AMD Ryzen 9000 series launch date postponed by two weeks for top-spec models

Earlier this month, AMD pushed back Strix Point's launch date from mid-July to July 28 before stealthily unveiling a third high-end model (Ryzen AI 9 HX 375). Its Zen 5-based desktop counterparts (Ryzen 9000 Granite Ridge) have now received similar treatment. Two SKUs have been pushed back by a week and the remaining by two weeks.

The entry-level Ryzen 5 9600X and Ryzen 7 9700X can now be bought on August 8. Similarly, you'll have to wait until August 15 before purchasing a Ryzen 9 9900X and Ryzen 9 9950X. While the delay might be disappointing for enthusiasts, there's no reason for AMD to rush Zen 5's launch, as it will run unopposed for several weeks before Arrow Lake drops in October. In a statement to The Verge, an AMD spokesperson said:

During final checks, we found the initial production units that were shipped to our channel partners did not meet our full quality expectations. Out of an abundance of caution and to maintain the highest quality experiences for every Ryzen user, we are working with our channel partners to replace the initial production units with fresh units.

The exact reason for Zen 5's delay remains a mystery. Nevertheless, initial Zen 5 performance numbers look promising, delivering AMD's promised 15% IPC uplift in most cases. Of course, a lot more testing will be required to verify that claim. Plus, if the recent Zen 5 price leak is accurate, Zen 5 could easily dominate the market by undercutting Arrow Lake offerings.