Intel and AMD are Notifying Chinese Customers of CPU Shortage

Intel and AMD are reportedly notifying customers in China and warning them about longer-than-expected fulfillment times for server CPUs. Wait times are reportedly tracking to be as long as six months after purchase.

As first reported by Reuters, Intel and AMD are both expecting delays in CPU fulfillment. As there is a global increase and demand for chipsets, supply chains and manufacturers are feeling the pressure. Investments in AI are resulting in the supply chain of CPUs and RAM being constrained.

Those within the know have said that CPU shortages have been increasing over the last few weeks, resulting in Intel and AMD sending notices. This will largely impact AI companies, which are looking to purchase CPUs en masse to help power their initiatives and infrastructure.

With increased demand on Intel’s supply chain, server products in China are being raised in price by around 10 percent. Though this varies based on customer contracts in place, per the report. Intel is said to be wading through a backlog of orders already, resulting in delays of up to six months for its fourth- and fifth-generation Xeon CPUs.

AMD is also being impacted by increased CPU demand. The report goes on to claim that lead times on AMD products are being delayed by upwards of 10 weeks. “We remain confident in our ability to meet customer demand globally based on our strong supplier agreements and supply chain, including our partnership with TSMC,” AMD said in a statement to Reuters.

It remains to be seen if and when the CPU and RAM situation will be mitigated. Analysts have largely suggested that 2026 will be a tough year for pricing. Outside of contracted server customers, general consumers are also feeling the impact of rising component prices.