The Core i9-13900K and Core i9-13900KS are popular choices for extreme gamers who demand the best from their CPUs, but did the presence of a premium protective shell also entice some customers who enjoy displaying silicon-related mantelpieces? Intel has informed customers that it is changing the retail packaging for two 13th Generation Raptor Lake processors. For the aforementioned SKUs, Team Blue will launch a more understated-looking boxed solution, which will be available in both the global and Chinese markets. Intel claims that it intends to reduce the amount of space needed to store processors during shipping because the smaller box designs will increase the number of units per pallet. According to their estimates, this change might increase each shipping package’s box count from the current 324 to a new target of roughly 1620.

Up until recently, Intel shipped the Core i9-13900K and Core i9-13900KS in “Tier 4” boxes, but as part of its new cost- and space-saving strategy, the two processors are now set to be sold in “Tier 2” retail packaging, which appears to be a standard folding paperboard carton (as seen containing Core i7 and lower end SKUs). Although real boxed dimensions were not revealed in the Product Change Notification (PCN) document, the announcement came with a series of preview representations. When compared to the previous arrangement of a “premium silver tinted plastic wafer package” + box sleeve, the new packaging scheme appears smaller. There is no evidence that the cost savings will be distributed to the end customer, but Team Blue will ultimately save a few dollars for themselves in the process. Since the future of Meteor Lake-S is allegedly in jeopardy, Tom’s Hardware believes that a late tweak to retail packaging may portend the advent of a replacement CPU range. Raptor Lake Refresh is predicted to comprise the next desktop lineup.