Intel planning SSD price cuts

According to speculation Intel is planning price cuts on its SSDs in order to remain competitive. The cuts are expected to be introduced in August and will be on their consumer SSD ranges. Prices will be slashed as much as 37% across the  SSD 320, SSD 330, and SSD 520 series.

In the 320 series Intel will be cutting the prices of the 300GB and 600GB models. Each of the two are available in four packages, spanning two form-factors: 2.5-inch 9.5 mm-thick, and 2.5-inch 7 mm-thick. Since consumers need a bit more encouragement to buy the higher capacity more expensive SSDs Intel is cutting the 300GB from US $499 to $444, an 11% cut, and the 600GB from $1,039 to $859, an 18% cut. These are based on OEM price cuts, retail versions are $20 more expensive.

The entire 520 series is set for price cuts too:

• SSD 520 60 GB: OEM price down from $99 to $89; Reseller pack down from $109 to $99 (9% cut)
• SSD 520 120 GB: OEM price down from $179 to $129; Reseller pack down from $189 to $139 (26.4% cut)
• SSD 520 180 GB: OEM price down from $269 to $189; Reseller pack down from $279 to $199 (28.6% cut)
• SSD 520 240 GB: OEM price down from $339 to $249; Reseller pack down from $349 to $259 (25.8% cut)
• SSD 520 480 GB: OEM price down from $799 to $494; Reseller pack down from $809 to $594 (37.7% cut)

Finally, Intel’s newest mainstream line of SSDs, the 330 series, is also set for a bunch of price cuts:

• SSD 330 60 GB: Reseller pack price down from $94 to $69 (26.5% cut)
• SSD 330 120 GB: Reseller pack price down from $149 to $104 (30.2% cut)
• SSD 330 180 GB: Reseller pack price down from $234 to $154 (34.1% cut)

All prices mentioned above are in USD, excluding taxes, and the OEM prices are price-per-unit in multi-unit quantities. Intel desperately needed these price cuts as other leading SSD competitors had been cutting prices to the point where Intel had started to look uncompetitive to consumers. So if you’re in the market for an Intel SSD, you may want to hold out until August.

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