Zen 4 supply is becoming incredibly difficult to come by, with some people referring to chips like Ryzen 7 7800X3D as “unobtainium.” In the words of one YouTuber, this could be an intentional tactic by AMD in hopes of ushering people over to Zen 5, particularly with Intel Core Ultra 200K just around the corner.
According to Moore’s Law Is Dead (MLID) sources, Zen 4 supply has noticeably dropped lately. This has caused a domino effect, leading to RMA claims taking much longer than usual. In one example, a US retailer found it impossible to replace Ryzen 7 7800X3D, a chip many target for its excellent gaming performance. Meanwhile, another retailer was offered an entirely new system by the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) since the retailer couldn’t confirm when the replacement chip would be available.
Where previously it took about a month to receive a replacement, now it seems that multiple months have become the norm. Furthermore, in the case of sought-after CPUs like the 7800X3D, retailers may have to choose other models as replacements or else they may wait indefinitely.
The cause of the bottleneck remains a mystery, but MLID suggests that it’s a purposeful move. “I think, recently, AMD cut off of Zen 4 supply early, [sic] throttled it heavily in order to try and force Zen 5 to replace it as soon as possible,” he claims. It’s not farfetched, given Ryzen 9000 Series is mostly equivalent to Ryzen 7000, albeit with faster productivity workloads and a leap in efficiency. There isn’t much to usher people from one to the other, and price reductions for the former generation make them a better prospect when they’re in stock.
MLID adds that some retailers have attempted to return unsold Zen 5 stock to AMD, but Team Red has denied requests. Instead, the YouTuber says this has prompted a call to action in order to solve woeful sales and rising stockpiles.
Now, does this mean you must rush to grab a 7800X3D before it’s too late? Not exactly. First, Zen 5 3D V-Cache chips are expected to debut this month, so it might be worth hanging fire. And second, less supply doesn’t mean none, so you should be able to find one if you’re patient enough. Besides, if you’re already rocking an AM5 processor and don’t even need to upgrade right now, you’re better saving that money for Zen 6, which will slot right in.