Raptor Lake chips 'not going anywhere' as Intel commits to making older CPUs 'abundantly available' and keeping DDR4 support alive

Intel has committed to the continued production and abundant availability of its Raptor Lake CPU generation, stating the chips are "not going anywhere" soon. According to Intel VP Robert Hallock, this decision is based on Raptor Lake's strong performance and its crucial support for DDR4 memory alongside newer DDR5. This strategy aims to provide consumers, especially gamers, with more cost-effective options for PC builds, acting as a "bridge between worlds" amidst the current memory supply constraints and high DDR5 prices driven by the AI boom. The significant price delta between DDR4 and DDR5 offers a worthwhile saving for those managing build costs, particularly as SSD and GPU prices are also elevated. Given the memory crisis is expected to last for several years, Intel's commitment suggests Raptor Lake production could extend through 2027 or beyond, potentially leading to multiple CPU generations being simultaneously available.