when did I say a 2.4ghz Nehalem will be $1000? I was implying that, assuming overclocking flexibility is gone in the mainstream version, a Nehalem with comparable performance to a oveclocked $300 Penryn (say 3.6ghz) will be much more expensive since you will have to buy the actual ghz you are shooting for.
Here is a roadmap I saw recently, http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/2...gai403_03l.gif. The first Nehalem parts it shows are socket 1336 versions @ 3.2ghz and 3.0ghz, and if you look to the right at the price axis, they fall in the $800-1000 range. The mainstream parts don't show up until Q2 09, and they start with a 2.4ghz part in the $200-400 range. Assuming they don't OC and are 30% faster than Penyn clock for clock (generous assumption for the sake of argument), that still only makes the 2.4 Nehalem equivalent to a 3.2ghz Penryn which you can have right now for $300. Most of us here aren't memory bandwidth limited anyway (Nvidia wake the F up plz) so the IMC might not be enough of a reason to switch over if overclocking is bad.
Many people here OC to set records or to Fold, WCG, etc... They could probably use the memory bandwidth and SMT even if the chip doesn't overclock well. I do it to play games and save money. If the price/performance isn't there on Nehalem then it makes no sense for me to buy one. But if there is still room to OC despite the IMC, QPI, and PCIe on die then I'll be very happy.
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