Intel plans to introduce one “new” 45nm Quad-core branded as Q9645, and this “sounds familiar” chip will work at 3.0GHz and has 12MB cache. This is the same chip as QX9650 that we reviewed more than half year ago, but without unlock multiplier. Once Intel introduced it, it will price it at a $525 wholesale price.

This introduction, scheduled for Q3, will drop the Q9550 price from its current $525 to $317. For those who don’t know, Core 2 Quad Q9550 works at 2.83GHz and has 12MB cache.

Core 2 Quad Q9450 with 2.66GHz clock and 12MB memory will stay at current $317 and Q9400 with 2.66GHz clock and 6MB cache will stay at current $268. Q9300 2.5GHz clocked CPU with 6MB cache will also sell for $268 and so will 65nm Q6700 clocked at 2.66GHz with 8MB cache.

Three CPUs will share the same price, but they will have different clocks, which doesn’t make much sense; but obviously, Intel will play the availability game with these CPUs as there will probably be shortages of some of the three. They will simply force you to buy one of them at a very similar price.

The last to slightly drop its price is the world’s most famous quad-core 65nm Q6600, and this 2.4GHz veteran with 8MB cache will drop from $219 to $209.

The Core 2 Extreme QX series won’t change its prices, but they will stick to the current ones, at least for now.