The Intel Core i7 processor is being sold by online retailers about a week before its official launch.

PC Connection is flogging the 2.66GHz Intel i7-920 processor with 8MB of cache memory for $334. The sales status is currently "on order." It is worthwhile pointing out that the official price is expected to be lower at about $285 for the 920.

Stepping up to the i7-940, PC Mall is selling the 2.93GHz "BOX CORE I7 940" for a pre-order price of $722. PC Connection lists it for $661. Intel's list price is expected to be approximately $560.

Quite why the online retailers think they can make a killing on the launch is probably due to the fact that there are a lot of people who want the i7.