Intel repackages a five-year-old CPU in a new box and slaps on a new name. The price tag remains unchanged.
In 2020, Intel launched the Core i5-10400: a processor based on the Comet Lake architecture and built using the 14 nm manufacturing process. The chip had six cores and twelve threads.
Now Intel is launching the Core i5-110 in the Processors (Series 1) range. It’s exactly the same chip, but disguised with a new name and packaged in a new box. The specifications are identical, as is the now significantly outdated manufacturing process.
Old but Expensive Memory
Just like in 2020, this chip supports DDR4 RAM and not DDR5 memory. This isn’t very convenient: memory manufacturers worldwide are massively closing their DDR4 production lines in favor of DDR5. The shortage of the older memory is so severe that DDR4 is even more expensive than DDR5 today.
With the Core i5-110, you’re getting an old CPU that’s only compatible with old and now expensive memory. There’s no cost savings in the purchase: Intel is launching the processor at $200. That’s exactly the same recommended price as five years ago.
Unclear Motivation
Intel is navigating rough waters. The company lost its technological leadership position during the Comet Lake era. TSMC’s factories are producing more advanced chips, benefiting competitor AMD. Moreover, x86 is being questioned as the best PC or server architecture. ARM-based chips are proving their value in both contexts.
What motivates Intel to package an old component as new, without an adjusted price tag, is unclear. Perhaps Intel has found some old stock somewhere.