Intel May Cripple Pentium G4560 to Make Core i3 Competitive

With latest generations of processors, Intel has started to try something new. First, we had the Pentium G3258 which was an overclocking first. Later on, we had the Core i3 7350K which was the first unlocked i3. With Kaby Lake, Intel also tried out the Pentium G4560, a Pentium CPU with HyperThreading once again. According to the latest reports, however, the G4560 is so good, Intel is planning to cut it down at the knees.

The Pentium G4560 is a unique Pentium chip. Usually, the Pentium lineup is restricted to dual core chips without HyperThreading and only 2MB of L3 cache. The G4560 is special since it features both HyperThreading and has 3MB of L3 cache. Compared to the low-end Core i3 processors, the clock speed is a bit lower and the iGPU weaker. However, the chip is an amazing deal for budget users, offering 3.5 GHz and 4 threads for just $64.

Intel May Choke off G4560 Supply

This incredible deal, however, is hurting the more premium Core i3 sales. In fact, it has gotten so bad that Intel is reportedly planning to kill G4560 supply. By limiting supply artificially, the report suggests that Intel can make the Core i3 competitive again. This is a better marketing move than taking it off the market which may spark a backlash. Instead, the stock will be allowed to run dry, effectively and quietly killing the chip.

Of course, Intel went a bit crazy with the pricing this time around. The cheapest Core i3 processor, the i3 7100 costs $117, nearly double the G4560. For budget builders, the Pentium chip is a no brainer. However, with AMD on the rise with Ryzen, can Intel afford to kill off one of their strongest products? Once Ryzen 3 launch, it will be interesting to see how Intel will react to AMD cannibalising their low-end sales.