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Counterfeit AMD chips sold by Amazon

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UMADBRO

It’s never nice buying something online, only to find out that the product you’ve received isn’t quite the product you’ve ordered. Sure, if you end up buying a SENY-branded hi-fi, a Rulex watch or a Lewis Vittani Handbag, you know what you’re getting. What you never expect though, is for your brand new CPU to be a counterfeit – especially when you buy it from somewhere like Amazon. And yet, that’s exactly what’s been happening.

A number of people seem to have been on the receiving end of a bum deal; people who’ve purchased the AMD A8-7600 APU from the giant online retailer have found that the chips don’t seem to fit in to their boards; the pin configuration isn’t compatible with the FM2+ socket – despite the chips coming in sealed boxes, and being branded as A8-7600s. Further poking found the actual chip to be a much older, much less powerful AM2 Athlon 64 5200+ – which was launched in 2007.

The scary thing is that these were not sold on behalf of a third party reseller, instead coming direct from Amazon. It’s possible they’re a result of dodgy returns, or worse, broken links links in the supply chain.

Amazon has typically done right by its customers, replacing the chips for the right ones at no extra cost. AMD won’t comment on the situation specifically, saying that it can’t comment on pending legal cases. That implies that they’re aware of the issue and are looking in to it. They have, however, offered this:

As part of our ongoing efforts to help ensure consumers and businesses are sold only genuine AMD processors, we thoroughly investigate these extremely rare incidents in an effort to determine the source of the altered products, and consider all available legal remedies – including both civil and criminal prosecution – against persons found to have engaged in fraudulent actions affecting AMD products.

We are working in close cooperation with Amazon and the local enforcement authorities to conclude this incident quickly and ensure that the rigorous quality and reliability standards that AMD is known for are maintained. In addition, while AMD already implements extensive security measures to ensure the authenticity of our products, we are currently evaluating further measures to implement additional security measures for maximum future support.

They’re taking it quite seriously – as they should. Counterfeit chips coming though official supply channels could do irreparable damage to a brand. If you’re ever in doubt as to whether or not your CPU is genuine, AMD’s got a handy guide.

Last Updated: February 11, 2015

10 Comments

  1. RinceThis

    February 11, 2015 at 14:39

    What? Amazon doing right? Next you’ll say Kalahari honours its vouchers *RUNS

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      February 11, 2015 at 14:49

      Classic! XD

      Reply

      • RinceThis

        February 11, 2015 at 14:53

        I don’t think I’ll be getting featured comment with that though 😉

        Reply

        • Tosh "Did he just say that?"

          February 11, 2015 at 15:24

          Refresh.

          Reply

    • DrKiller

      February 11, 2015 at 14:55

      Ah dont remind me of that 🙁 I’m stressing everytime I try to use a voucher now

      Reply

    • Admiral Chief

      February 11, 2015 at 16:22

      LOL

      Reply

  2. Blood Emperor Trevor

    February 11, 2015 at 15:11

    My one boss got caught in China with a “1TB” hdd.

    Reply

    • WitWolfy

      February 11, 2015 at 15:58

      Meh.. Had enough counterfeit 16GB USBs in my day. My condolences…

      Reply

    • HvR

      February 11, 2015 at 17:53

      Friend brought me back a PC game about 10 years ago from China, was on super sale worked back to rand came to less than R40. Pop in the disc (box, disc everything looked legit) but filled with screenshots of the game.

      Seems in China you always get screwed but never in the way you want.

      Few years ago heard a story from a guy, went on business trip to China and was later treated to a trip to the massage parlor. The got offered a “very special massage”.
      He decided to go for it, 5 minutes later he sitting on a bed vgetting a painful foot massage with a aroma candle sticking out of each ear.

      Reply

      • Blood Emperor Trevor

        February 11, 2015 at 18:28

        When they opened up the drive it was basically a 1gb flash drive, some “custom” software to make it look 1tb, and a bolt.

        Reply

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