Intel plans on dropping the price it charges computer makers for some of its Core 2 Duo mobile processors in the second quarter of the year, according to a Thursday NotebookItalia report. The chipmaker's 2.8GHz T9600 CPU with 6MB of L2 cache will reportedly cost $309 per unit, a 40 percent discount from its current $517 price. Meanwhile, the slower 2.53GHz T8700 CPU's price will be reduced by 17 percent, from $236 to $197.

The above price drops will apply only when Intel's customer order them in bulk, 1,000-unit packages. The price drop should result in lower pricing for current and upcoming notebooks.

While Intel has not given a reason as to the reported price drop, it is believed the release of the mobile 2.93GHz Core 2 Duo has prompted the price cuts.