PC buyers awaiting cheaper 3.2GHz Pentium 4 machines rather than splashing out after the chip"s launch on 23 June will have to hold off until late October. Intel is not planning to cut the cost of the chip before 26 October, according to Xbit Labs.
On that date, the 3.2GHz P4, which operates with a 200MHz frontside bus quad-pumped for an effective bus speed of 800MHz, will fall to $417, a reduction of 34.5 per cent. Other 800MHz FSB P4 prices will fall too, with the price of the 3GHz chip being reduced from $417 to $278 (a fall of 33.4 per cent), the 2.8GHz version falling from $278 to $218 (down 21.6 per cent) and the 2.6GHz part coming down to $178 from $218 (down 18.3 per cent). The 2.4GHz chip will stay where it is, at $178.
The 533MHz FSB 3.06GHz P4 will fall from $401 to $262, a dip of 34.7 per cent. The 2.8GHz version will fall to $193 from $262 (down 26.3 per cent) and the 2.66GHz release will be priced at $163, down 15.5 per cent from $193. The 2.53GHz P4 will also fall from $193 to $163.