[TechPowerUp] No Ryzen 9950X3D2 for TechPowerUp, Gamers Nexus, or ComputerBase
Posted by snollygoster1@reddit | hardware | View on Reddit | 60 comments
Posted by snollygoster1@reddit | hardware | View on Reddit | 60 comments
SirActionhaHAA@reddit
So from what is known, it seems like amd sent out review samples of the 9950x3d2 to very few reviewers or sites and excluded many. Those that did not receive samples included
According to a tweet from JayzTwoCents
It looks like amd simply wasn't too interested in marketing the 9950x3d2 because they saw it as a niche product that would ship in low volume.
GamersNexus jumped the gun with misleading and clickbaity claims about them getting blacklisted when it was actually amd that didn't care about the 9950x3d2.
xfvh@reddit
The problem wasn't that they didn't get the review sample, as was made very clear in the video, the problem was that AMD stopped answering their emails and referred them to a third-party PR firm.
SirActionhaHAA@reddit
Gn said that amd stopped answering their questions about "drivers", idk what comments they were tryin to get out of amd but since that ain't part of a new product launch why would amd continue answering?
Just like other reviewers said, amd frequently ignores their questions and don't reply unless they are related to product launches. And shouldn't that be the case? Amd is not part of the youtuber's day to day content creation, why should they engage when they don't have a product to launch?
webjunk1e@reddit
Let me put on my best shocked face.
bizude@reddit
I think that's what is going on here.
While I sympathize with reviewers who wanted to test and play with AMD's latest and greatest, they're not gonna send out a billion samples of a low-volume product that will only prove interesting in niche workloads.
Geddagod@reddit
Honestly, it feels like Intel seeds out way more -KS samples to reviewers than AMD did for this specific chip. Though I have no specific numbers to back this up lol.
They didn't send it to the right people who would investigate those workloads. A few names on that list that just don't really bench server/HPC/prosumer workloads where these might shine.
JuanElMinero@reddit
I agree on 'blacklisted' being a bit overblown, but 4 German (mostly) written outlets and 2 of the largest US-based hardware YouTubers feels like a weird pattern to exclude.
Hard to make sense of that selection.
HuntKey2603@reddit
I mean, its GN, they were salivating at the thought of that title and thumbnail even if it didn't match reality whatsoever.
the_dude_that_faps@reddit
The fact that TPU didn't get one or computer base means that, once again, GN is just a drama channel now. They weren't targeted specifically.
snollygoster1@reddit (OP)
Very bold of you to say that here. Apparently anyone who says that "is a bot" because "he's protecting consumers" in the same way Infowars just informed people.
webjunk1e@reddit
Here's my upvote at least. GN is worse than the National Enquirer at this point.
webjunk1e@reddit
Man, I'm kind of really getting tired of whining from the tech "press". It's a $900 chip that AMD probably doesn't expect to sell well and just isn't throwing any marketing behind. Just because these YouTubers want to make a video detailing what everyone already knows (and most likely putting AMD in a bad light), doesn't mean AMD is under some obligation to seed them hardware. The ones screaming the loudest are also the ones most able to just eat the cost. They'll make far more revenue from views, regardless. It's just some whiny ass toddler bullshit.
Aggravating_Ring_714@reddit
BLACKLISTED!!!!!111 /s The Steve drama is so embarrassing .. same crap as usual.
snollygoster1@reddit (OP)
It's a bit weird that TechPowerUp of all places didn't get a sample. As far as I know they're fairly non-controversial, even though I do not believe controversy is a good reason to dodge reviews. Also I cannot tell if LMG/LTT has a review sample.
Unkechaug@reddit
TPU is the best we've got in this post-Anandtech hellscape we call reality.
ctzn4@reddit
The fact that my first instinct was to read it as "Tensor Processing Unit" instead of Tech Power-up makes me feel disappointed in myself.
snollygoster1@reddit (OP)
My mind went to TPU as in the plastic material that's flexible.
ctzn4@reddit
That's another good one. Acronyms, amirite?
