Clone manufacturer Cyrix claimed today that Intel was engaged in a cynical exercise to dump Slot One Celerons in the run-up to the introduction of its 370 pin platform next month. Alain Tiquet, European strategic sales manager at NatSemi-Cyrix, said: "The [Slot One] Celeron has not been successful and Intel is having to dump parts. It doesn't have any strategy at the lower end. Intel has to find a way to dump this product before it's really too late." He added: "It's sad to see then dumping Slot One when in three or four week's time they're introducing the 370-pin platform. They're just cleaning their inventory up." But Intel has refuted the accusation. A representative said that while it was possible the distribution channel was reducing prices, Intel had no price changes in the offing. Tiquet also hit out at NEC Direct, which yesterday introduced a sub-£500 part and said that customers were rejecting non-Intel parts. He said: "We are working to provide a solution in the commercial market." Meanwhile, sources claimed that despite its public stance, NEC Direct is secretly evaluating non-Intel parts. ® Related Stories Red faces all round in NEC-PB Intel chip fiasco Motherboard manufacturers, channel angry at lack of 370-pin parts Cyrix claims massive leap in corporate perception