Intel Revives Comet Lake with Core i5-110: A Rebranded i5-10400 After Five Years
In a surprising move, Intel has quietly launched the Core i5-110, a CPU listed on the company’s official website as part of the 10th Gen Comet Lake family. While the name suggests a fresh entry in Intel’s mainstream lineup, the reality is much more unusual， the Core i5-110 is a straight rebrand of the Core i5-10400, a chip originally released in 2020.
A Five-Year-Old CPU, Rebranded
The Core i5-110 shares identical specifications with the i5-10400:
6 cores / 12 threads
2.9 GHz base clock, up to 4.3 GHz boost
12 MB Intel Smart Cache
14nm process node
65W TDP
Intel lists its launch window as Q3 2025, meaning this is not a refreshed chip, nor does it include architectural or performance updates. It is simply the same processor, reintroduced under a new name.
Why Bring Back Comet Lake?
The timing and reasoning behind the move are puzzling. Intel’s current mainstream Alder Lake (12th Gen) and newer Raptor Lake (13th/14th Gen) CPUs remain widely available and compatible with the LGA 1700 platform, which is still relevant in 2025. By contrast, the LGA 1200 platform, which the Core i5-110 requires, has been discontinued.
The result is a CPU with limited usability， unless a user already owns a compatible motherboard, or manages to find a cheap bundle of both CPU and board, the product offers little value. Paying close to $200 for a five-year-old design in 2025 is unlikely to appeal to most buyers.
Speculation on Intel’s Strategy
The bigger question is why Intel would revive a dead platform at all. Possible explanations include:
Inventory clearance: repurposing unsold Comet Lake stock with a new label.
OEM support: providing partners with chips for budget prebuilt systems in markets where LGA 1200 boards remain in circulation.
Stopgap availability: filling a temporary gap in certain regions until more affordable 12th/13th Gen parts become available.
Regardless of intent, the Core i5-110 highlights the oddity of Intel’s current product strategy—reviving a 14nm CPU in an era when the company is pushing toward its cutting-edge 18A node with Panther Lake.
Would you consider buying a rebranded Comet Lake CPU in 2025 if it came bundled cheap with a motherboard, or should Intel have left this chapter closed?
