Intel to prune Core Duo prices - report

Intel will cut its Core Duo processor prices on 28 May, an online report has claimed. If true, the move will knock up to 33.6 per cent off the price of the 65nm, dual-core notebook-oriented chips. It also paves the way for the anticipated arrival of the 2.33GHz T2700 next month.

According to DigiTimes, which cites sources from among Taiwan's motherboard-maker community, the 2.16GHz T2600 will become $214 cheaper, its price falling from today's $637 to $423, a drop of 33.6 per cent. The price of the 2GHz T2500 will fall 30.5 per cent, from $423 to $294, while the 1.83GHz T2400 will come down from $294 to $241, a reduction of 18 per cent.

Curiously, the current 1.66GHz T2300 will be replaced by the T2300E. It's not yet clear what the new model offers that the old one doesn't, but it will be priced at $209, the report claims, 13.3 per cent less than the $241 T2300.

Next week should also see the debut of the 1.83GHz Core Solo T1400, joining the existing 1.66GHz T1300. Both will be priced at $209.

Intel is also expected to ship the first 65nm Celeron D processors on 28 May. ®