GPU Nvidia abusing its position? The Geforce Partner Program.

[jtd871]

I think Jim and Linus both raise points worth considering. Even though the actual terms have not been revealed in all their glory, it's more likely than not that there was a great deal more smoke in the kitchen than there was fat in the fire.



I have not heard that this affected parts under development by third parties, but when AIB and OEM partners are being ... strongly encouraged / incentivized ... to not promote certain other manufacturers products, there are lots of opportunities for shady shit to go down.

 

[EdZ]

In a fit of cosmic irony, there does appear to be one OEM producing AMD cards who have been told they are not able to sell AMD-based cards in certain markets. Except it appears to be AMD themselves telling ASRock they can't sell in Europe, to protect AMDs existing partners from competition.

 

[Phuncz]

https://www.techpowerup.com/244005/...tom-gaming-series-graphics-cards-availability

Initially, ASRock will roll out graphics card business in various regions based on internal planning. Regions with first priorities are APEC and Latin America. Then ASRock will gradually launch the business in other regions.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasone...-partner-from-selling-in-europe/#2c95623f3802

What I've been told -- and I confirmed this twice over the phone and again via email -- is that in Europe, ASRock has decided not to sell Phantom Gaming graphics cards commercially. They won't appear in online or brick-and-mortal PC retail shops. They are only intended for miners and industrial use. Furthermore, the minimum order quantity for these customers is 500 pieces.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Amd/comments/8h8cp9/update_from_dutch_hardware_site_regarding_the/

Google translation: A reliable source gives the following explanation for the above situation: The market position of AMD is relatively weak in Asia, several AMD-only video card brands are hardly active there, so that AMD can use an additional supplier in the relevant region. In Europe and the US this is less applicable, and the relationship with the existing AMD partners in these areas would also play a role.