Intel could raise PC processor prices by roughly 10% again in October, according to supply-chain reporting cited by DigiTimes. WinFuture reports that the adjustment could take effect on October 5, although Intel has not confirmed either the date or the size of any increase.
If implemented, it would be Intel’s third significant reported pricing move within about a year. The company was said to have increased PC CPU prices by around 10% in the first quarter of 2026, followed by July adjustments for selected consumer and Xeon models. A further increase could raise the cost of Intel-based desktops and laptops without necessarily bringing updated hardware.
The reported move comes as Intel places greater emphasis on profitability. Higher prices for memory, wafers and substrates, alongside strong demand for server processors, are adding pressure on capacity and component resources shared across data-center, desktop and notebook products.
The report also says Intel is considering retiring some low-margin Small Core processor families. These are budget-oriented chips used chiefly in industrial PCs, embedded systems and IoT devices, rather than the E-cores integrated into Intel Core processors. Any reduction in that portfolio could create additional room for ARM-based offerings from Qualcomm and MediaTek in low-power and highly integrated deployments.
Pricing pressure may extend beyond Intel: TSMC is reportedly preparing higher chip-production prices for 2027, potentially affecting customers including AMD, Apple, Intel, NVIDIA and Qualcomm. For now, Intel has not identified the CPU models that may be affected in October, leaving the reported 10% figure and October 5 timing unconfirmed.
