Buy an Intel CPU now before they get too expensive

Intel planning a price hike across all in-stock Intel CPUs

Table of Contents Table of Contents

We all know by now that Intel is planning a rebrand of its “Core iX” brand to “Core Ultra” but that won’t be taking effect until Meteor Lake comes along. A big change that may be happening a lot sooner, however, is the price increase that Intel has planned for its newer and future CPUs. This is why you need to buy an Intel CPU now before they get too expensive.

---

Intel is planning a price hike for its CPUs

According to WccfTech, Intel plans to drive up the prices of its current and future CPU stock. This won’t come as a surprise to some, as Intel did the very same thing last year. Intel drove up the price of its CPUs and components up to 20% at the high end.

Reputable German site PCGamesHardware reports that a user by the name of “Pokerclock” shared relevant information in the PCGHX forum.

The author of that post reportedly contacted two German wholesalers who confirmed a corresponding letter from Intel to those wholesalers stating a price hike.

What Intel CPUs are expected to receive a price increase?

The letter apparently stated that the following Intel CPUs will receive an increase in price PCGamesHardware reports.

“all core processors that are currently still on sale or in production should become more expensive. The CPU series Core-i-12000 (“Alder Lake”), Core-i-13000 (“Raptor Lake”), and Core-i-14000 (“Raptor Lake Refresh”) are affected, as well as the upcoming Core processors, which will come onto the market as Core and Core Ultra and will be priced accordingly higher in advance.”

So that’s Current and future up until at least Meteor Lake, meaning all CPUs below will be affected:

• Intel Core 12000
• Intel Core 13000
• Intel Core 14000
• Intel Meteor Lake (maybe 15000)

This means that you should probably grab an Intel CPU now before they increase the price.

Is Intel Arc affected?

The letter to wholesalers speaks exclusively to Intel processors, says PCGamesHardware, meaning that it’s likely Intel Arc is safe from the price increases for now, however, this doesn’t mean that it will be forever.

Intel reportedly stated in the letter that Intel’s current and future GPU releases will be unaffected by this change. More than can be said for the Intel NUC, which will be discontinued as part of the Intel restructure.

---

Why is Intel increasing the CPU prices?

WccfTech reports that Intel is currently manufacturing a chip plant in Germany which should cost an estimated €17 billion. The local governments have denied any additional subsidies to help with the plant. Intel was eligible for €6.8 billion in government subsidies, but the Intel cooperation asked for €10 billion which was ultimately denied.

This is probably the main reason for the price hike of Intel CPUs, to fund this very expensive industrial undertaking. It is important to note that this price hike could only reflect in the German markets, but take that with a grain of salt as it is unconfirmed.

We don’t know whether the increases will hit other markets, as Intel has not confirmed this news in any official capacity, but we will update you as soon as we know more on the subject.

Our advice, however, is to buy an Intel CPU now before they get too expensive.