Next-gen Intel processors have fewer cores but cost more, retailers say

Highly anticipated: Several European retailers have listed the 11th generation Intel processors, dubbed Rocket Lake. It’s a slim series, with just two significantly distinct designs. It’s a bit muddled too, with fewer cores than the previous generation and higher prices across the board.

Rocket Lake has one thing to do, however: beautiful symmetry. It is composed of 6 hexa-core models and 8 octa-core models. Good job, Intel.

Hex cores include the i5-11400, 11400F, 11500, 11600, 11600K, and 11600KF. Octa-cores include the i7-11700, 11700F, 11700K, and 11700KF, as well as the i9-11900, 11900F, 11900K, and 11900KF. All models have hyper-threading.

While a price discussion is about to follow, now is a good time to point out that for the humble overclocker, the 11700KF (the cheapest overclockable octa-core model) is identical to the 11900K. So for some, these prices are superb; this cannot be denied.

As has happened before, Belgian retailer 2Compute has started a price disclosure stunt by listing the entire Rocket Lake series. From there, entering the ID codes for all processors will search for them and find other listings. On average, we found four to five lists for each processor. You might find more if you looked for it tomorrow.

Prices vary widely from retailer to retailer, partly due to their different pricing systems, and also partly due to their different locations. In some cases, prices for the same model differed as much as 30 percent between retailers.

Still, the numbers can be pulled together and compared with the MSRP and actual prices for current generation products. We’ve created reasonable price estimates for all processors based roughly on the median price, without outliers and other anomalies (like those that seem to include an excessive tax).

Typically, Rocket Lake transformers are listed for 10% to 20% more than their current production equivalents, with the margin increasing with price. In some cases, the margin between the current generation listings and MSRP is greater, but the margin is only over 20% when the listings are compared to live prices on Amazon.

Taxes excluded.

Some data from retailers suggests that Rocket Lake will be cheaper than the current generation. For example, 2Compute lists some of the lowest prices for Rocket Lake and some of the highest prices for the current generation. If only their numbers are used for comparison, then Rocket Lake appears to be 10% cheaper than the current generation.

However, as a commentator points out, this is only true for 2Compute. Overall, Rocket Lake temporarily appears to be a bit more expensive than previous generations. But does more expensive mean worse? Not at all.

In the series there are little hidden gems. A 11400F could come in at a similar price to the 3600X and easily outperform it. A 11600KF could undermine the 5600X while outperforming it simultaneously. A 11700KF could provide fierce competition to the 5800X at a similar price. And, of course, the 11900K could go back to being the fastest gaming processor again, which would give Intel some pricing wiggle room.

Intel hasn’t been shy about discussing Rocket Lake, and motherboard makers have each revealed several new Z590 models that will accompany the launch. The countdown will certainly start shortly. One of the retailers that lists Rocket Lake even writes that they will receive stock before the end of the month.