I've been hearing this argument since forever, it doesn't make any more sense that it did on day 1. Clearly they are losing sales since people don't want to pay for a full DDR5 upgrade. And they do have chiplet design, it would have been very cheap for them to pair the new Zen4 chiplets with existing or node-shrunk IO dies and let people use those on AM4 mobos.
To add.
1. The entire world does not run on bleeding edge technology.
2. The entire world does not have disposable income. Everyone is tightening their belts.
3. IMHO the entire current generation of tech is just a cash grab of epic proportions. AMD wanted to make AM4 obsolete so they can crank in the mo...mo... money. Again the AMD tax on 600 series of mobo's are still enforced. Too damned high for what you get.
4. As Bug stated, they could have used IMHO modified and/or regular Zen 4 Chiplets and place them on the AM 4 Mobos.
5. IMHO they could have also shrink down the Zen 3 chiplets, thereby by giving them a bit more oppph in energy usage and perhaps a small increase in performance.
6. It has already been proven (even by this site) that at this moment DDR5 is more or less a MEH... as it does NOT deliver the price vs performance over DDR4.
These are the reasons why when I heard the warnings of "rumors" that it made me upgrade the way I did before AM5 came out. IMHO, the GREED of the AMD as well as pretty much of the rest of the tech industry, turned computer tech into a LUXURY item, making it possible to JACK UP the prices.
Well people are balking in upgrading their computers.
Again, I used to upgrade my rig with RYZEN AMD CPU's every new generation until Dr. Su gave the order to go this route in selling product.
I'm a wealthy man but I do not have I-D-I-O-T tattooed on my forehead. I use me resources wisely which is why I am able to survive in the fantasy land Known as Silicon Valley.
There are many ways to make a profit. Considering they are clapping their hands on making a NET 27 million in profit out of 5.6+ Billion in GROSS profit this 2nd quarter is a testament of sloppy management.
I firmly believe that AMD could be making a lot more than they are now. But again I live in Silicon Valley... The land of make believe and delusions of grandeur.
There are reasons why EVGA left as well as why Sony is raking in the money with their PS5's. Those reasons are the business practices currently implemented by the computer tech industry of today. And overall it shows why many sectors of the tech market are in decline in profitability. Because...
IMHO... They forgot the basic fundamentals on how to treat their customer base as well as understanding the global economy.
Times are hard and it ain't going to get better anytime soon.