Intel's quick pace in advancing desktop CPUs continues, with recent announcements that many Core 2 processors will be discontinued soon. That includes several quad core and dual core processors, including some Extreme Edition processors. The quad core CPUs saying goodbye to their days of manufacture include the QX6800, QX6850, QX9770, and QX9650.
Even more dual core units are being discontinued, including some non-core products like the Pentium E2180, E2160 and the Celeron E1200. The units will still be available until towards the end of the year, but most retailers will be shuffling stock to newer model CPUs including 45nm parts.
The shelf-life for processors these days is pretty short. Most of the above mentioned quad-core units were originally released from just over a year ago to a year and a half ago.