Intel has announced the discontinuation of the Unlocked 13th Generation Raptor Lake S “Desktop CPUs effective this quarter. This decision, identified by the product change notification “818660 00 ” outlines the end of 13th Gen Raptor Lake S Desktop CPUs.
Released on March 21, 2024, this update is recent. The deadline, for OEMs and retailers to order these chips is May 24, 2024, with the shipments set for June 28, 2024. This move indicates Intel’s focus on streamlining its desktop range and prioritizing the Generation lineup.
More About Intel Discontinuing 13th Gen Raptor Lake CPUs
Introduced in 2022 Intel’s 13th Gen Raptor Lake S Desktop CPUs arrived after the AMD Ryzen 7000 “Zen 4” desktop launch. The initial lineup included six SKUs; Core i9 13900K/KF, i7 13700K/KF, and i5 13600K/KF. Following that more SKUs were added, including both a lower power variant at 65W and a flagship model—the Core i9 13900KS—with clock speeds reaching, up to 6.0 GHz.
Today marks the transition of all versions of the 13th Gen Raptor Lake S Desktop CPUs into end-of-life status. While standard tray editions will still be accessible the boxed variants aimed at DIY enthusiasts will be phased out. This choice is in line with Intel’s focus on the Gen CPUs, which promise performance while keeping similar core setups at competitive prices.
One reason to consider the Gen Raptor Lake S Desktop CPUs is the discounts available from certain retailers. While the Core i9 14900K/KF CPUs are priced over $500 US, the Core i9 13900K/KF CPUs can be purchased for around $450 US offering savings. Given the performance gap between them mainly due to a +200 MHz clock boost this could be a practical alternative for budget-conscious individuals.
This announcement coincides with the anticipation of the Intel Arrow Lake-S and LGA 1851 CPU launch, set to introduce a new platform to DIY PC builders with next-gen CPU architecture and other enhancements. The lineup is expected to debut at Computex 2024.
