Intel is discontinuing its 9th-generation Skylake-X processors

Skylake-X reaches end-of-life, and Intel might not have any new HEDT chips on the horizon

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

Intelhas confirmed that its discontinuing its 9th-generationSkylake-Xline of high-end desktop (HEDT) processors.

The chipmaker has issued aProduct Change Notification(PCN) for the soon-to-be-defunct Core-X series. In it, Intel confirms that it will no longer be taking orders for these processors from January 22, 2021.

Any orders made until then, Intel warns, are non-cancellable and non-returnable for distributors, though consumers buying up Skylake-X chips are still protected by product warranties and consumer laws.

The last shipment of Skylake-X processor is expected a year from now, on July 9 2021.

The termination will include all Intel Skylake-X processors based on the LGA2066 socket, including the Intel Core i7 9800X, Core i7 9820X Core i9 9900X, Core i9 9920X, Core i9 9940X, Core i9 9960X and Core i9 9980XE.

Several Xeon W series workstation processors are also being discontinued, including the 2102, 2104, 2123, 2125, 2133, 2135, 2145, 2155, 2195, and 2175.

This discontinuation of the Skylake-X series is hardly surprising, as Intel has already had its 10th-generation Cascade Lake-X chips, including the flagship Core i9-1090XE, on the market for some time.

Get the best Black Friday deals direct to your inbox, plus news, reviews, and more.

Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.

However,rumors claim that Intel won’t be launching any new HEDT processors any time soon. In a leaked product roadmap from the Intel Partner Connect virtual event,  the whole of 2020 is one big grey slab of ‘Core X Series’ on Intel’s X299 chipset, suggesting that the existing HEDT processors will be the only products offered this year.

It’s not all bad news, though, as it’s likely that Intel is holding out until a whole new motherboard and socket is ready, rather than rushing out another HEDT processor series based on the aging 14nm process.

Carly Page is a Freelance journalist, copywriter and editor specialising in Consumer/B2B technology. She has written for a range of titles including Computer Shopper, Expert Reviews, IT Pro, the Metro, PC Pro, TechRadar and Tes.

AMD Ryzen 9800X3D overclocking potential shown: CPU hits jaw-dropping 6.9GHz, exceeds 1,200 fps in Counter-Strike 2

Gigabyte spoils AMD’s Ryzen 9000X3D surprise by leaking flagship 16-core CPU, which could be something special for gamers with X3D ‘turbo mode’

Filming with an iPhone? A smart, AI-powered gimbal from Hohem can help