Thursday, October 21st 2021

A Closer Look at the Intel Core i9-12900K Retail Package

by
btarunr
 Discuss (50 Comments)
Intel has had a little streak of quirky, over-the-top retail packages for its flagship desktop processors since the 9th Generation Core i9-9900K, which carries on into the 12th Gen with that of the Core i9-12900K. Overclocking.com posted a set of unboxing images. It's important to note here, that these are images of the retail i9-12900K, and not some special package sent to reviewers.

The package involves a hard paperboard hollow cube with two open sides. You undo a set of pull-tabs that are probably held together by factory seal, to pull out a pair of plastic stands holding what looks like a stack of silicon wafers in place. This decorative plastic canister is painted in gold-chrome and disperses colors like a fabricated wafer does. You open the two halves of this "wafer" to find your processor inside, with some Styrofoam cushioning. A separate compartment in the paperboard housing contains the documentation and a case-badge.
If past trends are anything to go by, this package is likely exclusive to the i9-12900K. The i9-12900KF, which lacks an iGPU, comes in a much simpler thin paperboard box that looks similar to the packages of the i7-12700K, or i5-12600K. The Core i9-12900 (non-K) comes in a slightly bigger box, which contains one of Intel's new-generation boxed coolers. The Core i9-12900K reportedly opens up to pre-orders on October 27, with general availability slated for November 4.
Source: Overclocking.com

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50 Comments on A Closer Look at the Intel Core i9-12900K Retail Package

#2
TheLostSwede
News Editor
Great, more plastic that will head straight for a landfill...
Posted on Reply
#3
Mysteoa
It would have been more cool if you actually get a piece of a fail silicon wafer in the box instead of this tacky plastic.
Posted on Reply
#4
DeathtoGnomes
TheLostSwedeGreat, more plastic that will head straight for a landfill...
And they said Ryzen boxing was too much... :facepalm:

IDk which is worse now.
Posted on Reply
#6
btarunr
Editor & Senior Moderator
DeathtoGnomesAnd they said Ryzem boxing was too much... :facepalm:

IDk which is worse now.
The Threadripper boxes were a bit over-the-top. But they sobered up since Ryzen 5000 series.
Posted on Reply
#7
mechtech
TheLostSwedeGreat, more plastic that will head straight for a landfill...
I’m waiting for a box filled with sand and you get to dig out the cpu like treasure. ;)
Posted on Reply
#8
bonehead123
Here's an idea Intel....

Sell me the cpu for $200 less than originally planned, and YOU stop making up all that new, silly-assed packaging/plastic/cardboard (and save all the R&D it took to come up with it too!).... sounds like a win-win to me, hehehe :)
Posted on Reply
#9
Metroid
That is the 850 usd for you. What I'm concerned is how cost benefit efficient is x the ryzen 5900x, wattage/power and performance wise.
bonehead123Here's an idea Intel....

Sell me the cpu for $200 less than originally planned, and YOU stop making up all that new, silly-assed packaging/plastic/cardboard (and save all the R&D it took to come up with it too!).... sounds like a win-win to me, hehehe :)
So true hehe, I guess Intel wants to justify the overpriced cpu by adding meaningless things that you will end up throwing in the bin.
Posted on Reply
#10
Ravenas
Could AMD and Intel please stop wasting materials on packaging like this...
Posted on Reply
#11
btarunr
Editor & Senior Moderator
bonehead123Here's an idea Intel....

Sell me the cpu for $200 less than originally planned, and YOU stop making up all that new, silly-assed packaging/plastic/cardboard (and save all the R&D it took to come up with it too!).... sounds like a win-win to me, hehehe :)
I guesstimate this packaging costs about $4. The simpler package that the KF comes in probably costs $0.5. It's the i9-12900 (non-K) that has the higher BOM for Intel, as it includes that cooler (not counting binning costs to qualify a chip for K). I can't estimate its price without a closer look.
Posted on Reply
#12
Ravenas
btarunrI guesstimate this packaging costs about $4.
I agree not really the cost that's concerning, however, more so just wasting packaging for throw away materials. How many more will they really sell if the box has a simulated silicon wafer inside versus if it does not?
Posted on Reply
#13
TheLostSwede
News Editor
DeathtoGnomesAnd they said Ryzem boxing was too much... :facepalm:

