The Truth About AMD's CPU Failures: X-Ray, Electron Microscope, & Ryzen Burns

[@GamersNexus]

One error: At 6:59, I say "in excess of 20KHz," but that line was supposed to be "in excess of 20kV." Misread the script. No change to content. Sorry! WATCH PART ONE: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oZq3n5qsq6lomqs GRAB THE GN 15-YEAR ANNIVERSARY LIMITED EDITION T-SHIRT to support our work directly! That's what has enabled us to go this failure analysis path over the years! Thank you! store.gamersnexus.net/products/limited-edition-foil-gn15-tshirt-design Like our content? Please consider becoming our Patron to support us: www.patreon.com/gamersnexus

[@mathewbriggs6667]

Explain it to me like im congress

[@marlon0048968]

Seems correct since you're talking about ultrasonic frequencies.

[@brianmurphy6480]

Lab was in Japan, wasn't it? Edit: Or you used footage from one to provide an example of the machines in use.

[@AlertImDK]

What's there to test for? The problem is that the BIOS is allowing the motherboard to supply excessive voltage to the CPU. Which electrical product in this world can withstand a voltage higher than its design including OCP?

[@AlertImDK]

Even though Gamers Nexus do not ever produce paid content or "sponsored content", that doesn't mean Gamers Nexus won't make misleading reviews. This so-called problem is very simply that the BIOS is allowing the motherboard to supply excessive voltage to the CPU, so it is very simple to fix this problem, that is, it is forbidden for users to increase the voltage at will. This incident is simply that the user abused the high degree of freedom of the BIOS to set the voltage. Now motherboard manufacturers have greatly restricted the freedom of voltage setting, and similar incidents will not happen again in the future.

[@bendavis3545]

I'm telling you right now: this series of videos has permanently raised the bar for what will be expected from channels doing hardware reviews and investigations. This is next level.

[@inkredebilchina9699]

truly.

[@GiuseppeSan]

Seriously, this was the real deal.

[@ADB-zf5zr]

Well, YES, some have put themselves forward, some have retreated, some have targetted science over CASH...

[@theodanielwollff]

It took 15 years for GN to finally have content that isn't just complaining to keep their meme status :)

[@warpedphreak]

first time here I take it? I mean.... not a first for GN, so de-flowering verbage is yours to own atm LOL

[@_Choke]

This is fantastic! I'm a senior nondestructive evaluation engineer and use the analytical tools you've showcased on a daily basis. The scale and quality of your presentation is something that just... Doesn't exist in the public domain, and I'm thrilled to see this kind of work; you've certainly done the topic and field justice.

[@maxdefire]

Are you also work in place you couldn't tell us about for reasons you can't tell us?

[@TAP7a]

​@@maxdefire what reason would this person have to lie? Clout in this one comment thread? Come on.

[@_PatrickO]

@@maxdefire Go back to truth social with your anti-science. It is not hard to admit that the lab GN used likely works with hardware manufacturers and that disclosing their name would lose them business. The best part of science is that the measurements and evidence stand on their own, the lab company name does not matter. You are free to buy a chip and pay your own lab to corroborate the findings if you are unable to recognize facts on your own. It is absurd to suggest GN is faking data which would get them sued.

[@Lewini]

​@@TAP7a 4:03 maxdefire was making a reference to the video.

[@GamersNexus]

That's so awesome! And thanks for saying that. We're fascinated by this kind of work and have huge respect for it.

[@hattix6713]

As a professional with a background in RCA and FA, I've never seen it presented in a public forum quite so accessibly. This has definitely set a new benchmark for KZbin based public forum discussion!

[@Melanie16040]

What is RCA?

[@cxphers8328]

@@Melanie16040 root cause analysis

[@Shadow__133]

@@Melanie16040 FA is flight attendant. Very interesting combination of professions 😂

[@techpriestsalok8119]

@@Melanie16040 root cause analysis and failure analysis. Basically why did it fail and how did it fail.

