For the past decade the CPU market has been fragmenting: raw processing power, medium power, low power etc., and now the PC itself is too. At onset the PC was the swiss army knife for data, now there is the laptop, smartphone or tablet to consider when the oft used application is best suited to that form factor, and portability.
The bottom line to all of us, is that CPU prices has not dropped as it used to be in the heydey of PCs. My quad core q8200 CPU has actually appreciated to $160+ since I bought it, and while discontinued by Intel is still sold; my PC has actually appreciated in value, I paid $3400 for it, it was such a steal I bought 2 back in 2007 2010; an equivalent PC today cost > $600 each using a similarly capable CPU.
I suggest if you are a power user: CAD/CAM, simulation, graphics, multimedia editing particularly video, you either own today or should get a capable desktop now as prices will only continue to rise as the tablet and laptop market continue to erode the PC market share, so few deals will be had from hereon in.