The release date for AMD’s fastest, most powerful gaming processor ever made, the 16-core, 32-thread Ryzen 9 3950X has been put back by two months while the company focuses “on meeting the strong demand for our 3rd generation AMD Ryzen processors.”

After initially being pegged for a September release it’s now being delayed to coincide with the launch of the first 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen Threadripper processors in November. But inevitably the company says that any enthusiast getting their hands on the shiny new silicon will believe it worth the wait.

The fact it’s being pushed back is interesting, especially in a week where TSMC has announced that its lead time on new 7nm processors has reportedly been extended from two months to six months. Now that’s not what’s responsible for this delay – AMD will have had 3rd Gen Ryzen contracts in place with TSMC in place for ages – but it does point to a bit of a struggle for AMD to keep up with the initial demand for its products. And if it’s struggling with supply and demand when the manufacturing lead time was just two months, keeping the shelves filled with 3rd Gen Ryzen, Epyc, Threadripper, and current as well as future Navi parts – all built on the same 7nm node – is going to be a challenge.

But it’s a great challenge to have. You’d rather have all your products sell out because of the demand, and have to disappoint a few people by making them wait for new stock of your incredibly popular hardware, than for no-one to want your tech and for it to languish on the shelves.

The reason that stock is limited on the Ryzen 3000-series processors is because they’re so damned good, and such a compelling CPU purchase compared with the underwhelming, overpriced competition.

What is the AMD Ryzen 9 3950X release date?

“We are focusing on meeting the strong demand for our 3rd generation AMD Ryzen processors in the market,” reads the statement AMD has supplied us, “and now plan to launch both the AMD Ryzen 9 3950X and initial members of the 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen Threadripper processor family in volume this November.

“We are confident that when enthusiasts get their hands on the world’s first 16-core mainstream desktop processor and our next-generation of high-end desktop processors, the wait will be well worth it.”

It’s a shame that the 3950X – which ought to be the most powerful gaming CPU on the planet – is getting a delay, but if you can’t wait the 12-core, 24-thread Ryzen 9 3900X isn’t a bad shout. Hell, for gamers, honestly the Ryzen 5 3600 is a fantastic multi-core processor.

Though to be honest, if our Wreck Spec is anything to go by, you can still comfortably game on an eight year-old Intel Core i5 2500K. So, quit your whining about a little two month delay 😉