Tag: DDR4

  • AMD Ryzen 5800X3D Relaunch Required Extensive Engineering Work

    AMD Ryzen 5800X3D Relaunch Required Extensive Engineering Work

    Key Takeaway

    – AMD re-announced the Ryzen 7 5800X3D at Computex 2026 as a re-release, set for June 25 at $350.
    – The chip highlights AM4 platform longevity, allowing gamers to keep using DDR4 memory and existing motherboards.
    – Re-engineering was required because TSMC’s original 3D V-Cache stacking process was no longer available.
    – Engineers had to re-qualify, fabricate, test, and validate the chip using the new stacking approach to meet quality standards.

    Comptex Re-Intros the 5800X3D Chip

    After numerous leaks and rumors, the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D has been formally re announced by Team Red at Computex 2026. The tenth anniversary of the 5800X3D just goes to show the longevity of the AM4 platform, even as the company continues to produce Zen 4 and Zen 5 chips. This means gamers can stick to reliable, relatively inexpensive DDR4 memory without haveing to upgrade their motherboards, while still getting a bump in CPU and gaming performance.

    Return of the King at $350

    In press briefings at Computex, AMD framed the Ryzen 7 5800X3D as the “Return of the King,” evoking the chip’s status in 2022 as the first Ryzen gaming processor to introduce 96MB of 3D V-Cache. Even today, it remains one of the best go-to options, with the re-release set for June 25, 2026, at a retail price of $350.

    McAfee Addresses Gamers

    At Computex, David McAfee, the corporate VP and GM of AMD’s Client Channel and Graphics Business, addressed gamers while announcing the processor. Stating “We’re commited to giving gamers high-performance technologies with the flexibility to upgrade their systems over time. Ultimately, our goal is to deliver unmatched ownership experiences for players around the world.” The road to re-releasing the Ryzen 7 5800X3D was not as straightforward though as simply refabricating the chips, because AMD says a lot of engineering effort went into adapting to the current chip manufacturing landscape.

    Engineering Behind the Return

    Bringing back the 5800X3D wasn’t just a matter of dusting off the old design and pressing “go” on the production line. McAfee stated that “a whole body of engineering work” went into reproducing the original bonding process TSMC used for the 5800X3D. This is because, as AMD moved forward to second-generation 3D V-Cache designs, the original process was no longer available. So engineers had to re-qualify the design for the new stacking approach, fabricate and validate new sample chips, and run extensive reliability tests to ensure the re-released chip would meet quality control requirements and gamers’ standards.

    Process Changes Explained

    McAfee explained: “It’s not as simple as bringing back the 5800X3D. The original stacking process that was used at TSMC changed when we went from first-gen to second-gen cache, so we had to re-engineer that product, and there actually went a fair amount of development work into bringing back the 5800X3D.” AMD had to put a whole lot of work into re-validating the chip for modern fabrication.

    • 96MB of 3D V-Cache
    • Re-release date: June 25, 2026
    • Retail price: $350
    • AM4 platform compatibility
    • DDR4 memory support
    Sources
    Tags: , , , ,
  • RAM Prices to Rise 110% in Q1 as SSD Costs Increase 60%

    RAM Prices to Rise 110% in Q1 as SSD Costs Increase 60%

    Key Takeaways

    1. RAM prices in Germany have remained stable recently but surged by 340% since last July.
    2. Analysts predict DDR4 and DDR5 RAM prices could increase by 105% to 110% in early 2026.
    3. Laptop memory prices, including LPDDR4X and LPDDR5X, are expected to rise by 88% to 93%.
    4. The demand for DRAM in AI data centers is driving up memory costs for PCs and laptops.
    5. NAND demand is also increasing, with anticipated price hikes of 55% to 60%, and an SSD shortage may last until 2028.

    According to a study done by 3DCenter, RAM prices in Germany have hardly gone up from January 18 to February 1. However, when we look back to last July, the average cost of RAM kits has surged by 340%. The steady prices seen in the last couple of weeks might not be here to stay, as analysts from TrendForce predict that DDR4 and DDR5 RAM prices for the PC market could increase by 105% to 110% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the last quarter of 2025.

    Price Hikes Expected for Laptop Memory

    The memory used in laptops, like LPDDR4X and LPDDR5X, is also projected to see a price jump of 88% to 93%. This trend applies to DRAM used for servers too. TrendForce attributes these rising costs to the heightened demand for DRAM in AI data centers. Since the figures from TrendForce relate to the prices paid by manufacturers of PCs and laptops, there will probably be a delay before these price hikes affect consumers. Nonetheless, if TrendForce’s predictions hold true, RAM prices could escalate significantly in the months ahead.

    NAND Demand and SSD Shortage

    The demand for NAND is also surging because of the AI surge, with TrendForce anticipating price increases of 55% to 60% compared to the last quarter of 2025. Unfortunately, an end to the SSD shortage isn’t on the horizon. Some memory manufacturers believe that conditions might only improve by 2028 at the earliest. Therefore, it seems likely that prices for DRAM, NAND, and devices like smartphones, PCs, and laptops will continue to climb over the next two to three years.

    Source:
    Link

     

    Tags: , ,