Intel comprehensively nixes across-the-board CPU price hike rumour

pcgamer.com:

Intel has categorically walloped a rumour that it was planning to hike consumer CPU prices across the board. It was claimed earlier this week that the company had sent a letter to some distributors warning of the price rise and blaming it, among other things, on the need to invest in new fabs and restructure.

While informing its channel partners of specific pricing changes is not particularly peculiar, the notion that Intel would get into the weeds in such comms with a sob story concerning its investment strategy isn't terribly plausible. And so it's not a huge surprise that the company has flatly denied any such communication took place.

Speaking to our chums at Tom's Hardware, an Intel spokesbod quoth thusly:

«Generally, Intel does not comment on speculation regarding price changes to its portfolio. However, we can confirm that Intel has not sent the letter described to customers or partners and has not initiated a price change to its CPU portfolio at this time. We have no further comment to share on the matter.»

Of course, this does not mean that Intel CPU prices are set in stone forever, just that the rumour of imminent price hike across all existing Alder Lake and Raptor chips in the «next two to four weeks», as claimed by PCGamesHardware, is not for real.

Without a particular wish to dance on another media outlet's proverbial, the idea that Intel would issue a vague pricing directive to consumer CPU channel partners that included justifications pointing to its investment and restructuring needs ought really to have raised red flags.

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