AMD has used social media to suggest that the upcoming RDNA 2 powered RX 6000 Series graphics cards will have a key advantage over Nvidia's GeForce RTX 30 Series graphics cards, gamers will actually be able to buy one. As gamers who have tried to order a RTX 3090 or RTX 3080 card can vouch, stock has been almost impossible to find, with near instant sell outs, and a market flooded with scalpers trying to rip gamers off.
Continuing the recent theme of AMD using Twitter to drop hints about its launches, Chief Architect of Gaming Solutions, Frank Azor replied to a user frustrated with not being able to get hold of an Nvidia RTX 3090. After expressing their annoyance over the situation, the fan offered a $10 bet that the AMD graphics card launch would have the same issue of extremely limited stock. The simple reply from Frank stated that he looked forward to taking the $10.
Although short on detail, the tweet reply was pretty clear in suggesting that AMDs launch would have stock availability exceeding that of the Nvidia RTX 3090 and RTX 3080. The original tweet described these as a paper launch, where the product technically is available, but in such tiny quantities that only a fraction of those who want it can buy it. Something that may feel familiar to gamers trying to get hold of a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X pre-order.
Some gamers looking forward to AMD's new graphics cards have expressed concern that the company may be so busy fulfilling RDNA 2 based GPUs for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X that it won't be able to produce enough stock of standalone cards. While Nvidia is strongly believed to have had issues with GPU yields using Samsung's 8 nm production process, which is behind its limited initial production of the RTX 3090 and RTX 3080, and why stock is not expected to drastically increase in supply until 2021.
Frank Azor didn't make any specific promises, but his comment is a strong indication that AMD is confident of having more stock availability than Nvidia. Most hardware launches experience shortages, especially when as hotly anticipated as Nvidia and AMD's new graphics cards, but wider availability would certainly help AMD to encourage gamers to try its new cards over the comparable Nvidia options. In particular, strong stock of the expected RX 6900 XT flagship card at a good price would likely tempt people over from the RTX 3080.
With complex production issues and timing so important to hardware launches, combined with the publicity of having a product sell out, it is unlikely that hardware manufacturers will ever fully supply enough stock to meet launch demands. But if gamers keep calling out so called paper launches and refuse to buy hardware from scalpers, hopefully the situation will improve.
AMDs RX 6000 Series graphics cards are expected to launch on October 28.