Rumor: Intel Retries Wacky Packaging With Rocket Lake Core i9-11900K

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Destined to fail like the last two?

Intel 11th-Gen Packaging
(Image credit: VideoCardz)

When Intel's Core i9-9900K came out a few years back, it came with some wacky 'dodecahedron' packaging. This packaging looked awesome and quickly went on its way to become a collector's item, right up until it was killed off due to shipping difficulties.

Then, for the 10th-Gen chips, Intel also made a special edition packaging for the range-topping i9-10900K -- but guess what -- it also got discontinued because it was a pain to ship. 

Now, a new report on VideoCardz appears to suggest that Intel is willing to give it yet another go with its Rocket Lake CPUs that will soon vie for the top spot in our CPU benchmarks hierarchy. 

Meet The Supposed Core i9-11900K Packaging

Image 1 of 2
Intel 11th-Gen Packaging
(Image credit: VideoCardz)

This new packaging for the Core i9-11900K again looks to be a kind of special edition, but rather than going for an unwieldy shape, this one looks a little easier to handle in shipping. It should stack better in boxes and lead to less wasted space and packaging materials, which helps reduce costs -- something that's pretty essential with the price of shipping in this pandemic. 

It looks like no cooler will be included, though that doesn't really come as a surprise as Intel stopped doing that at the high-end a while back, with a blue-tinted plastic interior that puts the CPU on display.

i9-11900KF, i9-11900, & i9-11900F Get a Plain Box

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Intel 11th-Gen Packaging
(Image credit: VideoCardz)

Meanwhile, the other i9 chips don't get the same love. If you're in the market for the Core i9-11900KF (unlocked without integrated graphics), i9-11900 (locked with integrated graphics), or i9-11900F (locked without integrated graphics), you'll have to make do with quite a plain box. 

Act Fast if You Want the Special Packaging

Of course -- they won't all go in the first week -- or months even. But Intel didn't keep the special edition packaging around for very long with the last two chips because of the wasteful and expensive shipping issues, and it wouldn't surprise us if this new packaging ends up suffering the same fate. If you have plans to purchase an i9-11900K, it might be worth not waiting longer than half a year with your purchase if you're in love with this new packaging and want to keep it as a memento.

Or just buy it on eBay later for $20. 

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Niels Broekhuijsen
Niels Broekhuijsen

Niels Broekhuijsen is a Contributing Writer for Tom's Hardware US. He reviews cases, water cooling and pc builds.

8 Comments Comment from the forums
  • cryoburner
    Destined to fail like the last two?
    I don't think the prior packaging actually "failed". In each case, Intel simply dropped the premium packaging around the time each processor's successor was released. They were no longer positioned at the top of the product stack, and were seeing price reductions at retail, so it didn't make much sense to keep shipping them in a special box.

    Orders for the 9900K in its dodecahedron packaging were discontinued at the end of June 2020, but its successor, the 10900K, had already launched a month prior. By that point, the 9900K was only comparable to the 10700K, a processor with an MSRP over $100 lower.

    And recently we heard that the 10900K's premium packaging is set to be discontinued at the end of this month, but that's because Rocket Lake processors should be coming next month. Again, the processor will no longer be the best they offer for their mainstream platforms, so it doesn't really make sense to keep shipping it in enthusiast packaging.

    Likewise, I would expect the exact same thing to happen with the 11900K. As soon as the 12th-gen Core processors start coming out, they will likely drop the fancy box in favor of more traditional packaging.
    Reply
  • rtoaht
    cryoburner said:
    I don't think the prior packaging actually "failed". In each case, Intel simply dropped the premium packaging around the time each processor's successor was released. They were no longer positioned at the top of the product stack, and were seeing price reductions at retail, so it didn't make much sense to keep shipping them in a special box.

    Orders for the 9900K in its dodecahedron packaging were discontinued at the end of June 2020, but its successor, the 10900K, had already launched a month prior. By that point, the 9900K was only comparable to the 10700K, a processor with an MSRP over $100 lower.

    And recently we heard that the 10900K's premium packaging is set to be discontinued at the end of this month, but that's because Rocket Lake processors should be coming next month. Again, the processor will no longer be the best they offer for their mainstream platforms, so it doesn't really make sense to keep shipping it in enthusiast packaging.

    Likewise, I would expect the exact same thing to happen with the 11900K. As soon as the 12th-gen Core processors start coming out, they will likely drop the fancy box in favor of more traditional packaging.

    Exactly! Well said.
    People these days are trying to sound cool by bashing Intel and publishing clickbait.
    Reply
  • cyrusfox
    I like the unique packaging.
    Sadly I have missed it on both as I got the 9900KF and traded that out for a 10850k, both are rather lame small paper packaged products.

    Special packaging only reserved for the very top sku, which I also likely won't be able to find or justify paying the premium for.
    Reply
  • ThetaX55
    Rocketlake or wait for adler lake with ddr 5 and pcie 5? Hearing september release for adler alek wile rocketlake will come out in march most likely. I fear a delay. but willing to wait for the better one. I just want a new pc by the end of the year.
    Reply
  • spongiemaster
    ThetaX55 said:
    Rocketlake or wait for adler lake with ddr 5 and pcie 5? Hearing september release for adler alek wile rocketlake will come out in march most likely. I fear a delay. but willing to wait for the better one. I just want a new pc by the end of the year.
    Intel may announce it in September to get a jump on AMD announcing Zen4, but there is no chance they're going on sale then. Even if by some miracle, Intel does start selling them this year, no normal person is going to see these until next year. The days of buying new releases on launch day are over. DDR5 is also likely to be in low supply and hideously expensive. If you're looking to upgrade your system now, don't wait for Alder Lake.
    Reply
  • Conahl
    pfft, complete waste of paper, unless these are slightly bigger then the cpu itself. its like the PC game boxes from ages ago, they were 10"x8 1/4" x2" and all they had inside was the cd in a jewel case, and possibly a manual before they went to the smaller5 1/4"x7.5"x1.5" boxes.
    Reply
  • cryoburner
    Conahl said:
    pfft, complete waste of paper, unless these are slightly bigger then the cpu itself.
    I'm pretty sure it's made out of plastic. : P
    Reply
  • Conahl
    still a waste of materials.
    Reply