Both largest makers of microprocessors for personal computers today lowered their prices on this kind of products. Amid economical uncertainties, Intel and AMD are trying to offer more favourable pricing on mainstream models, at least, the reductions on those CPUs were the most aggressive. Meanwhile the prices on the high-end desktop chips from Santa Clara and Sunnyvale-based semiconductor makers are now almost equal.

Take a look at the table representing the new prices on desktop microprocessors from Intel and AMD:

Intel Pentium 4 vs Athlon XP Current Official Pricing
Intel CPU Model	Price	AMD CPU Model	Price
Pentium 4 3.06GHz	$589	Athlon XP 3000+ (Barton)	$588
Pentium 4 2.80GHz	$375	Athlon XP 2800+ (Barton/Thoroughred)	$375
Pentium 4 2.66GHz	$241	Athlon XP 2700+	$267
Pentium 4 2.60GHz	$241	Athlon XP 2600+	$241
Pentium 4 2.53GHz	$193	-	-
Pentium 4 2.50GHz	$193	Athlon XP 2500+ (Barton)	$239
Pentium 4 2.40GHz	$163	Athlon XP 2400+	$141
Pentium 4 2.26GHz	$163	-	-
Pentium 4 2.20GHz	$163	Athlon XP 2200+	$107
Intel Celeron vs Athlon XP Current Official Pricing
Celeron 2.20GHz	$103	Athlon XP 2200+	$107
Celeron 2.10GHz	$89	Athlon XP 2100+	$92
Celeron 2.0GHz	$83	Athlon XP 2000+	$81
Celeron 1.80GHz	$69	Athlon XP 1800+	$67
Celeron 1.70GHz	$54	Athlon XP 1700+	$54

Intel lowered the prices on the 2.66, 2.60, 2.53 and 2.50GHz CPUs by 21%, while the prices on 2.40, 2.26 and 2.20GHz models were slashed by 16%. We reported about today’s reduction back in late January (see this news-story), and our assumptions appeared to be totally correct in regards aggressive price reductions on the mainstream Pentium 4 processors. Next time Santa Clara-based company will reduce its prices will be in early April, when the 800MHz Quad Pumped Bus supporting chips are to be unveiled. Note that stimulated by the appearance of new CPUs, the prices on the high-end models will be reduced more tangibly.

AMD also appeared to be not less aggressive as Intel with its price reductions, keeping in mind the fact that no new processors were launched today. While the top Barton and Thoroughbred chips were not touched by the slashes, prices on the 2700+, 2600+, 2400+ and 2200+ models were cut by 23.5%, 19%, 27% and 32% respectively. Not bad, isn’t it? Surprisingly, AMD does not seem to sell its Athlon XP 2500+ CPU as it is absent in the official pricelist and its price was only reported once by an unofficial source, so, no guarantees on regards its accuracy.

Note that gap between prices on mainstream and high-end AMD processors and Intel processors in very small these days.