Intel's upcoming Core i9-10850K desktop processor, which was earlier believed to be an OEM-exclusive, is coming to the DIY retail channel after all. The 10-core Socket LGA1200 processor surfaced on retailers Cyclotron and LambdaTek as pre-orders, priced at 472€ and £459, including taxes, which aligns with its rumored USD $449 pre-tax price Stateside. At these prices, the i9-10850K is closer in price to the locked i9-10900 than to the top i9-10900K part.

Based on the 14 nm "Comet Lake-S" silicon, the Core i9-10850K is a 10-core/20-thread processor clocked up to 5.20 GHz, with 20 MB of L3 cache. Where it differs from the i9-109xx series is the lack of the Thermal Velocity Boost (TVB) feature. You still get an unlocked multiplier. The i9-10850K is hence provides a roughly $50 saving over the i9-10900K to give up the 100 MHz higher clock speed enabled by TVB. In the retail channel, the chip goes by the SKU "BX8070110850K."