The world’s second largest manufacturer of x86 central processing units (CPUs) – Advanced Micro Devices – has reduced pricing on a number of its desktop chips. While the price reduction is not really significant, it still improves competitive positions of the company and may catalyze some users to acquire new computers or processors.

The price slash concerns numerous dual-core AMD Athlon 64 X2 models, including 3800+, 4000+, 4200+, 4400+, 4600+, 4800+, 5000+ and 5200+, single-core AMD Athlon 64 3800+, as well as two AMD Sempron models 3200+ and 3000+. The reduction varies from 5% to 27% and as a result of the cost cut volume customers will be able to buy AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ for $295 (instead of $403) and AMD Sempron 3000+ for $41 (instead of $56).

The latest price reduction does not make AMD’s leading edge desktop microprocessors, such as AMD Athlon 64 X2 5600+ and 5800+ more affordable to end-users: they are still sold for $505 and $485.

AMD’s premium-series Athlon 64 FX processors for the Quad FX platform are also sold for their pricing of $999, $799. $599 a pair for the FX-74, FX-72 and FX-70, respectively.

AMD typically does not release any statements concerning price decreases.