I have to say, I'm kind of surprised to see SMT being so widespread in Intel's offerings. I was expecting them to limit it to the high-end enthusiast and server chips; it's particularly unexpected in the cut-down parts with just the dual memory channels (SMT is an obvious technique to increase utilization of the functional units in a wide design like Core, but only if it doesn't end up being bottlenecked by the path to memory -- which suggests they must be pretty happy with the performance of Nehalem's IMC). Disabling SMT is exactly the kind of artificial product differentiation that Intel has used in the past to drive customers to higher price points. So this looks to me like a high-level strategic decision, presumably to encourage the software infrastructure to assume >2 cores will be pervasive. Since Intel has made it clear that n-core is the direction they're headed (unless they can come up with some better use of the embarrassment of transistors Moore keeps handing them) I suppose that makes sense ...even if it means they're leaving some money on the table by not upselling on individual processors.

Plus it's a competitive feature check box that AMD can't match.

Why the hell a 3.0ghz quad core (Q9650) will cost $530 while a 3.0ghz dual core(E8400) cost $190? Fucking Intel bs
Q9550 2.83ghz cost $550 at the moment.
F that, my next cpu will be an AMD one.

Bo******s! What's the point of buying a dual-channel Nehalem?

Intel is trying to squeeze us dry. I'm not going to fall for it. I'll wait until a triple-channel Nehalems are selling for a reasonable price (and only then make the jump to DDR3, as it's going to be worth it)