Intel updates the box for Core i9-12900K and i9-10980XE CPUs
Starting from September 4th, Intel will be changing its packaging for two of their premium CPUs from Alder Lake and Cascade Lake series.
Intel published a Product Change Notification (PCN) for two of their CPUs: i9-12900K and i9-10980XE. Both products will now come in the same-sized box. This means that build packaging will be unified and easier to ship in volume cross-generations.
Intel Core i9-12900K/i9-10980XE packaging update, Source: Intel
One might have guessed that Core i9-10980XE series are no longer sold, but that’s not entirely true. However, the change to packaging appears just as rumors for next-gen Core-X/Xeon-X series amount.
Intel Core i9-12900K packaging update, Source: Intel
The i9-12900K and 12900KS series come in a rectangular box with a large plastic wafer inside. This plastic wafer is actually a container for the CPU. It should be noted, however, that PCN was not issued for the KS-series, which will likely remain to be sold as is.
Intel Core i9-12900K packaging, Source: Intel
Such extraordinary design for the premium SKU packaging is nothing new to Intel, each generation gets a new design from hexagonal to rectangular designs, which differ from the mainstream series significantly.
Intel flagship consumer series boxes, Source: Intel
This is not the first time Intel is changing the packaging for its flagship consumer CPU series. The same thing happened with i9-10900K Comet Lake and Rocket Lake series. Interestingly, this change usually occurs 1-2 months ahead of launch, which is an indirect confirmation for Alder Lake being replaced with Raptor Lake. What is hard to understand is why is 10th Gen Core CPU being updated as well. Does this suggest Intel is releasing Sapphire Rapids Xeon Workstation series soon?
Source: Intel QDMS