Multiple users have shared images of AMD’s newest X3D processors burnt and bulging after being installed on various ASUS X670 motherboards. These incidents specifically involve the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D and Ryzen 9 7950X3D. Reddit user Speedrookie posted their images which clearly show a 7800X3D next to the motherboard socket with both having similar damage. They said that when the system was turned on the fan spun up to full speed and the motherboard displayed a 00 QCode. After checking multiple components the CPU was removed and the catastrophic failure was discovered. The processor was reportedly installed on an ASUS ROG STRIX X670E motherboard. The user has not indicated if they had overclocked the CPU at all.
From Reddit:
“Came home to my system idling full fan and QCode of 00. Reset BIOS, play with memory, then take it apart to find the 7800X3D bulged out and took the socket with it.”
Ryzen 9 7950X3D
However, this is not the first instance of this happening to an X3D processor. Russian YouTube channel VIK-off has also posted a video showing how their Ryzen 9 7950X3D experienced a seemingly identical failure. It should be noted that VIK-off is actually the YouTube channel for a PC component repair shop called VIK-on so in this case the incident is being well documented with test equipment. In the 4K video, their ASUS ROG Crosshair X670E socket is seen with similar damage.
Even More Reports
Enough reports on Reddit have popped up that one user has started a thread compiling them. While ASUS 670 motherboards comprise the majority of reports there are also some users reporting on MSI and ASRock doing the same. Not all users have shared images of their experiences. Steve Burke (Gamers Nexus) did attempt to reach out to one and offered to purchase both the CPU and motherboard at full price but the user responded they’d already sent the CPU to AMD and was having the motherboard serviced.
It has not been confirmed yet if overclocking is the root cause and there is some fingerpointing going on from multiple users replying to the threads alleging that ASUS may be at fault. Some have said the manufacturer has a history of providing higher voltages to processors leading to damage while others noted how BIOS updates have been appearing online only to be deleted a short time later.
It should also be noted that AMD has previously expressly said that overclocking, or increasing the voltage to the X3D processors is not recommended, and has locked them. This is due to the vulnerability of the chiplet+added cache design but more performance might be found via memory overclocking, Precision Boost Overdrive, or with AMD’s Curve Optimiser. However, this doesn’t mean users can’t find ways around to force higher clocks or increased voltages which could easily damage them.
WccfTech reported how well-known overclocking specialist Der8auer has also posted a video showing an AMD Ryzen 9 7950 burning up on a ROG X670E Crosshair Extreme motherboard but in that case, it was obviously the result of using increased voltages to overclock the CPU.