Intel pruned its processor prices earlier this week, as anticipated. The cuts include knocking 38 per cent off the price of the Core 2 Quad and up to 40 per cent off Core 2 Duo CPUs.

Intel also reduced what it charges for its remaining Pentium D chips - remember them? - by as much as 37 per cent.

The price cuts centred on the chip giant's desktop products - mobile Core 2 Duo prices remained unchanged, for example, though a couple of Celeron Ms are now cheaper to buy than they were last week.

But don't forget the mobile Core 2 Duo line is due for a major revamp early next month when Intel debuts 'Santa Rosa', the next generation of its Centrino platform.