It’s been off and off when we need to talk about Intel and their shortages in fabrication space. Two days ago we reported that ASUS expects shortages up-to mid-2019 at the least, today new information surfaced as Intel will further limit processor shipments to DIY distributors. And that affects you and me.
In all fairness, Intel needs to choose their battles, they can only fab a certain amount of silicon at 14nm, so the most logical thing for them to do is to focus on the products that make the most money and margin. As it seems this will affects the DIY market where the supply is now being limited and scaled down. Since the shortages already drive up prices, an additional shortage in the DIY market could even further increase desktop processor pricing.
The sources said that Intel has reduced shipments of desktop processors to allow more capacities for notebook and server processors, and is reportedly to cut processor shipments to DIY distribution market to only six million units in the fourth quarter of the year.
This doesn’t just have an effect on processors, the motherboard manufacturers will be hit by this as well as hey, a processor and a motherboard often is a thing you buy as a pair. It is estimated that motherboard shipments will drop 10 to 20% due to this.
If you are in the market for an Intel processor, now would be a good time to pick one up, or wait until later next year.
