Retailer listings show that the rebranded Alder Lake CPU is being sold at a higher price compared to the new Arrow Lake chip: the Core 5 120 and Core 5 120F are going for $246 and $216, respectively.
In a surprising move, Intel has listed the Core i5-120 and Core i5-120F, based on the three-generation-old Alder Lake architecture, for sale at prices that are nearly double those of their predecessors and significantly higher than many newer Intel Core i5 CPUs.
The Core i5-120, priced at $246.01, and the Core i5-120F, priced at $216.66, are available on Bottom Line Telecommunications, Inc.'s website. These prices are much higher than the Core i5-12400, a cheaper Alder Lake Core i5 desktop chip, which boasts better specs than the Core i5-120. The Core i5-12400 is currently available for just $108.99.
Meanwhile, the Core i5-14400, a 14th generation Intel CPU, is priced at $176 on the same platform, while the Core i5-14600K is available for $195. The Core Ultra 5 225, an Arrow Lake-S CPU, is priced at $211, making the pricing of the Core i5-120 and 120F seem less competitive.
The higher pricing of the Core i5-120 and Core i5-120F has sparked criticism and confusion in the community. These CPUs, although marketed under a new naming scheme, are essentially rebadged and lightly revised Alder Lake chips. They come with a cut-back iGPU and media engine, and the Core i5-120 lacks integrated graphics, requiring users to pair the CPU with a dedicated graphics card.
The pricing for the Core i5-120 and 120F could be placeholders, so the pricing should be treated with caution. However, the disproportionate pricing of these rebadged processors compared to their newer counterparts has led to questions about value and accusations of a "ripoff" by some commentators.
Intel's unusual market positioning and pricing strategy may be a result of the company leveraging a stable, well-yielding architecture (Alder Lake) and repositioning it in the budget gaming segment without significant production hurdles. However, the lack of new technology and the higher price point create consumer confusion and skepticism.
It is worth noting that AMD has previously released refreshed CPUs (Ryzen 3000XT and Ryzen 5000XT) at high prices, which suggests that the Core i5-120 series may also drop in price over time.
[1] Core i5-12400: https://www.newegg.com/intel-bx8071512400/p/N82E16819118847 [2] Core i5-14400: https://www.newegg.com/intel-bx8071514400/p/N82E16819118846 [3] Core i5-14600K: https://www.newegg.com/intel-bx8071514600k/p/N82E16819118845 [4] Core Ultra 5 225: https://www.newegg.com/intel-bx807151225/p/N82E16819118822 [5] Core Ultra 5 225F: https://www.newegg.com/intel-bx807151225f/p/N82E16819118823 [6] Core Ultra 5 235: https://www.newegg.com/intel-bx807151235/p/N82E16819118835 [7] Core Ultra 5 235F: https://www.newegg.com/intel-bx807151235f/p/N82E16819118836 [8] Core Ultra 5 245: https://www.newegg.com/intel-bx807151245/p/N82E16819118848 [9] Core Ultra 5 245K: https://www.newegg.com/intel-bx807151245k/p/N82E16819118849
- Despite being priced significantly higher, the Core i5-120 and Core i5-120F, with the Alder Lake architecture, are offered alongside newer Intel processors such as the Core i5-14400 and the Core i5-14600K on the same platform.
- In the realm of data-and-cloud-computing and technology, the Core i5-120 and Core i5-120F gadgets, marketed under a new naming scheme, face criticism and skepticism for their high pricing compared to their newer counterparts, particularly the Core i5-12400, which boasts better specs at a lower cost.
