Alienware is the only OEM Allowed to Sell Threadripper PCs this Year

Discussion in 'Frontpage news' started by Hilbert Hagedoorn, Jun 14, 2017.

  1. Hilbert Hagedoorn

    Hilbert Hagedoorn Don Vito Corleone Staff Member

    Messages:
    48,392
    Likes Received:
    18,565
    GPU:
    AMD | NVIDIA
  2. Loophole35

    Loophole35 Guest

    Messages:
    9,797
    Likes Received:
    1,161
    GPU:
    EVGA 1080ti SC
    So only AW no dell? Seems odd.
     
  3. vbetts

    vbetts Don Vincenzo Staff Member

    Messages:
    15,140
    Likes Received:
    1,743
    GPU:
    GTX 1080 Ti
    People are probably going to see this as a bad thing but think of it like this.

    This is the first time AMD has had this much interest in their product, to the point where they are only allowing one OEM to sell it.
     
  4. Fox2232

    Fox2232 Guest

    Messages:
    11,808
    Likes Received:
    3,371
    GPU:
    6900XT+AW@240Hz
    I have seen many OEMs through years who did screw AMD's desktops/notebooks to point I would not touch them or recommend them.

    Alienware came with that lovely notebook with Ryzen, it is already listed on few shops here. Variety of configurations look amazing, including 120Hz Freesync screens a lot of memory and RX-580, ...
    AMD simply can't allow their awesome product to be considered as inferior because many of those OEMs would cheap out on other important things.

    I said it before, AMD should have send all those OEMs to hell and make AMD branded notebooks, tablets. Many of their prototypes were consumer grade products I would buy on the spot.
    Does anyone remember that tablet prototype with add-on gamepad case? Those things are now popular and AMD made no money from it.
    Does someone remember how many top APUs from each generations ended up in notebooks with dual channel memory? No? That's because there are not many, for some generations none.

    So yes, if Alienware delivers high quality, high performance builds, they deserve this deal.
     

  5. Embra

    Embra Ancient Guru

    Messages:
    1,601
    Likes Received:
    956
    GPU:
    Red Devil 6950 XT
    Yup, they way it is worded I think it will be good too.
     
  6. Yogi

    Yogi Master Guru

    Messages:
    353
    Likes Received:
    153
    GPU:
    Sapphire RX 6800
    That was my exact same thought.
    Are they really marketing these at gamers only (or mega taskers as Intel seems to be trying to call it)

    Unless they know something about upcoming game developments regarding cpu usage, I would have classed both ThreadRipper and skylake x high core models as purely workstation cpus.

    When was the last time you saw an alienware workstation?
     
  7. PrMinisterGR

    PrMinisterGR Ancient Guru

    Messages:
    8,125
    Likes Received:
    969
    GPU:
    Inno3D RTX 3090
    It's like the last time we saw a quad-channel Ryzen. That's what Threadripper really is, and it will be very interesting to see what kind of results it gets.
     
  8. H83

    H83 Ancient Guru

    Messages:
    5,465
    Likes Received:
    3,003
    GPU:
    XFX Black 6950XT
    That would be the death of AMD! AMD like Intel and Nvidia rely on their partners to sell their hardware and telling them to get lost and make and sell their own products would be nearly impossible to a company with the resources of AMD. The proof of this is what happened to Windows Mobile when MS decided to buy Nokia and started to make their own phones...
    What AMD needs is to work closely to OEMs to ensure they deliver quality products with AMD parts. Then penalize OEMS who failed to deliver by prioritizing the ones who can make good products.

    As for this exclusive deal, i don´t think it´s positive for AMD...
     
  9. Fox2232

    Fox2232 Guest

    Messages:
    11,808
    Likes Received:
    3,371
    GPU:
    6900XT+AW@240Hz
    Not really. Interest in Windows Mobile went down and MS thought that they can turn it around. They could not.
    I was interested in Windows mobile as long as it would have x86 compatible CPU, therefore capability to run desktop applications/games/coding/SDKs/...
    That did not happen. MS simply bought nokia without making any revolutionary changes.

    AMD Can and does make their devices and with proper configurations, people would go crazy for them.
    + pricing, remove middle man and you are much more competitive.
    And this Alienware deal is Quality Control. It is easier to ensure that one manufacturer who is interested in not harming own brand delivers great products, than to persuade that dozen of manufacturers who made worst possible devices into their tradition, to actually produce decent device with AMD chip inside.
     
    Last edited: Jun 15, 2017
  10. schmidtbag

    schmidtbag Ancient Guru

    Messages:
    7,975
    Likes Received:
    4,342
    GPU:
    Asrock 7700XT
    I find this situation very suspicious... it almost seems like Dell is blackmailing AMD, because why wouldn't AMD encourage other OEMs to support TR? I understand Dell is worth more than AMD (really kind of weird to think about) but they shouldn't have that much power over AMD. If Dell had some ultimatum like "we don't sell any PCs with your CPUs if you offer TR to our competitors", not only does that sound like a lawsuit but AMD could likely make more money from all the other competitors combined.

