Why is 3950X Significantly More Expensive than 3900X?

[Boomwebsearch]

Hi LinusTechTips community,

 

I am wondering why the Ryzen 9 3950X is so much more expensive than the 3900X.

 

The 3800X costs $330 for 8 cores and 16 threads, while the 3900X costs $420 ($90 more) for 4 more cores and 8 more threads.

 

The 3950X costs $710 for 16 cores and 32 threads ($290 more) for the added 4 cores + 8 threads.

 

Was not expecting it to cost this much more in difference considering the comparative cost with the 3800X and 3900X for 4 additional cores and 8 additional threads, I think it is a price premium since it is the top of the line desktop CPU, although why is it that much more expensive?

[ki8aras]

i think it has something to do with availability, at least it did at the start since everyone was buying them like crazy

[Guest]

You also have the fact that the 3950X CPUs are highly and specifically binned which is a timely process.

[Mateyyy]

I would assume it's because of them having to bin 2 CCDs that have all the cores working correctly, and at fairly high frequencies.

[Fasauceome]

More expensive to make, not just 4 extra cores glued on.

 

Also the target audience for the 3950X is people who are going to be making money with their PC, so they can justify the extra cost for the CPU to pay itself off.

[Hairless Monkey Boy]

Like most things in life, it costs the amount that people are willing to spend based on the supply and demand.

[svmlegacy]

8 minutes ago, Boomwebsearch said:

Hi LinusTechTips community,

 

I am wondering why the Ryzen 9 3950X is so much more expensive than the 3900X.

 

The 3800X costs $330 for 8 cores and 16 threads, while the 3900X costs $420 ($90 more) for 4 more cores and 8 more threads.

 

The 3950X costs $710 for 16 cores and 32 threads ($290 more) for the added 4 cores + 8 threads.

 

Was not expecting it to cost this much more in difference considering the comparative cost with the 3800X and 3900X for 4 additional cores and 8 additional threads, I think it is a price premium since it is the top of the line desktop CPU, although why is it that much more expensive?

3800X: $41.25 per core.  One guaranteed for 4.5 GHz.

3900X: $35.00 per core.  One guaranteed for 4.6 GHz.

3950X: $44.375 per core. One guaranteed for 4.7 GHz.

 

> You're not paying too much more for each core, yet you're requiring 2 fully functional CCD's, and one with a golden bin for 4.7 GHz.

You're also paying halo tax for the cream of the crop.

[Boomwebsearch]

15 minutes ago, ki8aras said:

i think it has something to do with availability, at least it did at the start since everyone was buying them like crazy

14 minutes ago, Den-Fi said:

You also have the fact that the 3950X CPUs are highly and specifically binned which is a timely process.

14 minutes ago, Mateyyy said:

I would assume it's because of them having to bin 2 CCDs that have all the cores working correctly, and at fairly high frequencies.

5 minutes ago, HairlessMonkeyBoy said:

Like most things in life, it costs the amount that people are willing to spend based on the supply and demand.

4 minutes ago, svmlegacy said:

3800X: $41.25 per core.  One guaranteed for 4.5 GHz.

3900X: $35.00 per core.  One guaranteed for 4.6 GHz.

3950X: $44.375 per core. One guaranteed for 4.7 GHz.

 

> You're not paying too much more for each core, yet you're requiring 2 fully functional CCD's, and one with a golden bin for 4.7 GHz.

You're also paying halo tax for the cream of the crop.

Just now, HarvDaMan said:

supposidly the 3950x uses binned chips but being that mine cant hit 3.9ghz all core boost half the time idk if thats actually true...

If I wait a few years, how much will the price come down on the 3950X (around/estimated)?

 

6 minutes ago, Fasauceome said:

More expensive to make, not just 4 extra cores glued on.

I know, although the difference in cost for the additional 4 cores compared to the one step lower CPU is significantly more (comparing 3800X to 3900X cost difference and then comparing the cost difference of the 3900X and the 3950X). I wish that CPUs could be made more precisely to specification without the binning process.

