If you're looking to build an AMD powered system, you might want to hold out a short while. AMD today took the axe to its desktop processor price list, knocking up to almost 30 per cent off what it charges for its gaming, mainstream and budget CPUs, as expected. All mainstream processors are now priced well below the $200 mark: The fastest mainstream dual-core CPU Athlon X2 6000+ will be available for $178 (before: $241), according to the new list. The 5600+ drops from $188 to $157, the 5200+ from $178 to $136, the 5000+ from $167 to $125 and the 4800+ from $136 to $115.

The 4400+ and 4000+ are the new entry-level dual-core processors with prices of $94 ($121 before) and $73 ($104). The list indicates that the 3600+ and 3800+ have been phased out and are not available anymore. On the high-end, AMD drops the price for the FX-74 pair from $700 to $599. The FX-72 remains at $599. Single-core processors are affected by the price drop as well. The product portfolio now begins with the entry-level 3200+ model, which lists for $48 ($58 before) and tops out with the 4000+ which is priced at $79 ($94).

AMD's cuts come ahead of arch-rival Intel's next round of price reductions, expected to take place on 22 July - on which date the chip giant is also expected to roll out revised Core 2 Duo and other desktop processors that up the maximum frontside bus speed to 1333MHz.