Intel plans to raise prices on some 13th Generation "Raptor Lake" desktop processors by around 10%, according to DigiTimes. In the fourth quarter, Intel will reportedly adjust contracts to account for the increase. Standard RPL-S SKUs that have traded near $150 to $160 could move to about $170 to $180, driven by tight inventories and rising upstream costs for Intel to maintain older and multiple product portfolios. OEMs claim that constrained inventory ahead of major shopping events leaves them unable to stock competitive holiday deals, forcing hard choices between protecting margins and offering discounts. Even if Intel does not formally announce a hike, limited RPL-S availability combined with surging memory costs is squeezing PC makers. Some top brands report component shortages and reluctance to place long-term orders amid volatile pricing.

Older Raptor Lake parts are benefiting from buyers seeking value, while the latest Core Ultra processors have not created strong consumer demand for AI-enabled PCs. The Core Ultra 200S series has shown slowed market adoption due to its worse initial performance compared to Raptor Lake and Raptor Lake Refresh. Some vendors favor cost-effective prior-generation chips to hit aggressive price points, keeping Raptor Lake supply tight despite the parts aging in calendar years. The role of third-party foundries, which continue to support older process nodes, has also extended the lifespan of previous-generation CPUs, altering historical upgrade cycles. Reportedly, some Raptor Lake SKUs cost over $200 less than the latest SKUs, excluding the cost of a new motherboard and the transition from DDR4 to DDR5 memory. With the end of Windows 10 support and the upcoming holiday season, it will be interesting to see how PC makers respond with pricing.