CPU pricing curves.

[marcplante]

With the 8th Gen Intel CPUs coming out, I'm looking to buy one of the 7th generation i7 7700ks to make a "fast-enough-for-me" build. (Upgrading from Athlon X2...ehem...) I'm wondering how fast prices typically erode on chips when they are superseded by next generations. I've found examples for $279, which seems like a decent deal, but I wonder if this Thanksgiving's builder sale will mark down the 8th Gen chips and close out the 7th gen.

Is there a typical pattern of discount and sunsetting for preceding generations of CPUs?

Buy now or wait a month or two? (not past Christmas for sure).

 

[epsilon84]

With the 8th Gen Intel CPUs coming out, I'm looking to buy one of the 7th generation i7 7700ks to make a "fast-enough-for-me" build. (Upgrading from Athlon X2...ehem...) I'm wondering how fast prices typically erode on chips when they are superseded by next generations. I've found examples for $279, which seems like a decent deal, but I wonder if this Thanksgiving's builder sale will mark down the 8th Gen chips and close out the 7th gen.

Is there a typical pattern of discount and sunsetting for preceding generations of CPUs?

Buy now or wait a month or two? (not past Christmas for sure).

Historically Intel don't 'discount' previous generation chips, they simply discontinue them. I would argue that even at $279, it is too high a price to pay for a 7700K when an i5 8400 is around $190 and the i5 8600K around the same price as the 7700K (I would take 6C/6T over 4C/8T anyday)

If you stll have your heart set on a 7700K, your best bet would be the used market. I'm sure there will be a lot of 7700K owners looking to upgrade to a 8700K, that would be your best bet in getting a good deal on a 7700K.

 

[marcplante]

Thanks. I suppose I was thinking about the retailers marking the older chips down to move their inventory. Given my application, it probably makes sense to go to the I5 as you mentioned.

 

[ZGR]

i7 6700k is basically the same if you can find it for cheaper. i5 8400 or r5 1600 are great new alternatives.

 

[TStep]

Total cost of the board plus ram comes into play for me. The DDR4 expense is outrageous for a good enough build.