AMD’s 9800X3D Chips Dominate and Sell Out: Here’s Why
AMD’s 9800X3D processors have crushed the competition, with unprecedented demand leaving the chips in short supply. According to David McAfee, AMD’s VP of Client Channel Business, and Frank Azor, Chief Architect of Gaming Solutions, the unexpected popularity stems not just from AMD’s excellence but also Intel’s shortcomings.
“We knew we built a great part,” Azor explained, “but we didn’t anticipate how poor the competing Intel Arrow Lake chips would be. The resulting demand far exceeded our forecasts.”
McAfee elaborated on AMD’s efforts to meet this demand. Despite increasing manufacturing output for both the 7000X3D and 9000X3D series, the supply chain faces constraints due to the long production time for processors. “It takes about twelve weeks to turn wafers into finished chips, making it longer than a quarter to ramp up production,” McAfee noted. He assured customers that AMD is prioritizing increased output, predicting steady improvements throughout the first half of the year.
Interestingly, the 7800X3D, considered the “affordable” option, emerged as the most popular among gamers. McAfee pointed out that the eight-core X3D parts dominate sales due to their exceptional gaming performance, with demand significantly outpacing high-core-count alternatives. “For pure gamers, there’s nothing else like it,” he emphasized.
