Intel Slashes Prices on Desktop CPUs

Santa Clara, California-based Intel has recently announced a new list of prices for its desktop processors, providing users with some more affordable price tags for its Core 2 generation of processors. The move, which was made just before the earnings announcement expected from Advanced Micro Devices on Tuesday, allows Intel to better position its previous-generation processors, as the company plans to update its CPU lineup with the introduction of the much-anticipated Lynnfield models.

According to Intel's recent CPU price change notification, the Core 2 Quad Q9400, running at 2.66GHz, was cut 14 percent to US$183 from US$213, while the Q8300, clocked at 2.5GHz, had its price cut by 11 percent to US$163 from US$183. The world's leading chip maker made most price adjustments to its line of Core 2 Quad processors, including the Q9300 and the Q8300, but the company also reduced the prices of its dual-core chips for low-end systems. According to the price change, the pricing of the Celeron E1500, which runs at 2.2GHz, was reduced by 19%, from US$53 to US$43, while the 2.93GHz Core 2 Duo E7500 will now be available for 15% less, at US$113, down from US$133.

It is to be noted that the company also made some adjustments to other processors, including a Xeon server CPU, the 2.66GHz X3330, which was cut 14 percent from US$219 to US$188. In addition, it looks likes these prices aren't directly available at online retailers, but are a guideline for consumers looking to upgrade their Intel CPU with an improved one.

The new Intel CPU prices are mainly justified by the company's plans to introduce new, higher-performance processors, coming to support the company's next-generation mainstream platform, the P55. Details about these processors have been made available throughout the Internet over the past recent weeks.