Intel plans to cut prices for its Dothan-based 400MHz FSB Pentium M lineup on October 17, which should help boost notebook shipments from Taiwan makers 20-30% sequentially in the fourth quarter, according to sources at the makers.

Four Pentium M models – 755 (2.0GHz), 745 (1.8GHz), 735 (1.7GHz) and 725 (1.6GHz) – will have their respective prices cut 33.6%, 30.5%, 18.0% and 13.3%, the sources noted.

Although Intel informed Taiwan makers that it will launch the Dothan-based 533MHz FSB Pentium M CPUs and the Alviso chipsets in the first quarter of next year, the October price cuts may yet again delay the launch of its Sonoma platform until the second quarter of next year, the sources said.

The chip giant previously postponed the Sonoma launch from September 2004 to the first quarter of 2005.

Notebook makers noted that Intel has an established practice of launching new CPUs about six months after cutting prices on the previous models.

However, sources at Intel Taiwan insisted that the launches of its new products are in line with the current schedule.

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