Surprisingly, Intel is allegedly raising the prices of its 13 th -generation "Raptor Lake" desktop chips over 10 percent. The move is made as the demand on 14th-gen processors based on AI is still not very high, so PC builders and system planners reconsider their strategies.
The industry sources state that the price increase is applicable to multiple popular Raptor Lake models, such as the Core i5-13600K or i7-13700K, which have been the favorite among the gamers and content producers since a long time. These were established as solid performers and low-cost chips that were a popular choice among users who were looking to buy a chip that had to be used without investing in the more expensive Intel AI-focused new lineup.
According to analysts, this may be a repositioning of Intel to balance out the pricing of its products. As the company has been making huge investments in accelerating AI and next-gen architecture, the older chips, despite being still powerful, could have been sold too cheaply in comparison to newer models. The price increase would assist Intel to cushion its margins and move a larger number of users towards its 14th-gen Intel CPUs.
To PC builders, this change can be exasperating. Numerous system integrators and hobbyists continue to lean on Raptor Lake processors to provide inexpensive performance builds.
Short-term, consumers may scramble to take available Raptor Lake before the prices start to increase. However, in the long term, this action might mark a change in the market approach of Intel: AI-ready chips, rather than mainstream affordability can be the primary goal. To the consumers, it is also a reminder that the CPU market is evolving at an unprecedented pace and it is perhaps better to upgrade before the prices begin to go beyond control.
Post a Comment