FrenchDipsBeDrippin@reddit
If I were to ever hit the lottery, I'm buying the Anandtech domain and restoring the entire site
doscomputer@reddit
A lot of folks out there think w1zzard has a nvidia/intel bias and I've seen more than a few people complain about him being super ban heavy on his forums.
fastheadcrab@reddit
The decision by AMD is pretty strange. I can imagine there will probably be a decent amount of more critical publicity due to the pricing and the lack of a big performance uplift.
But AMD should use their better judgment. Denying a review sample won't stop a reviewer from getting samples elsewhere or just buying one once it is available.
Most rational consumers will also see the 9950X3D2 for what it is, which is basically a top of the line product that has a significant price increase for a moderate gain in performance. AMD can charge a lot because of their strong position, but this is really only needed for those who need the large cache on all cores or a homogenous core setup
no_f-s_given@reddit
*miniscule gain in performance
Deeppurp@reddit
They're probably spending more time on it because, well they possibly guessed at the performance indicated by the current reviews and are putting out a different kind of video.
They do this from time to time with some product releases.
the_dev0iD@reddit
I could see them just reviewing on labs. Don't think people really care about this release.
snollygoster1@reddit (OP)
It looks like the CPU category is "coming soon" on the labs site. Maybe they're just in some sort of transition period.
Proud_Tie@reddit
Phoronix got one two weeks ago, weird that TPU get one either.
LockingSlide@reddit
On top of that TPU tends to have a lot more comprehensive productivity suite of benchmarks, at least compared many other outlets that focus more on the gaming side.
It's like AMD just sent these out at random because they had very few samples to allocate or something.
JDragon@reddit
Phoronix got a sample so there’s a review out there focusing on productivity at least.
imaginary_num6er@reddit
Not to mention they usually don’t report leaks or news the fastest compared to Tom’s and other outlets
TBradley@reddit
Probably because it will not be much different than the regular 9950x3d. Techpowerup doesn’t go for review guide spin.
reddit_equals_censor@reddit
don't know if computerbase got blacklisted and we KNOW, that shity amd blacklisted gamersnexus, because gn made great investigations into amd's evil.
but techpowerup?
they didn't give one of the TONS of 9950x3d2 chips, that they have by now (they could have released this chip ages ago and samples were going around AGES AGO), to techpowerup?
techpowerup, who is running multiple databases used by tons and tons of people. techpowerup being the primary gpu spec database, that people use.
why techpowerup?
did some idiots at amd just not get enough samples collected to send out to press combined with blacklisting of amazing tech journalists like gamersnexus?
wtf is going on.
bizude@reddit
Do we know that? They were sampled the 9850X3D which was barely released like two months ago. I just watched the latest video from Steve, and I can't find anywhere that supports his conclusion that he was blacklisted.
It sounds like AMD simply didn't respond to some of his inquires. There's a big difference between being blacklisted, and having a question ignored.
ammie12@reddit
feels like another halo product situation , tiny gains, high price, very niche audience overall.
BloodyLlama@reddit
Hell, I'm the target audience for this and I still won't buy one as my 9950X3D is already quite good and tearing my loop apart to replace it is far to much work. If they had released this, even at such a high price, instead of the 9950X3D I bet they would be selling a ton of them.
reddit_equals_censor@reddit
if you are curious behind the likely reason for this launch.
zen6 from my understanding on desktop will come some time after nova lake, so they wanted THEIR BEST with zen5 out in the market a while before nova lake comes out to end up better in comparisons to nova lake, while zen6 is still cooking.
but it is cool, that it got released either way, because now people can finally do x3d dual ccd tests. forcing games to use both ccds, etc... and testing all the claims, that amd made in the past.
Attainted@reddit
Hardware Unboxed confirms this. The biggest gain I remember them pointing out was 4% and they balked at it themselves for the price it commands. They mostly said 'the engineers told us so beforehand, and now that we've tested it, yup, it's exactly how they said it would be: not worth it'.
Noble00_@reddit
Time to put those tin foil hats on lol. Definitely a quintessential AMD situation, not surprising. That said, the fact that other publications didn't get them as well is interesting, Andreas Schilling from Hardwareluxx didn't get them as well. I think it's interesting considering GN made a whole video as if they were solely targeted, blacklisted as they say lmao (although, they do make some good points).
