clocked at 3.2GHZ, the Phenom II is faster than the Athlon II.

 

[Tohst]

architecture meaning...?

 

[walterm]

The Athlon II X2 260 is the "Regor " core without the L3 Cache of the Phenom II X2 "DENEB" core.
The Regor starts life and remains a dual core processor. For some, perhaps many applications there is not much difference.
The Callisto starts out as a four core "DENEB" core, and with or without cause, depending on demand, these are locked into dual cores. Further the Black Editions offer more overclocking potential than a "normal" CPU.
Deneb CPU chips that fail quality testing have the "non-passing" cores "locked". These may be junk or work fine, standards are high.
When they run batches of chips they anticipate demand. When "too many " good chips are manufactured and there are not enough "damaged" chips to meet demand good chips are locked down to meet needs.
Depending who you listen to, odds may be 50/50 if your motherboard supports unlocking you may have purchased a Quad core CPU for the price of a DUO. Do you feel lucky?
Normally "Black Editions" over clock higher stablely than non blacks.
Traditionaly the Phenom IIs got a much better heat sink than the Athlon IIs. I have heard this is less so than it was.
Doesn't matter if you intent to use an aftermarket cooler.
For overclocking or unlocking its a very good idea.

 

[walterm]

Architecture describes the way computer chips are designed internally. When they design a chip the structure, its size, and how it talks to its parts inside and out all matter,
Memory is perhaps the hardest part of the inside of a CPU to "shrink", so is always at a premium.
With every new architecture a manufacturer is betting it can produce worthwhile yields of of chip that work better than competitors chips.
Look at the transister counts in a cpu. These are the easiest part.