AMD stalls Ryzen 9000 launch over poor chip quality

AMD has delayed the launch of its Ryzen 9000 desktop processors after discovering that production units initially shipped to channel partners weren't up to snuff. Out of an abundance of caution, AMD said it was holding back the official arrival of its six- and eight-core Ryzen 9600X and 9700X CPUs until August 8, and its 12- …

[Blackjack]

*Looks at Intel.

AMD being cautious makes sense it avoids lawsuits.

[pig]

It is all in the timing.

Last year they may have released anyway, but with Intel facing calls to recall it's 'faulty' hardware it makes sense for them to take the higher ground this time.

[Korev]

I guess AMD want to be seen to be Ryzen above Intel...

[MrAptronym]

Easy PR win...

Watching Intel getting (rightly) raked over the coals for their quality issues, this seems like a no-brainer.

I don't think anyone will complain about the delay, and if they release a non-faulty (acceptably faulty?) line of processors after this then it just further draws favorable comparisons to Intel. This is a huge PR win for them as long as they don't mess it up.

[Blackjack]

Re: Easy PR win...

Now if only most videogame companies favoured AMD.. that would be the crushing win.

Then again monopolies are bad, if Intel dies it wouldn't take long for AMD to become another Intel cause money dear boy.

[I like fruits]

Re: Easy PR win...

What!? Taking into account such improbable event sounds very weird.

[Zoopy]

VTune

I was considering using Intel for my next CPU because of how good VTune is.

Intel really scored an own-goal on this one.

[Sorry that handle is already taken.]

Re: Easy PR win...

Nobody will remember this delay in 12 months. Everyone will still be talking about Intel and wondering if their CPU was cooked before the microcode update.

[Anonymous Coward]

They have the edge on Intel on nearly every metric. Why risk squandering it?

I suspect the 5950X has more than a few years left in it so gawd knows what CPUs will be by the time I actually want an upgrade...

[Benegesserict Cumbersomberbatch]

Didn't anyone tell them?

The 9000 series is the most reliable computer ever made. No 9000 computer has ever made a mistake or distorted information. They are all, by any practical definition of the words, foolproof and incapable of error.

[RM Myers]

Re: Didn't anyone tell them?

HAL, is that you?

[Bubba Von Braun]

Re: Didn't anyone tell them?

I am sorry Dave, I am afraid I cant do that.. This conversation can serve no purpose.. Good Bye

[The Dogs Meevonks]

Re: Didn't anyone tell them?

But can it open the pod bay doors?

[tygrus.au]

Not a problem in the silicon

AMD said it wasn't the silicon. Variable quality only affecting some could mean it's happening with chip assembly, the bits you see on the outside, wiring from the pins, IHS or the tiny capacitors around the chip. They've kept it mysterious.

Other chips (incl from Intel) have occasionally had problems with microcode to work around, change in voltage/frequency, repackaged.

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah right. What are they going to do in two weeks? Reset the factory line and remake all the chips? Clock them down?

Clearly AMD are trolling Intel here. It's a classic move.

[maffski]

Surely they've come up with a test that will identify the at risk chips and allow them to return the rest to the vendors, they won't be 'fixing' any of them in the time available

Although the 9400f or something may have just moved forward in the schedules

[The Dogs Meevonks]

My understanding is that first batch aren't hitting their expected out of box rated speeds and boosts... it could be as simple as boosting 100mhz lower... and from what I've read/seen they have a quick and easy test to check them over and can bin or ship them back to vendors... and if they bin them... they'll likely rebrand them as a lower tier later on.

Remember how all those 5800X3D CPU's that didn't quite meet the spec... were rebadged as 5600X3D ones as an exclusive for the US market.

[The Dogs Meevonks]

If it's literally in the initial production run after they finalise and are no longer making engineering samples... and they've improved quality since then (happens all the time) and they're producing tens of thousands now as they ramp up production. Then replacing all of the first batch in a couple of weeks with current production makes sense.

The delay is for consumer parts, not channel partner parts... they're already shipping.

The expected consumer rush to buy the latest parts is going to be small in comparison to those channel partners... and could easily be covered in 2 weeks... especially with a staggered launch window now. 2 CPU's on the 8th and the other 2 a week later on the 15th.

[IGotOut]

The real reason...

...they noticed the product code wasn't confusing enough and missed AI.

They now are rebranding them with new, incomprehensible product SKU's but now with added AI.