Intel is Dropping Processor Prices in Wake of Ryzen Launch
It seems that Intel is getting nervous about the AMD Ryzen launch and has started to lower prices on their processors. The equivalent 6900K model however still is 999 USD, twice as much as the Ryzen flagship. Others like the quad-core processors do see a price cut.
Also we think with a tiny bit of tweaking that 6900K might even get beaten or normalized by even a 329 USD Ryzen 7 1700 processor. The new prices have not gone into effect everywhere, here in the EU they are still at the same old level. In the USA etailers like Newegg also is listing older prices.
However it is at Microcenter (USA) where you can see a shift in prices, one very obvious one would be the Intel Core i7-7700K which started selling at 299 US, that's roughly a $80 lower price over the original MSRP (regular etail recently already was in the 330 USD range though). I do want to emphasize strongly that the prices listed are only in effect at microcenter and will only be available with 'in store pickups' and with a limit of 1 per household. Remember though, this is just one (r)etailer showing these prices. We do not know if the rest will follow. It could very well be a little marketing stunt steered by either Microcenter and/or Intel to make the news.
- Intel Core i7-6950X is priced $1599 (USD)
- Intel Core i7-6900K is priced $999 (USD)
- Intel Core i7-6850K is priced $549 (USD)
- Intel Core i7-6800K is priced $359 (USD)
- Intel Core i7-5820K is priced $319 (USD)
- Intel Core i7-7700K is priced $299 (USD)
- Intel Core i7-6700K is priced $259 (USD)
- Intel Core i7-4790K is priced $279 (USD)
- Intel Core i7-7700 is priced $289 (USD)
- Intel Core i7-6700 is priced $259 (USD)
- Intel Core i5-7600K is priced $199 (USD)
- Intel Core i5-6600K is priced $179 (USD)
- Intel Core i5-4690K is priced $189 (USD)
- Intel Core i5-6500 is priced $179 (USD)
- Intel Core i5-4590 is priced $159 (USD)
- Intel Core i3-7350K is priced $159 (USD)
It will remain to be seen if the price drop is a temporary one to counter the Ryzen release ot that is will invoke a cut on a global scale. Maybe Intel will lower it's chipset prices as well, as the Z170/Z270 chipset is very expensive, and thus makes Intel chipset based motherboards more expensive as well.
Don Vito Corleone
Posts: 46396
Joined: 2000-02-22
Intel dropped PR in the Netherlands, they do not communicate whatsoever with Dutch press. Regardless, I always test my own way and not what a manufacturer indicates or finds 'the best'.
Senior Member
Posts: 5845
Joined: 2003-09-15
Cool, cheers. Looking forward to the full Ryzen reviews and articles.
Senior Member
Posts: 1992
Joined: 2013-06-04
Intel: "I'm sure Ryzen can't touch our CPU market, let's just lower the prices a bit so media keeps talking about us"
AMD: "Puny kids, the new king is here, AMD has risen!"
Seriously, what do they expect with these price drops? Still far from competitive...if they want to keep selling they need to set the price lower than the competition for their house warmers with 140W TDP.
Senior Member
Posts: 6070
Joined: 2011-01-02
Intel also did some price cut for sandy bridge to welcome FX (bulldozer). But bulldozer just got bulldozed back without Intel doing anything fancy. AMD brought core count into wrong time.
Don't relate Intel behavior with Ryzen performance. Intel can just lower prices to get attention on themselves, so people who follow hype without research also checks Intel new price offers.
Valid benchmarks results and actual price of Ryzen CPUs on market will lead Intel to further procedure.
Sad thing is, if Ryzen will actually become a hit, retailers can just sell them for double of price, and people will still buy them. Supply and Demand.
Senior Member
Posts: 5845
Joined: 2003-09-15
HH, Did you get one of those emails from intel regarding Ryzen review guidelines?