[HarvDaMan]

supposidly the 3950x uses binned chips but being that mine cant hit 3.9ghz all core boost half the time idk if thats actually true...

[Fasauceome]

1 minute ago, Boomwebsearch said:

If I wait a few years, how much will the price come down on the 3950X (around/estimated)?

No idea, whatsoever. Aside from the fact that we can't see the future, the Ryzen 9 series is a totally new class of CPUs so the pricing is completely unknown territory.

[svmlegacy]

3 minutes ago, Boomwebsearch said:

I wish that CPUs could be made more precisely to specification

They are. The specs are listed. They will hit those specifications precisely. The fact is, hitting the 3950X's specifications is more expensive.

[Boomwebsearch]

2 minutes ago, Fasauceome said:

No idea, whatsoever. Aside from the fact that we can't see the future, the Ryzen 9 series is a totally new class of CPUs so the pricing is completely unknown territory.

 

Okay, that is fine, for a Ryzen 7 3800X system build, would I see a worthy price difference (for the components new) to wait a few years for new CPUs to launch and for the price to lower, or I may just wait for Black Friday or some sale promotions?

[svmlegacy]

4 minutes ago, Boomwebsearch said:

supposidly the 3950x uses binned chips but being that mine cant hit 3.9ghz all core boost

Power limits are heavy on the 3950X.

[Fasauceome]

Just now, Boomwebsearch said:

Okay, that is fine, for a Ryzen 7 3800X system build, would I see a worthy price difference (for the components new) to wait a few years for new CPUs to launch

Well, we do have AMD's current trend which is to reduce last gen costs when the new gen is out. 2000 series meant first gen price drop, 3000 series meant second gen price drop, etc. Once you're multiple generations out though, this trend does not seem to continue, so the best value you'll get on a third gen CPU is likely right after 4th gen drops.

 

2 minutes ago, Boomwebsearch said:

may just wait for Black Friday or some sale promotions.

Sadly, PC part deals are quite rare on traditional holidays. You can keep an eye out, but don't get your hopes up. At best, a motherboard/CPU bundle will get a price cut.

[Lordofcheez]

2 hours ago, Fasauceome said:

More expensive to make, not just 4 extra cores glued on.

 

Also the target audience for the 3950X is people who are going to be making money with their PC, so they can justify the extra cost for the CPU to pay itself off.

Whoops why did I buy it then.....

[Fasauceome]

Just now, Lordofcheez said:

Whoops why did I buy it then.....

some people just have a couple thousand burning a hole in their pocket, and besides, shiny new high end toys are always appealing.

 

Gamers buying the i9-9900K face a similar situation, excessive but cool.

[Lordofcheez]

1 minute ago, Fasauceome said:

some people just have a couple thousand burning a hole in their pocket, and besides, shiny new high end toys are always appealing.

 

Gamers buying the i9-9900K face a similar situation, excessive but cool.

True but at least I don't have to worry for awhile till I upgrade again right? Until amd hits the 5.1ghz barrier then I'll have to upgrade again feelsbadman 

 

[Fasauceome]

1 minute ago, Lordofcheez said:

True but at least I don't have to worry for awhile till I upgrade again right? Until amd hits the 5.1ghz barrier then I'll have to upgrade again feelsbadman 

 

Future proof unfortunately does not exist. I fully expect the buyers of the Ryzen 5 3600 to get the same mileage as those who got the 3950X, because those with mid range performance targets will only chase mid range hardware, and those with high end hardware chase high end performance, so a Ryzen 9 will only stay high end for as long as a Ryzen 5 will be mid range.

[Lordofcheez]

Just now, Fasauceome said:

Future proof unfortunately does not exist. I fully expect the buyers of the Ryzen 5 3600 to get the same mileage as those who got the 3950X, because those with mid range performance targets will only chase mid range hardware, and those with high end hardware chase high end performance, so a Ryzen 9 will only stay high end for as long as a Ryzen 5 will be mid range.

So around 2 years gotcha!