New report says CPUs could be next for chip shortage, but evidence is thin

A Quartz report suggests CPUs may be heading for a supply crunch, pointing to longer lead times for server CPU orders and early price rises. The piece also notes that the end of official Windows 10 support could prompt a round of system upgrades that adds to demand.

On the ground, however, signs of a shortage are limited. Retail CPU prices have probably ticked up only slightly and remain far from the dramatic spikes seen in the memory market, particularly for RAM. Intel has also launched Arrow Lake Plus desktop processors that look competitively priced.

The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus matches the Core Ultra 9 285K for core count and nearly for clock speed while carrying an MSRP of $299 versus about $550 for the 285K. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is listed at $199, adds four E cores over the 245K and runs faster—details that undercut the idea of an immediate consumer shortage.

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