Intel re-jigs chip prices

Intel has cut the prices of some of its desktop and server chips ahead of the official launch of its Nehalem server line.

On the server side two of Intel's Xeon line, the X3220 (2.4GHz) and the X3210 (2.13GHz), have been cut from $US198 to $US188 per thousand, a reduction of five per cent.

The Core 2 Quad Q8200 (2.33GHz) is down 14 per cent from $US224 to $US193 and the Core 2 Quad Q6600 chip (2.4GHz) has been cut five per cent from $US193 to $US183. The Core 2 Duo E7300 processor (2.66GH) slims down 15 per cent from $US133 to $US113.

On the desktop front, older dual-core Pentia have also been reduced. The E2200 (2.4GHz) chip is down 12 per cent from $US84 to $US74, and the E2200 chip (2.2GHz) has been reduced by 14 per cent from $US74 to $US64.

It's looking like the imminent Nehalem release is going to be a good thing across the board for enthusiasts, whether you're excited by the pants-wetting speed of Nehalem (trust us -ed), or simply looking for other CPU prices to drop. And speaking of Nehalem, we look forward to bringing you more news on that front around November 4, when the NDA drops on what is one of the sexiest processors we've ever seen.

Watch this space.