Earlier this month DigiTimes reported that Gigabyte was hot on Asus' tail in motherboard shipments. Analysts estimated Gigabyte to have sold 3.1 to 3.3 million units during the first two months of 2010, while Asus moved 3.2 to 3.3 million. To maintain its lead, it was predicted that Asus would cut prices – and that's now happened in China. The motherboard-maker has slashed prices on its mid-range and entry-level products by a minimum of 10%.
For example, Asus' G31-based products have dropped from 330 yuan (about $48.34) to 299 yuan ($43.80). G41, AMD 770, and H55-based motherboards have also been lowered. As predicted, this has triggered a price war, and MSI has already responded while Gigabyte is still "monitoring the development." ASRock, ECS and other budget board makers will reportedly feel the most pressure as higher-end products will become more affordable.
DigiTimes notes that some firms believe Asus' reductions are mostly intended to digest its inventory, and expect the price war to end shortly. In the meantime, folks overseas should enjoy the cheaper hardware.