Intel price drops

They're at it again. Saw on /. that Intel is slashing the prices on their line of processors. They wouldn't be scared of AMD's Athlon would they? (sarcasm). The new prices are as follows:

The 550-MHz Pentium III will drop 10 percent from $723 to $646 while the 500-MHz version of the chip will go from $473 to $415. The 450-MHz Pentium III, meanwhile, will drop from $263 to $226. These are volume prices for wholesale purchases.

Retail prices will vary depending on supply, the time of the month, and other factors. Some retailers, for instance, are currently selling versions of the Pentium III at lower prices than the "official" wholesale price. Prices also vary slightly depending upon the chip packaging.

The 500-MHz version of Athlon currently sells for $324 while the 550-MHz and 600-MHz versions sell for, respectively, $479 and $699. Tight supply of Athlons, however, is creating something of a high ceiling price for the chip. Retailers are offering the 600-MHz version for $950, where available, while the 550-MHz and 500-MHz versions are being advertised for $720 and $488.