AMD is deciding whether to make the OEM version available now or delay it until later.
AMD is deciding whether to make the OEM version available now or delay it until later.
Upon discovering that Ryzen 4000G APUs and R9 12C/24T AM4 CPUs are now sold only through OEM channels with retail versions, I realized this was quite surprising. Was it really unexpected? Didn't DIY PC Builders contribute by purchasing large quantities of Ryzen CPUs to revive AMD? Of course, since I'm a DIY enthusiast, if I were running a CPU/GPU business I would strive to both preserve the desktop ecosystem and boost the appeal of do-it-yourself builds.
5000G Series APUs are launching soon. AMD earns from OEMs, and they aren't prioritizing the DIY market much despite our support. Still, I hope 4000G is limited to DIY only—it's quite frustrating.
OEM makers dominate the PC market share. Consider a company purchasing hundreds of computers for its office instead of just one CPU. The more you engage with a business, the greater your influence becomes. These CPUs may start with low production numbers but will quickly attract high demand from OEMs, as contracts become extremely lucrative for AMD. Regarding DIY builders saving AMD, it might be accurate—but they received significant value without expecting it. PC builders didn’t purchase these chips out of kindness, and AMD wasn’t selling them for free. Understanding this helps remind us that businesses aren’t always aligned with our interests.
I hope AMD brings out the Ryzen 9 5900 for home builders. 12 cores and 24 threads, with a lower TDP thanks to slower base clocks. Ideal. Regarding the 5000G GPUs, I get why AMD is holding off (if they drop now you’ll see the new Ryzen 7 5700G priced at $800, but I’d love to see them available today).
It could be said that at least the OEMs are certain AMD delivers products to customers who are satisfied and likely to keep purchasing from them in the future. There’s no need for reselling, as the items go straight to computer manufacturers, which is another advantage.
I understand you're concerned about businesses not being your ally. However, it seems you're wondering if AMD might offer both OEM and retail options when products are released.
They might sell out quickly if they release a CPU for DIY, and the community would likely react negatively.
I believe AMD made a smart comeback. We only chose their products because they offered strong value at competitive prices. If the offerings didn’t meet expectations or didn’t justify the cost compared to Intel, we wouldn’t have acted. If I owned AMD, I’d focus on strategies that maximize profit, usually through partnerships with OEMs. Currently, keeping manufacturing costs high aligns with that approach.