CPUs are now following the same trend as memory and graphics cards. Intel has raised prices many times over the past year, but it still hasn’t stopped, and there’s another wave of news recently. According to DigiTimes, Intel tentatively plans to raise PC CPU prices again in early October 2026, by around 10%. While it’s not yet known which products will be affected, those planning to buy a CPU may want to consider whether to get one sooner.
Intel CPU prices could rise another 10% in October! Over the past year, from older Core to Xeon, there have been multiple price adjustments.
DigiTimes recently reportedIt pointed out that Intel is expected to raise PC CPU prices again in early October 2026, by about 10%. It also mentioned that Intel has adjusted prices several times since the end of 2025, including a roughly 10% increase in Q1 2026, as well as price updates for some consumer and server CPUs in July.
However, this time the affected processor families and models were not disclosed, nor was it clarified whether desktop, laptop, and older Core models are all included. It is speculated that both Core Ultra desktop and laptop products could potentially be affected.
This table shows Intel’s price increases over the past two years, which can be described as very frequent:
| Time | Main Products/Markets | the adjustments reported at that time | Message Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q4 2025 | Mainly 13th and 14th Gen Core, with some 12th Gen. | Supply prices are reportedly rising about 10%, while some retail models in Japan and South Korea are increasing by approximately 2.6% to 20%. | Supply chain news + regional retail prices |
| Q1 2026 / March | Most major PC CPUs | Notify major customers of the approximately 10% increase. | Supply chain news |
| April 2026 | Server CPU | Intel will further adjust prices on April 1; market data shows server CPUs have risen about 10% to 20% since March. | ODM and supply chain data |
| July 2026 | Core Ultra 200S Plus, some Xeon | Core Ultra specific models are up about 15% to 17%; some Xeon RCPs increased by more than US$1,000. | Intel RCP + Intel Response |
| Early October 2026 | Not yet announced. | Reportedly rising another approximately 10%. | DigiTimes supply chain sources indicate this has not yet been officially announced. |
It can be seen that Intel has made multiple price adjustments over the past year, covering both consumer and server CPUs. In particular, in the July 2026 round, Intel’s official product pages have indeed updated the recommended customer prices (RCP), and the company has also confirmed that prices for some consumer and server processors have been adjusted.
| Processor | March 2026 release price | Adjusted suggested price for the boxed version in July | Rate of increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Ultra 7 270K Plus | 299 dollars | 349 US dollars | 50 dollars, approximately 16.7% |
| Core Ultra 5 250K Plus | 199 US dollars | 229 dollars | 30 US dollars, approximately 15.1% |
As for why Intel has frequently raised CPU prices this past year, beyond rising supply chain costs overall, strong AI-driven demand for server CPUs, and tight production capacity, what Intel likely cares about most now may not be selling a few more units, but rather how much profit each CPU can bring.
DigiTimes mentioned that Intel may reevaluate its low-margin Small Core products, and may even put some of them into end-of-life. Small Core mainly refers to low-power processors used in industrial PCs, IoT, and embedded devices. If Intel scales back in this area, a gap could emerge in the market that has long relied on low-end x86 processors, giving Arm chip suppliers such as Qualcomm and MediaTek more opportunities to break in.
Furthermore, Intel’s own fabs currently prioritize supply for higher-margin server CPUs, and since server CPUs are already in short supply, this also crowds out capacity for PC CPUs. In other words, Intel isn’t just shifting toward a profit-first approach in pricing—its limited capacity is also being increasingly allocated to high-margin products.
If this price increase is real, it’s uncertain whether Intel will later announce which models are affected. For those planning to build a computer or upgrade their CPU, it’s advisable to keep an eye on market price fluctuations.
Source: KOCPC Chinese