When a hardware piece becomes hot in the market, scarcity reports are never far behind. Among budget processors, one of the most sought-after models is the Intel Pentium G4560, the first under that series to incorporate Hyper-Threading support. Its formidable price-to-performance ratio made it vanish from several stores, and some online portals directly suggested or claimed that Intel planned to retire the chip to prevent cannibalization of the Core i3 series. What is the truth behind all this?
The Facts
This is the rumor check; here are the facts: The Intel Pentium G4560 is a desktop processor based on the Kaby Lake architecture, compatible with the LGA 1151 socket. Its frequency reaches 3.5 GHz, has no Turbo mode, and delivers 3 MB of L3 cache, but there is something even more interesting in the spec list. Its dual-core configuration is backed by Hyper-Threading support, making it the first "modern" Pentium to include that feature (the Pentium 4 received Hyper-Threading back in 2002). The Pentium G4560 (63 euros) sits just 200 MHz behind the Core i3-6100 (109 euros), but such a price difference makes it a very attractive processor for budget-minded users. The problem is that its cost skyrocketed across the pond. Amazon now sells it for $79, and it doesn't have many units to speak of.
Rumors and Reality
This sudden price change created tension across the web, and the Hardware.fr portal was one of the first to suggest that Intel had activated a kind of artificial scarcity to limit the number of Pentium G4560 units on the market and force consumers toward the Core i3 series. Other portals went as far as saying that Santa Clara planned to cancel the processor completely, which did not help calm the waters. However, earlier this week an Intel spokesperson confirmed that the company continues to offer the Pentium G4560, and that what has been observed on the web is possibly part of "a normal fluctuation" in demand.
One of the most striking hypotheses about the G4560 takes us into cryptocurrency territory. Most guides aimed at assembling Ethereum mining rigs recommend Celeron processors, but it is likely that some enthusiasts decided to give the CPU a little extra margin. For now, we'll stick with Intel's statement. The Pentium G4560 is alive, and anyone who wants one can find it here.
