Intel Might Make Up For Ivy Bridge Delay By Lowering Prices

Intel has reportedly been planning to limit its shipments of “Ivy Bridge”, its third-generation Core processors, to ODMs. This is to help mitigate swelling inventories of current-generation “Sandy Bridge” Core processors. Only Select mobile models for use in ultrabooks and mainstream notebooks are expected to see delays into June, while performance desktop processors should remain unaffected, with their launch still on-course for April. On top of this Intel is now supposedly planning to lower its prices on Ivy Bridge chips by up to $70 apiece. The lower cost should help ease the transition from Sandy Bridge processors for ODMs without causing sticker-shock due to prices. The price drop itself should result in Ivy Bridge-powered notebooks being roughly the same price as current-generation Sandy Bridge-powered units at launch, while offering greater performance. This news should be taken with a grain of salt however, as Intel has not confirmed any pricing details as of yet. With that said should Intel still wish to see ultrabooks become 40% of all notebooks by 2013, lower prices will be needed to boost sales.