Competition is good. Well, in the CPU world that is.
With Intel’s Core 2 Duo CPU officially released (although not widely available) and recent AMD price cuts, consumers have plenty of choices for new systems this year.
From a performance standpoint, we have a new winner in the CPU world: Intel’s Core 2 Duo. Gone are the days of the Pentium CPU and the NetBurst architecture. Intel’s Core architecture brings several new and improved technologies to the table, including 40% better performance relative to older Pentium D CPU’s and reduced energy consumption.
Intel’s low-end E6300 CPU ($240 CDN) bests AMD’s flagship CPU ($1000 CDN) in several benchmarks. Now, that’s what I call substantial improvement (and bang for your buck). The problem? Availability. Expect to wait until mid-to-late August before you get your hands on a Core 2 Duo CPU. Prices will range from $240 CDN to over $1200 CDN for Intel’s flagship Core 2 Duo CPU. If you’re building a new system, I’d definitely recommend waiting for general availability of the E6300 or E6400 ($290 CDN) Core 2 Duo CPU. From what I’ve seen and read, it will be worth the wait 
If you plan on maximizing your current computer investment, I’d recommend upgrading to an AMD X2 socket 939 CPU and motherboard. In doing so, you will be able to utilize your existing AGP video card and DDR memory. However, keep in mind that socket 939 CPU’s will be obsolete very soon (as indicated in an earlier blog post). Another good alternative would be the Asus P5P800 (AGP and DDR) motherboard and a Pentium D series LGA775 CPU.
If a new notebook purchase is on the horizon, it would be advisable to wait until the end of August. The reason being that most notebook manufacturers plan on releasing notebooks featuring the mobile version of the Core 2 Duo CPU shortly.