AMD has pushed back the availability of its 16-core Ryzen 9 3950X Desktop CPU to November. The company made it official through its community forum. This news is in contradiction to the previous reports alleging that the processor was going to launch at the end of September.

The message said:

Hi Everyone,

We are focusing on meeting the strong demand for our 3rd generation AMD Ryzen processors in the market and now plan to launch both the AMD Ryzen 9 3950X and initial members of the 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen Threadripper processor family in volume this November. We are confident that when enthusiasts get their hands on the world’s first 16-core mainstream desktop processor and our next-generation of high-end desktop processors, the wait will be well worth it.

Thank you

AMD Corporate

Ryzen 3950X Delayed Launch: Availability Issues Or A Marketing Move?

The message doesn’t specify a reason for the delayed availability of the Ryzen 3950X CPU. However, it could be related to the low stock of the 12-core Ryzen 9 3900X. The processor is out-of-stock at most retailers, and it is quite hard to get your hands on one.

Another thing to take note of in the message from AMD is the launch of “initial members of the 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen Threadripper processor family in volume”. The company is planning to launch at least some models of the next generation of Threadripper processors in November this year. The delayed launch of the Ryzen 9 3950X could be a marketing move as well though we can’t establish it without facts. If the company had launched the 16-Core AM4 CPU earlier, buyers who might initially want a Threadripper could opt for the Ryzen 9 3950X instead of waiting for a couple of months. They might also be able to save some money while getting adequate performance for most tasks. Ryzen 9 3950X might have encroached upon the sales of 3rd Gen Threadripper CPUs before they even launched.

The delay in availability of the AMD Ryzen 9 3950X CPU could be a bummer for people who have been eagerly waiting to buy it. If the “volume” production meets the demands of the consumers will only be seen once we are in November. Hopefully, we might witness an improvement in the availability of all AMD processors in the coming months.