Why Are Intel CPU Prices So High Compared to AMD?
Asked by
TechWhiz88
I'm considering upgrading from my i5 10400f, and I've found that the best CPUs for my socket are the i9 10900k and 11900k. However, in my country, both of these cost around 240 euros. In contrast, a Ryzen 5 5600 is only about 120 euros. If I switch to AMD, I'll also benefit from the CPU and GPU boost since I already have an AMD graphics card. I don't quite understand why the Intel CPUs are so expensive, especially since the i9 doesn't show much better performance in gaming compared to the Ryzen 5 5600. Can anyone explain this pricing discrepancy?
Answers
When you're seeing 240 EUR for the i9, remember that for that price, you could get an AM4 board and a Ryzen 5700X. The thing about games is that they don’t actually need a lot of cores; for most, 8 cores is plenty. You want a CPU that has strong per-core performance, and any Ryzen 5000 series chip will outperform those older Intel models in gaming.
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It’s also worth noting that older Intel CPUs remain popular for server builds, which keeps the demand and prices steady. Plus, with the Ryzen 5 5600 being quite solid, its affordability makes it tough to justify the cost of those old Intel chips.
TechWhiz88: That makes sense! It seems like the value just isn’t as clear-cut with Intel anymore, especially when you look at performance versus price.
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The high prices for those Intel CPUs are likely due to them being discontinued, which creates a supply and demand issue. Third-party sellers can charge whatever they want since people still want 'the best on socket' options, even if they're not that much better performance-wise than their rivals.
HardwareHero: Exactly! There’s this weird inflation where top-tier CPUs maintain high prices far beyond their actual performance increase over cheaper options. Like, remember the 7700k? It was selling for almost double the price of the 6700k even though the performance difference was minimal.
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Intel’s 11th gen was more or less a sidegrade, and honestly, when you look at how much AMD innovated with Ryzen, it's no surprise Intel chips aren't worth their high prices now. They had a hard time keeping up and had to quickly adjust to Ryzen's success, hence this result.
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TechieTom: Right? Plus, with the current stock situation, there just aren’t many of those older Intel CPUs available, which is driving prices up even more.