More AMD Athlon prices leak out

AMD is preparing a further stage in its continuing battle to set the pace on prices, rather than follow in Intel's wake. As we reported here last week, the company will slash the price of its Athlon chips next Sunday in a bid to stymie Intel's introduction of .18 micron (Goldmine) mobile, desktop and Xeon workstation and server chips. Yesterday we reported that Intel is likely to introduce a 800MHz Coppermine chip, possibly with the rest of its range next week, but in any case not long after that date. According to reports, the 700MHz Athlon will drop to $664, which is no good. As we reported, $666 is a far better number. The 650 Athlon will fall to $510, the 600MHz part to just over $400, the 550MHz part to $270 and the 500MHz Athlon to $200. AMD is also expected to introduce a 750MHz Athlon processor -- if not next week then shortly afterwards. This, as we have pointed out, is very good news for consumers in the run up to Yule, but intensifies the pricing battle between the two chip adversaries. In such a battle, AMD is far more vulnerable than Intel. Intel will cut Celeron prices again on the 7th of November and Pentium III prices on the 12th of December, as reported here. ® See also Athlon 700 prices to crash: AMD, Intel war escalates Major Intel roadmaps ahead: keep left Intel's Cashcades to cash in on cache inside 1GHz copper Athlon production starts next week