European regulators have expanded their probe into Intel to include allegations that the chip giant tried to prevent retailers from offering AMD-powered machines.

The European Commission has been investigating Intel's business practices for more than five years, and yesterday took over a probe initiated earlier this year by the German Federal Cartel Office. 

The Commission is conducting an ongoing investigation into Intel's business practices, and claims to have uncovered patterns of anti-consumer and anti-competitive behaviour.

This latest announcement follows a raid of Intel's European offices by European Commission authorities in July 2005, as well as the offices of a number of other computer manufacturers and retailers.

AMD filed a formal complaint with the Commission in October 2000.

In July 2006, a Financial Times Deutschland report claimed to have evidence of collusion between Intel and Media Saturn Holding, the parent company of Metro Group. 

The paper alleged that the collusion was designed to exclude AMD-powered products from being offered for sale in hundreds of Media Markt, Media World and Saturn stores in 14 countries across Europe.

Following that report, the German Cartel Office announced its inquiry into the matter in coordination with the European Commission.