IDk which is worse now.
I don't see where I said that AMD did a better job, but the plastic one was the Threadripper, not the regular consumer models.
btarunrI guesstimate this packaging costs about $4. The simpler package that the KF comes in probably costs $0.5. It's the i9-12900 (non-K) that has the higher BOM for Intel, as it includes that cooler (not counting binning costs to qualify a chip for K). I can't estimate its price without a closer look.
You forget the mould cost for the steel mould that's require to make the plastic box, those aren't cheap. Then you need moulds for the cardboard inserts, since they have to be formpressed. I'm guessing closer to $10, as the outer box uses quite high quality cardboard as well and chrome print is extra. I have done $4 packaging and this is a lot more costly than that.
Posted on Reply
#15
firewrath9
MetroidThat is the 850 usd for you. What I'm concerned is how cost benefit efficient is x the ryzen 5900x, wattage/power and performance wise.



So true hehe, I guess Intel wants to justify the overpriced cpu by adding meaningless things that you will end up throwing in the bin.
He bought the CPUs for $610 each :p
Posted on Reply
#16
ZoneDymo
Wish Intel was more of a no-nonsense company...

I mean if there was some specially binned limited edition version sure...but for a "normal" cpu...come on
Posted on Reply
#17
btarunr
Editor & Senior Moderator
TheLostSwedeYou forget the mould cost for the steel mould that's require to make the plastic box, those aren't cheap. Then you need moulds for the cardboard inserts, since they have to be formpressed. I'm guessing closer to $10, as the outer box uses quite high quality cardboard as well and chrome print is extra. I have done $4 packaging and this is a lot more costly than that.
Since this is a low-volume product (possibly 500,000 to 1M units in this form, rest in trays to OEMs), they're probably using some cheap injection moulding. That "wafer" bit looks like one of those super-cheap plastic toys.
Posted on Reply
#18
TheLostSwede
News Editor
btarunrSince this is a low-volume product (possibly 500,000 to 1M units in this form, rest in trays to OEMs), they're probably using some cheap injection moulding. That "wafer" bit looks like one of those super-cheap plastic toys.
There's no such thing. Yes, there's lower quality moulds, but for a million units, you wouldn't chance it on that. The mould for something like this is likely to "only" cost US$20-30k, since it's not very deep or large.
Posted on Reply
#19
TheoneandonlyMrK
TheLostSwedeGreat, more plastic that will head straight for a landfill...
Shit, Even I would still have that box in 20 years to be fair, it's perdy, you wanna see my FX box :p
Posted on Reply
#20
Udyr
When you need additional gimmicks to sell your product.

Reminds me of the Avengers edition CPUs.
Posted on Reply
#21
cst1992
mechtechI’m waiting for a box filled with sand and you get to dig out the cpu like treasure. ;)
Like sand...paper?
Posted on Reply
#22
Marshal_90
It's still the same architecture inside. Higher frequency for better single core performance with worst power consumption. Sorry Intel fans but this is not a Ryzen moment at all!
Posted on Reply
#23
ZoneDymo
btarunrI guesstimate this packaging costs about $4. The simpler package that the KF comes in probably costs $0.5. It's the i9-12900 (non-K) that has the higher BOM for Intel, as it includes that cooler (not counting binning costs to qualify a chip for K). I can't estimate its price without a closer look.
sure but like it, the processor also costs "pennies" to produce, its the research (in this case the design firm) that goes before hand that adds a ton of cost
Posted on Reply
#24
dont whant to set it"'
ZoneDymosure but like it, the processor also costs "pennies" to produce, its the research (in this case the design firm) that goes before hand that adds a ton of cost
What research? ,dare I call you daft.
A profit margin is in the price, you do not worry about it, as it also contains the mishaps times during witch the marketing departments/teams "headed" the company till "now" ; 2 centi hazarded guestimates.
Posted on Reply
#25
Nephilim666
Give me a small, boring recycled and recyclable brown cardboard box instead of this plastic fantastic landfill kthx.
Posted on Reply
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