    EDIT:
    In another perspective, perhaps TR is just really bad and nobody else wants it. Alienware is kind of the brand for "wannabee enthusiasts" but most legitimate enthusiasts seem to steer clear. If TR ends up underwhelming, I could see why Dell wouldn't want it in any of their high-end workstations, but would gladly stick it in their product lineup full of overpriced products that are mostly marketing gimmicks. To a typical wealthy teen who wants to get into PC gaming, they'll hear "o kewl 16 corez! So many jigahurts!" and Dell will still return a profit.

    The only reason I thought of this situation was because of the leaks about TR earlier this week. I don't think TR will be that crappy, but, we don't yet know what it's like.
     
    Last edited: Jun 14, 2017

  11. Aura89

    Aura89 Ancient Guru

    Messages:
    8,413
    Likes Received:
    1,483
    GPU:
    -
    Huh?



    It's more like

    "You want us to buy X amount of your processors, and we are interested in that deal, but for us to feel comfortable with that, not knowing how well these systems will sell, we need to be the exclusive OEM for threadripper for 1 year"
     
    Last edited: Jun 14, 2017
  12. H83

    H83 Ancient Guru

    Messages:
    5,465
    Likes Received:
    3,003
    GPU:
    XFX Black 6950XT
    I think you´re overthinking things. For me Dell offered a nice amount of money for the timed exclusivity and AMD took them because they really need the money. That´s my idea...
     
  13. schmidtbag

    schmidtbag Ancient Guru

    Messages:
    7,975
    Likes Received:
    4,342
    GPU:
    Asrock 7700XT
    http://www.guru3d.com/news-story/co...n-processors-with-radeon-rx-580-graphics.html
    Not an Alienware but same general idea.

    I suppose that makes more sense, but again, what's stopping AMD from denying that deal and just going with all the other OEMs instead? Sure, there's a possibility the others may say the same thing (in which case maybe Dell is the best choice) but I'm not sure each other OEM would so easily give up this kind of market. This market may be small, but, Intel's X299 ought to give AMD proportionately better sales than their Ryzens, especially if advertised properly.

    But that's exactly why I find this suspicious - AMD would want to take the route that gets them the widest audience and most sales. I could totally be wrong, but I don't think going with strictly Dell is the best way to go about that.
     
    Last edited: Jun 14, 2017
  14. Embra

    Embra Ancient Guru

    Messages:
    1,601
    Likes Received:
    956
    GPU:
    Red Devil 6950 XT
    The deal is not for a year, just until the end of this year. It is only excluding Dell's major competitors HP(Omen) and Lenovo.
     
  15. chronek

    chronek Guest

    Messages:
    184
    Likes Received:
    3
    GPU:
    Geforce 980 GTX 4GB gddr5
    F*** you exclusivity and monopoly...
     

  16. jbmcmillan

    jbmcmillan Guest

    Messages:
    2,760
    Likes Received:
    277
    GPU:
    Gigabyte G1 GTX970
    What you're planning on buying an oem? System builders and boutique shops can still buy them so this only excludes a couple of oems till the end of the year.Calm down.
     
  17. MrAMD

    MrAMD Guest

    Messages:
    43
    Likes Received:
    2
    GPU:
    ASUS GTX 1080
    It's just a really really over priced Dell. So who cares?
     
  18. kevnb

    kevnb Guest

    Messages:
    365
    Likes Received:
    11
    GPU:
    Zotac 1070
    bs, they are actually competitively priced among pre builds. Often times you cant even build for the same price as alienware, don't get caught up in what was true over a decade ago.
     
  19. Lane

    Lane Guest

    Messages:
    6,361
    Likes Received:
    3
    GPU:
    2x HD7970 - EK Waterblock
    Welll i will said, for cpu and since a long time, not the first time, it is not like AMD was not doing cpus before...

    This said if we look back to time on the Athlon/Barton and A64 period, att the same time they have been largely screwed by non official exlusivity contract from Intel for get thoses same OEM not willing to do AMD based system.

    i think what he was mean is just, that it willl not been seen on other Dell system... ( this said, outside AW and workstations, does Dell still do high end PC ?)
     
    Last edited: Jun 14, 2017
  20. Loophole35

    Loophole35 Guest

    Messages:
    9,797
    Likes Received:
    1,161
    GPU:
    EVGA 1080ti SC
    I'm thinking more workplace not gaming when I mention Dell. Seeing as Dell own AW it is weird to me that Dell can't build workstations out of TR.
     

Share This Page