Monday, January 10th 2022
AMD Wanting to Time Launch of AM5 Platform with DDR5 Availability
It would seem that AMD is concerned about DDR5 memory availability in the market, at least based on an interview that Tom's Hardware had with David McAfee, the Corporate VP and GM of the Client Channel business at AMD. It's not just about availability it seems, but also pricing, as McAfee is quoted saying "One of the dynamics that we do think about a great deal is how and when to introduce that AM5 ecosystem and ensure that the DDR5 supply, as well as pricing of DDR5 memory, is mature and something that's easily attainable for an end-user".
With the current issues that the DRAM module makers are experiencing, with both staff issues related to the pandemic and the PMIC shortage some are having, the question is how long it'll take until there's a steady supply of DDR5 modules in the market, at a reasonable price point. We obviously don't know what kind of DRAM speeds AMD is aiming for either, although it's unlikely that the company is looking at something faster than JEDEC spec at this point in time, even though we expect faster speeds will also be supported. Outside of the US, it seems like a cheap stick of 8 GB of DDR5 memory is going for around the US$100 mark (€89) or roughly four times that of a similar DDR4 stick. Crucial in the US is offering a single 8 GB stick for US$68, with a 16 GB stick costing the same as a pair of 8 GB sticks, US$137. This is unlikely to be the kind of price point AMD is hoping for and most DDR5 memory modules are a lot more expensive.
McAfee continues "And so there may be other forces beyond the product itself that slow down or meter the introduction of APUs into that AM5 socket. You know, we do expect that to be an enthusiast-first introduction. And I think we're going to have to watch very carefully just how the DDR5 transition takes place and how quickly both supply and prices come in line to make it more affordable for a mainstream consumer that might be more interested in making a product in that socket." Although APUs are expected to gain more from the increased memory performance of DDR5 than CPUs, due to the integrated GPU getting more bandwidth compared to when paired with DDR4 memory, it looks like they might take longer to make an appearance than in the past from AMD, if DDR5 pricing and availability isn't right.
However, unlike Intel's Alder Lake, it doesn't seem like AMD's AM5 platform has an option to use DDR4 memory, which could be the achilles heel for the platform as a whole. Likewise, the Ryzen 6000 series of mobile APUs might also end up suffering, although AMD claims that its partners are "well-positioned" when it comes to supply of DDR5 and LPDDR5 for mobile products. Time will tell how things play out, but it looks like AMD might have painted itself into a corner, if supply and pricing doesn't improve in the next six to 12 months.
Source:
Tom's Hardware
With the current issues that the DRAM module makers are experiencing, with both staff issues related to the pandemic and the PMIC shortage some are having, the question is how long it'll take until there's a steady supply of DDR5 modules in the market, at a reasonable price point. We obviously don't know what kind of DRAM speeds AMD is aiming for either, although it's unlikely that the company is looking at something faster than JEDEC spec at this point in time, even though we expect faster speeds will also be supported. Outside of the US, it seems like a cheap stick of 8 GB of DDR5 memory is going for around the US$100 mark (€89) or roughly four times that of a similar DDR4 stick. Crucial in the US is offering a single 8 GB stick for US$68, with a 16 GB stick costing the same as a pair of 8 GB sticks, US$137. This is unlikely to be the kind of price point AMD is hoping for and most DDR5 memory modules are a lot more expensive.
However, unlike Intel's Alder Lake, it doesn't seem like AMD's AM5 platform has an option to use DDR4 memory, which could be the achilles heel for the platform as a whole. Likewise, the Ryzen 6000 series of mobile APUs might also end up suffering, although AMD claims that its partners are "well-positioned" when it comes to supply of DDR5 and LPDDR5 for mobile products. Time will tell how things play out, but it looks like AMD might have painted itself into a corner, if supply and pricing doesn't improve in the next six to 12 months.
109 Comments on AMD Wanting to Time Launch of AM5 Platform with DDR5 Availability
On the other hand: Yeah! They keep progress rolling! :D
AMD had it right with backwards RAM capability on AM2+/AM3, but I guess those old Athlon 64 guys don't work there anymore.
If Intel didn't have such a shady history of anti-competitive market corruption, I'd feel pity for them, but as it is they've invested a lot into early DDR5 and it's crap. Speeds are not yet that much faster than affordable mainstream DDR4 and the latency is horrendous, coupled with the penalty of running Gear2. If you could even buy it, it would be offer abysmal performance/$
I'm thinking that the 5800X3D may well retake the crown so AMD can wait for DDR5 yields to improve, speeds to distance themselves from DDR4 and prices to come down.
Anyway, they're saying now that it'll be DDR5 only but if the current situation continues I doubt they'll let the platform die on that hill. We don't even really know (or have a way to know) that the memory controller is DDR5 only, it would be smart for them to hedge their bets with a controller that supports both memory types so time will tell. Current plan is DDR5 but time will tell if that will be possible
I don't know if LPDDR5 is suffering the same shortages as DDR5 is, but I hope not because Rembrandt laptop APUs are probably the technology I'm most looking forward to in 2022; I want a 6000-series Ryzen ultraportable that can do in 15-25W what Tiger Lake and an MX450 needed 70-80W to do.
Now LPDDR5 certainly won't suffer the same shortages as DDR5 because, at least from what has been reported, the shortage is mostly caused by the power delivery ICs necessary for DDR5, that's not a problem with laptops (I'm not sure if sodimm DDR5 has on dimm power or uses the supply from the laptop mainboard).
www.tomshardware.com/uk/news/ddr5-memory-modules-available-in-japan
Edit here is a pic, does seem to have a pmic on it
Monitor is only 75hz and even if I got a new monitor it's not like I could pair a new CPU with a new GPU since there impossible to find.
Might just ride it out till the end of the year and see if AMD and Intels new chips line up with at least entry level DDR5
The smart thing to do here would be to release one more round for AM4, but since it's too late for that, they're just easing us into a delay instead. It's not a big deal, AM3+ still holds its own, but they'll probably miss the profitable holiday season '22.
Notice i did say POSSIBLY expensive DDR4, mine was £209, which is not exactly cheap.
Why would it not bite AMD in the ass if when they release AM5 as DDR5 only and DDR5 is still very expensive and scarse? explain to me rather than just making foolish comments.
Did you actually read this-
It would seem that AMD is concerned about DDR5 memory availability in the market, at least based on an interview that Tom's Hardware had with David McAfee, the Corporate VP and GM of the Client Channel business at AMD. It's not just about availability it seems, but also pricing, as McAfee is quoted saying "One of the dynamics that we do think about a great deal is how and when to introduce that AM5 ecosystem and ensure that the DDR5 supply, as well as pricing of DDR5 memory, is mature and something that's easily attainable for an end-user".
Which was the whole point of my post.
Make sense when you are going to criticize somebody, your whole post smells of crap.
Ignored from now on, don't need to read crap
www.techpowerup.com/290674/amd-explores-adding-ryzen-5000-series-support-to-300-series-chipsets
Do you have an Intel equivalent ~ oh wait they change sockets more frequently than I do socks :slap:Based on what exactly? You haven't presented any arguments yourself :rolleyes:
Just that this will be cheaper, that will be better so on & so forth ~ you haven't said anything (technical) supporting your arguments besides the pricing thing! And DDR5 availability is only going to increase, substantially in fact.
www.techpowerup.com/289911/sk-hynix-becomes-the-industrys-first-to-ship-24gb-ddr5-samples