Getting an Intel Core Ultra 200S Plus processor will currently cost you more than you might expect, if you can find one at all. Notably, in the US, these chips are arriving at a higher price than MSRP, with some retailers only able to offer pre-orders.
Popular American stores such as B&H and Micro Center are pricing up the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus at $329 and $349, respectively. For context, the processor should retail for $299, translating into a 10-17% increase in cost.
However, the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus fares the worst of Intel’s new CPUs. From the same stores, the chip is up for sale at $219-249, a whopping 15-25% higher than its $199 MSRP. This isn’t an isolated issue either, as even Amazon is listing both Intel processors at the same or even higher prices.
Worse still, availability for the 270K Plus is spotty, with listings often defaulting to pre-order status, while the 250K Plus seems more readily available. Regardless, there’s clearly something afoot that’s putting Intel’s marketing at odds with retail pricing.
These cost increases naturally affect the value of Core Ultra 200 Plus CPUs relative to their competition, namely AMD’s Ryzen 9000 series. While Intel is still offering plenty of bang for your buck at these prices, our recommendation of these chips comes with more of a caveat.
Take the chart above, where I’ve combined the value ratings from our 250K Plus review at $184/$199 and placed them alongside current costs. While a $4 decrease doesn’t make a significant difference for the Ryzen 5 9600X, the $50 bump on the 250K Plus massively narrows relative productivity value.
The 270K Plus doesn’t face as stark an issue against the Ryzen 7 9700X as the 250K Plus against its rival. Nonetheless, its productivity value still falls by a notable amount relative to MSRP.
I hope either Intel or retailers can shed some light on why these unexpected prices for the Core Ultra 200S Plus series are coming to pass, in addition to the strange lack of availability. Thankfully, here in the UK, I’m able to find both the 270K Plus and 250K Plus at their RRP with plenty of stock, so these problems appear to be varying by region.
Outside of our reviews, you’ll find plenty of chip recommendations in our best CPU guide that our Ben gave a refresh following the Core Ultra 200 Plus launch. Alternatively, check our Core Ultra 7 270K Plus vs Ryzen 7 9700X head-to-head for further analysis.
