Intel is experiencing a shortage of Raptor Lake processors, forcing a retailer in Hong Kong to issue refunds for defective CPUs. Customers are left to find their own replacements.
Refunds replace CPU exchanges in Hong Kong
According to a report by HKEPC, hardware retailer Synnex in Hong Kong no longer has enough Intel processors to replace defective ones under the extended warranty. Instead of providing replacement CPUs, buyers are now receiving refunds and must arrange for their own replacement, unless they decide to switch to another platform.
This shortage was first hinted at in an earlier report, which suggested that Intel could not meet current demand for its processors. An Intel customer support notice mentioned that it could take four to five weeks to restock CPUs. This delay affected the Intel Core i9-13900K, though Intel also mentioned that they could use the identical Core i9-14900K for exchanges.
However, Intel addressed this report in a statement to Tom’s Hardware. Intel stated, “Replacement stock for return requests for 13th and 14th generation Core desktop processors is sufficient to meet customer demand.” Despite this assurance, Intel added that they aim to handle requests “as quickly as possible,” meaning wait times could still occur.
Intel offers refunds upon request
In response to these issues, Intel clarified that customers could also request a refund instead of a replacement processor, though it’s unclear which regions this policy applies to. In Germany, for instance, customers are entitled to a refund or exchange from the retailer within the first two years of purchase under the standard warranty. Beyond that, the manufacturer’s warranty becomes the only option, which generally takes longer to process.
The shortage comes after Intel faced an unusually high rate of defects in its Raptor Lake processors, particularly those with a thermal design power (TDP) above 65 watts. This issue was caused by a firmware error that led to voltage spikes between 1.7 and 1.9 volts, damaging the processors. The problem has since been resolved through a BIOS update.
Extended warranty for affected CPUs
To account for the potential reduction in lifespan caused by the earlier firmware issues, Intel has extended the warranty for all affected Raptor Lake processors by two years. This extension applies to both boxed CPUs sold to consumers and tray CPUs used by system integrators in pre-built PCs.