AMD’s X3D sequence of CPUs with game-boosting cache has shortly turn out to be the go-to alternative for system builders, and none are extra in style than the newest Ryzen 7 9800X3D. And, predictably, it appears like there are already some fakes spreading round — not simply faux product listings, however counterfeit bodily chips as effectively.
Reviews from a Chip Hell discussion board submit (machine translated, noticed by Uniko’s {Hardware} and Tom’s {Hardware}) present an MSI China alert warning retailers that some clients have been swapping out CPUs with totally different lids. Swapping the CPU lid might make a less expensive AM5 CPU (like, say, the $200 Ryzen 5 7600) look practically an identical to the dearer and in-demand Ryzen 7 9800X3D.
A scammer might purchase a Radeon 9800X3D, then return the lid-swapped cheaper {hardware} and dump the precise 9800X3D on the grey market. An unsuspecting retailer may then resell the counterfeit chip, leaving the subsequent purchaser in a lurch with a a lot much less highly effective machine. It’s a course of that’s already been documented with different AM5 CPUs.
It’s attainable to identify a swapped CPU by rigorously analyzing the knowledge printed on the circuit board, however that’s a tiny element that the majority patrons (and even a whole lot of retailers) wouldn’t assume to test. The extra doubtless state of affairs is that the faux wouldn’t be found till the ultimate finish consumer examines their system information within the BIOS or Home windows, at which level the unique scammer can be lengthy gone.
Whereas the difficulty appears restricted to the Chinese language market for the time being, the alert coming from a supply at MSI signifies that it’s widespread sufficient to be a professional concern. As all the time, watch out of on-line listings for in-demand {hardware}, particularly on websites like eBay and Walmart that enable third-party sellers with minimal verification. We’ve already seen faux listings for this precise processor on Amazon late final yr.
