14 DAY TRIAL // Some may be aware that both Intel and Advanced Micro Devices will soon launch new generations of processors and, seemingly in anticipation of this, the latter appears to have slashed the prices of its existing chips, though the quad-core AMD Athlon II X4 still doesn't look ready to drop under $100.
Intel will soon launch the Sandy Bridge line of CPU and AMD will have the Fusion APUs ready to take them on at around the same time.
Still, there are some months left until this new competition is expected to start, and both need to consider their options as to how to gain more market share.
AMD just slashed its desktop CPU prices, but the cut is not as massive as one might expect, hinting at the likelihood that the chip maker is still confident in its product lineup for the back-to-school (BTS) season.
The price reduction is not exactly massive. To be more specific, the outfit dropped pricing by $3 to $22, for customers that buy at least 1,000 chips at once that is.
One of the more noteworthy examples is the AMD Phenom II X4 965 quad-core CPU, which is now available for $165.
Those in need of a reminder will be interested in knowing that this is the Sunnyvale, California-based IT player's mightiest Phenom quad-core unit and even has an unlocked multiplier, for overclocking purposes.
On the other hand, AMD Athlon II X4 models (Athlon II X4 630, Athlon II X4 635 and Athlon II X4 640) did not drop under $99.
It will be interesting to see how the company fares during this supposedly promising BTS season and whether or not Intel decides to answer this move with price cuts of its own.
Nevertheless, the true competition between the two Arch-rivals, if it will even spark, will only commence once their new technologies start shipping, namely in late 2010/early 2011.