The investigation exposed a fake Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor. GN shows the difference between a real Ryzen 9800X3D and a fake one.
Gamers Nexus Delids a Non-Functional Ryzen 9800X3D CPU It Received from a User, Only to Find No Signs of CCDs or I/O Chiplet Underneath the IHS
Fake CPUs are not uncommon, and we have seen cases where even decade-old CPUs were disguised as modern high-end CPUs with various sneaky techniques, only to get exposed after a careful inspection. From Intel's 13th-generation processors to AMD's Ryzen 7 9800X3D, several cases have surfaced on the internet, exposing the scam, which often goes unnoticed even by giant retailers.
The latest one is the case of a user who bought an AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D from Amazon. Gamers Nexus investigated the CPU carefully and found striking differences between the IHS and substrate of the original 9800X3D and the one that the user provided. Even though the IHS (heat spreader) on the CPU showed signs of it being fake, Steve delids the CPU in order to get a full picture.
After flossing and heating the IHS at 160 degrees Celsius, the IHS came off and exposed the substrate. Apparently, the IHS was protruding a bit towards the substrate in order to give the impression that the substrate isn't empty when seen from the side. However, after the IHS was removed, it became clear that the substrate doesn't have any chiplets, including both CCDs and I/O.
What's surprising is that there were no solder points on the PCB, which indicates that the substrate is actually a dummy. If you take a close look at the substrate exposed on the sides of the IHS, there are signs that expose the CPU without having to delid the CPU. The number of capacitors and their orientation were completely different from what you would find on a real Ryzen 7 9800X3D. The SMD components' orientation matched that of the Ryzen 5 7600 processor, but of course, it wasn't the 7600 either as it didn't have any chiplets.
Even from how all the stuff is visible on the IHS, it becomes clear that the one on the right is vastly different from the real one. The font and writings showed differences, and the substrate itself had a different color, border, and slightly bigger cutouts on the top and bottom compared to the original one. Not surprisingly, the serial number on the fake 9800X3D didn't match the serial number written on its packaging box.
It should be noted that even though there have been a couple of such cases, these are still extremely rare. Fake Ryzen 9800X3D incidents have been reported in single digits, while it sells thousands of units every day at major retailers.
About the author: Sarfraz Khan is a hardware reporter with a focus on PC components and the builder community. With years of experience writing about PC hardware and laptops, his work has been featured on several reputable technology publications. Sarfraz's hands-on experience is demonstrated through his first-person accounts of using and comparing different hardware configurations, providing practical and relatable insights for everyday users. His technical analysis is respected by peers in the enthusiast community and has been cited by specialized hardware sites such as Germany's Igor's Lab.
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