One of the interesting developments of Intel’s 9th Generation Core processors for desktops, known as the S-series, was that the company decided to release versions of the hardware with the graphics disabled in order to use every chip from the wafer. At the time Intel was criticised on its pricing: it was offering the same processor minus graphics for the same bulk unit cost, with no discount. Today Intel is adjusting its strategy, and pricing these F and KF processors lower than before.

Nearly every 9th Generation Core processor for the desktop has a corresponding graphics-free option: the Core i9-9900K has its Core i9-9900KF, the Core i5-9500 has a Core i5-9500F. The difference between these two parts is just a matter of disabled graphics, which means the user can’t take advantage of Intel’s QuickSync or a display, however most of these processors end up in systems with discrete graphics cards anyway. At the time of launch, Intel priced them identically to the parts that did have graphics, but ultimately retail outlets were selling the K and KF processors at a small discount. Intel’s announcement today makes that price difference official.

Intel 9th Gen Core CPUs
AnandTech Cores Base
Freq
Turbo
Freq
IGP IGP
Freq
DDR4 TDP Old
Price
(1ku)
New
Price
(1ku)
i9-9900K 8 / 16 3.6 GHz 5.0 GHz UHD 630 1200 2666 95 W $488 $488
i9-9900KF 8 / 16 3.6 GHz 5.0 GHz - - 2666 95 W $488 $463
i7-9700K 8 / 8 3.6 GHz 4.9 GHz UHD 630 1200 2666 95 W $374 $374
i7-9700KF 8 / 8 3.6 GHz 4.9 GHz - - 2666 95 W $374 $349
i7-9700F 8 / 8 3.6 GHz 4.9 GHz - - 2666 65 W $335 $298
i5-9600K 6 / 6 3.7 GHz 4.6 GHz UHD 630 1150 2666 95 W $262 $262
i5-9600KF 6 / 6 3.7 GHz 4.6 GHz - - 2666 95 W $262 $237
i5-9500 6 / 6 3.0 GHz 4.4 GHz UHD 630 1100 2666 65 W $192 $192
i5-9500F 6 / 6 3.0 GHz 4.4 GHz - - 2666 65 W $192 $167
i5-9400 6 / 6 2.9 GHz 4.1 GHz UHD 630 1050 2666 65 W $182 $182
i5-9400F 6 / 6 2.9 GHz 4.1 GHz - - 2666 65 W $182 $157
i3-9350KF 4 / 4 4.0 GHz 4.6 GHz - - 2400 91 W $169 $148
i3-9100 4 / 4 3.6 GHz 4.2 GHz UHD 630 1000 2400 65 W $122 $122
i3-9100F 4 / 4 3.6 GHz 4.2 GHz - - 2400 65 W $122 $97

As mentioned when the F and KF processors were first announced, if users were to put a price tag on Intel’s integrated graphics, what would it be? A cynic might suggest that Intel put that value at $0, and is now increasing it to around $25 depending on the part. Depending on how Intel implements its Gen11 graphics (or Gen12) into future desktop processors is going to be interesting, in case we see more F and KF variants in the future.

Intel states that this price change is in effect as of today. As this price change effects its OEM bulk pricing (prices given for 1000 units), it may take some time to filter down to the end-user based on stock levels at retailers and OEMs, for those that don’t already have a price difference.

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  • DigitalFreak - Monday, October 7, 2019 - link

    Only a $10 price difference between the 9900K and KF @ Newegg.

    ... and someone is selling the 9900K box and bag(?) only, no processor, for $74 there was well. WTF?
  • Slash3 - Monday, October 7, 2019 - link

    Newegg started allowing third party vendors to sell products through their site (similar to Amazon) a while back - one of the side effects is that you end up with ridiculous listings like that.

    The art of selling an empty product box has a long and storied history on everyone's favorite online auction site (empty launch day PS3 boxes, anyone?), but the unique packaging for the i9-9900K/KF made it a prime candidate for flipping as well.
  • imaheadcase - Monday, October 7, 2019 - link

    Newegg went to crap after it was acquired and changed into a "market". It was so much better when just focused on computer related sales.
  • Slash3 - Monday, October 7, 2019 - link

    1,000%
  • eek2121 - Tuesday, October 8, 2019 - link

    I use newegg to browse and Amazon to buy.
  • Surfacround - Tuesday, October 8, 2019 - link

    1000% percent...
  • jwcalla - Monday, October 7, 2019 - link

    It's such a dumb strategy for at least i7 and above. They waste so much die area and TDP on these embedded GPUs that nobody is ever going to use. I'll just buy a CPU that dedicates the full die to CPU cores, thank you.
  • brakdoo - Monday, October 7, 2019 - link

    Business PCs use the integrated GPU.
    Just look at your average desktop from Dell/HP/Lenovo.

    Not every PC is for gamers...
  • Ninhalem - Monday, October 7, 2019 - link

    That's why jwcalla said for the i7 and above. I highly doubt anyone is using an integrated gpu on the i7 or i9 without a discrete graphics solution. Business and workstation class machines that have those processors will almost always have a discrete graphics card in the chassis.

    jwcalla never said all pc's are for gamers, but thanks for assuming that gamers never use their pc's for anything but games. Some of us may have need for those extra cores like CAD rendering and 3D art.
  • brakdoo - Monday, October 7, 2019 - link

    I'm "working" for a Japanese electronics company (office not in japan) as a developer and EVERY developer PC here has an i7 (main device) and none of those standard machines has a discrete GPU.

    We have Nvidia GPUs on some machines where we experiment with CUDA acceleration and AI but those are Xeon anyway.

    You're making weird assumptions in regards to i7...

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