Honestly, I think what they've should've done as suggested from a comment I read is branding these as Epyc 4005 Grado-X products and nothing would've really come from this.
snollygoster1@reddit (OP)
Funny you mention German - Der8uer has one. It's certainly weird
TheMightyBunt@reddit
Der8uer can probably source chips via ThermalGrizzly which may get access to chips for product testing or from other partners.
bankkopf@reddit
He used to work for one of the larger German computer hardware retailers. Might have been able to source them from there. He definitely did when he still worked at Caseking and did the CPU binning stuff for them.
MumrikDK@reddit
He'd be an odd one to keep in the loop if you're blacklisting people who might be critical of your launch.
SmokingPuffin@reddit
It definitely doesn't stand for Advanced Marketing Department.
bankkopf@reddit
Both Computerbase and Hardwareluxx not getting one is unusual for sure, PCGH received one from AMD though. AMD must be worried about performance or something, why else would they keep their new halo CPU out of the hand of reviewers. It's barely faster than the predecessor on PCGH's test but costs quite a lot more.
Popingheads@reddit
I mean everyone knows the performance is going to be meh, especially in gaming. Its a niche halo part that honestly makes no sense for 99% of people.
It honestly doesn't even make sense for most publications to review it unless they have lots of free time lol.
So this whole launch is whatever. If someone can make use of this chip in their workload good for them, but mostly it doesn't have a reason to exist.
bankkopf@reddit
There are no other product releases at the moment or no convention to go to, publications indeed do have time compared to other situations in the past. Surely they will make time to test a halo product with throwback to the 00s pricing.
If AMD is daring to launch a product that is nearly 50% more expensive than their previous best while only boosting performance by about 5% but power draw by 10%, AMD should be able to handle the reviews out of this. Might be in the same "waste of sand" tier of products like some of the recent Intel CPUs.
Numerlor@reddit
doing it as an am5 epyc definitely would've been the move, but there is some more validation there and I'm guessing they want to cash in on the random people that don't need it buying the cpu
GumshoosMerchant@reddit
Dang. Whoever is in charge of Radeon PR has infected the rest of the company, it seems.
RecoveringXRPHodler@reddit
Hairy Hagrid must be throwing a hissy fit.
snollygoster1@reddit (OP)
Yeah, of course his video is the top upvoted one here.
HotRoderX@reddit
I don't understand something, whats the big deal? Can't all these places just go out and buy the chip? Sure its money but also businesses have expenses. I am sure with there laundry list of contacts and such. They can easily get the chip.
Much easier then any of us could.
also unpopular opinion but I sorta understand the GN thing. GN been doing a bunch of negative pieces lately. While some are warranted its sorta becoming there brand now. I can't blame a company any company for not wanting to get mixed in with that.
That is regardless if its good or bad.
Dominicus1165@reddit
The computerbase article says that they got denied by the store because „not for press“ (probably using their business email)
std_move@reddit
it takes a while to test a product.
if some reviewers get a sample before you can buy it in retail stores, no one will read/watch your reviews as it will be a week late
snollygoster1@reddit (OP)
The problem is that giving it to some reviewers and not others is basically showing favortism. While these reviewers could go and get a chip at retail then they've missed the window at which their review is relevant.
HotRoderX@reddit
I not trying to be rude but sense when do companies give a flying.... yea companies don't care about Favoritism.
How is a company deciding the best way to advertise is favoritism. This is like saying running a commercial on YouTube instead of hulu is showing favoritism.
On top of that, it be better for places to source there own products. That way there no question if there getting a cherry picked product to review. That just makes the company look good. Its not like these tubers don't make enough money specially places like GN.
DeliciousIncident@reddit
Um, didn't Hardware Unboxed posted a review of this, and they typically test a lot of games?
Zone15@reddit
Interesting for sure that Hardware Unboxed got a sample considering they are one of the most pro AMD channels. If HUB didn't get a sample I would say there is no bias in who got one, but looking at who did and didn't, it's interesting for sure.
meduscin@reddit
lisa su is such a pssy, amd has lived enough to become worst than intel
blackbalt89@reddit
No 9950x3D² for me either.
I hate this scummy shit.
HotRoderX@reddit
lets be real you were not in the market for a 9950x3D² you simply posted what you posted for Karma reasons.
Islu64@reddit
Did the radeon management department start managing ryzen lately or what?