AMD has pruned the prices of its Opteron single- and dual-core product lines, knocking up to 47.1 per cent off what it charges for the workstation- and server-oriented processors. It also re-applied pricing to its 1xx and 1xxx lines, for so long listed without a public price.

The biggest cuts were made to the dual-core 2xx series, which saw member prices fall by between 33.9 per cent and 47.1 per cent. The 2xx HE line-up was similarly pruned. Single-core 2xx CPUs saw their prices fall by 19.3-28.2 per cent.

AMD reduced what it charges for the 22xx series by 18-35.5 per cent - 26.6-32.4 per cent for the 2xxx HE line. The 82xx series saw its members' prices cut by between 18.9 per cent and 29.6 per cent, with the 82xx HE chips' pricing cut by 22.9-26.9 per cent.

The dual-core 8xx CPUs are now 20.1-29.6 per cent less expensive, but their single-core siblings cost as much today as they did before, though two models, the 846 and 848, have been dropped from AMD's list, as was the 846 HE. Other 8xx HE single-core chips remain unchanged, but the dual-core 8xx HE line's pricing was reduced by 20.1-29.6 per cent.

Almost all of the reductions saw each CPU's price fall to that of the next lower-spec'd chip in the list. That suggests AMD is preparing to release new parts at the top of each range. Quad-cores anyone? ®