Ezyplugion – An unusual promotion appeared on the Newegg online store and immediately became a hot topic among hardware enthusiasts. Instead of the typical “buy a CPU and get RAM free,” this time it was the opposite: buy RAM and get a free flagship CPU.
The product in question was the G.SKILL Ripjaws S5 Series 64GB (F5-6000J3636F32GX2-RS5K), which was displayed with a suspicious offer:
“Free 285K CPU with purchase”
Can You Get a Free Flagship CPU?
The CPU in question wasn’t just any CPU. Newegg included the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, the latest desktop processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture.
Its specifications are top-tier:
- 24 cores (8 Performance + 16 Efficiency)
- Unlocked (overclockable)
- Join Intel’s latest flagship CPU lineup
Separately, this processor retails for around $593.49 (approximately Rp9 million).
Confusing Calculations
What makes this promo so controversial is its nonsensical calculations.
RAM Price:
- $884.99 (around Rp13–14 million)
- CPU Price:
- $593.49
If the CPU were truly “free,” then logically, the RAM would be very expensive. However, if you calculate it the other way around, the “real” price of the RAM is only around $291.50 after subtracting the CPU price.
This is where the oddity lies—these figures don’t align with the market price of premium-grade 64GB DDR5 RAM.
System Error or Marketing Strategy?
There has been no official explanation from Newegg as to whether this promotion is:
- Incorrect listing (system error)
- Intentional marketing strategy
- Or a special bundling package with specific pricing
However, many users suspect this is a reverse promotional misplacement.
Typically, this type of promotion occurs in the form of:
- Buy a CPU → Get Free RAM
Not the other way around.
Hardware Community Reaction
The PC builder and enthusiast community immediately began discussing this promotion. Many were trying to determine whether the offer was truly valid or simply a bug.
Most even called this a rare “bug deal,” where buyers could get a higher value if the system wasn’t fixed immediately.
Risks for Buyers
While it may seem tempting, there are several things to keep in mind:
- Promotion can be canceled at any time
- Orders may be canceled by the system
- There is no guarantee the CPU will actually be shipped
Previous similar cases often resulted in transaction cancellations by the store.
This “buy RAM and get a flagship CPU for free” promotion is clearly unusual and has raised many questions. Whether it’s a system error or a unique marketing strategy, this offer has certainly managed to attract attention.
For those of you interested, it’s best to exercise caution. Because in the world of e-commerce, offers that seem too good to be true are often not what they seem.
