Intel sharpens knife for Dothan price cuts

By Alun Williams

Posted on 15 Oct 2004 at 12:03

Intel is expected to cut prices for its Dothan-based Pentium M processors this weekend, the chips that power Centrino-branded notebooks.

Four Pentium M models are involved in the cut, according to sources at Taiwan notebook builders: the 755 (2.0GHz), 745 (1.8GHz), 735 (1.7GHz) and 725 (1.6GHz), which will have their respective prices cut 33.6 per cent, 30.5 per cent, 18.0 per cent and 13.3 per cent, respectively.

The original Digitimes report, which we carried back in September, also suggested that such price cuts may indicate a further delay for the launch of the next-gen Centrino platform, Sonoma (featuring the Dothan processor core and the Alviso chipset). Currently it is expected to appear in the first quarter of 2005, having slipped from September 2004.

Generally, Digitimes' sources noted, Intel follows the practice of launching new CPUs approximately six months after cutting prices on the previous models.

As always, Intel's pricing refers to direct orders of 1,000 units.