Moving to new manufacturing processes can really pay off for CPU vendors:
Earlier this week Intel lifted the non-disclosure agreement on the details (except for price) of its upcoming Core 2 Extreme QX9650 CPU, the first 45nm updated Core 2 architecture CPU. Reviewers are finding that in addition to a slight speed increase over existing quad-core Core 2 chips, the new chip is cooler, consumes less power and has more overclocking potential.
In the same week NVIDIA released its new GeForce 8800 GT GPU with a dramatically lower price and in most cases more speed than the year old 90nm based GeForce 8800 GTS. Priced at $200 to $250 the 65nm part out performs the more expensive $300 to $370 GeForce 8800 GTS cards because of a higher core and memory clock and more stream processors. Again the 45nm process leads to cooler chips than consume less power.
Finally it was revealed that Sony will be joining Microsoft in using 65nm CPUs in its game consoles when the 40 GB Playstation 3 due in the US in November uses a 65nm Cell chip. Like with the newer 65nm based Xbox 360 this will lower manufacturing costs and make the systems run cooler.