[@mikes2381]

Born too late to explore the frontiers. Born too early to explore the galaxy. Born at just the right time to enjoy Gamers Nexus thoroughly breaking down manufacturing, faults, failures, mishaps and responses. Love it.

[@crd7876]

@@aaronmoore3050 You can

[@gamingwithblaise3822]

I'd say this is a good enough compromise... though tbh I would not want to be on the frontier. That stuff just seems like it was a whole wagon load of suck

[@chukah9484]

The adventure of starvation/ dysentery vs the adventure of freezing / imploding

[@onslaught147]

Also born at the right time to explore infinite worlds created by AI. Just don't die in the next 5 years or you're going to miss out on so much.

[@pandemicneetbux2110]

The only thing I really enjoy about this body is the computers and stuff on the computers, sadly the quality of people is often the quality of a GIgabyte power supply connected to an ASUS board with the soul of an 11th gen processor.

[@henryt112]

I really like how GN is able to take a current issue and talk about it in a way that they're able to provide an interesting response on so many different fronts

[@GamersNexus]

Thank you! We'll keep doing this!

[@iamastrangeloop96]

@@GamersNexus a current issue, and a voltage one too!!

[@iamastrangeloop96]

@@manitoba-op4jx yeah I'll tell you watt, was pretty Amped to make that joke

[@Premier-Media-Group]

Many late nights...

[@irispettson]

@@GamersNexus This is legitimately on of the best examples of Tech Journalism I've seen. This is fantastic.

[@joelcarson4602]

Not only are you guys developing your own expertise and equipment for hardware analysis, you are gathering a group of experts outside your immediate company. The world needs more of this.

[@Dowlphin]

For those interested in cars, the car review equivalent to this channel would be savagegeese. A guy who started the business because he was fed up with untrustworthy industry shilling, and he doesn't play a clown act for lowest mass appeal and doesn't move from Idaho to L.A. just because everybody says you gotta go there for car review industry success. He talks personally and advocates for passion about what matters, the core substance. I.e. his focus is on journalism over entertainment. Like the antithesis to Top Gear. Even when he feels the pressures of his chosen extra-hard path and has to make some business compromises, he tells you about it in depth and sincerity.

[@xxprouxx]

I find the amd copyright mark fascinating because it's dated before the CPU was actually released. Just shows how long it was actually in development.

[@GamersNexus]

Definitely a great point on that!

[@tclark5481]

I thought the same thing. 2021, release 2 years later.

[@chainingsolid]

The development cycles on cpus/gpus are measured in years and have been for at least a decade!

[@Dan-Simms]

Yeah, and you can bet they were working on it for a couple years before that mark was made too, so they are always thinking about 5 years into the future, teaching sand to think takes a long time and so much work, it really is amazing.

[@yottaXT]

@@Dan-Simms if you ever felt the need to travel to the future this thing looks like a good start xD

[@edwardallenthree]

I did some IT work years ago and once a coworker was sick and I went to their client, a small failure analysis lab. The place was tiny, but filled with equipment everywhere. This was decades ago, but it was a ton of fun to see all the equipment and the photos they had all over, and on their monitors.

[@nekomata13]

As a doctor that utilizes all these imaging modalities in the medical field, it is absolutely stunning to see them applied in this way. I mean, the epoxy/cross section technique is literally how we do histopathology with tissue samples. It is obvious what an incredible effort the team has put into this investigation and it is presented in such a thorough and accessible manner. You are doing huge things for the community 👏 and we appreciate you all so much!

[@TheOriginalFaxon]

Thank you for this Steve, we definitely would never have gotten to see anything like this if AMD had gotten their hands on it instead, and they no doubt still got enough data from other boards to fix it themselves.

[@alejandrocalori6298]

THANKS STEVE

[@arkain1]

AMD got their hands on a whole bunch of RMA'ed dead CPUs by now, and they're not making a peep, hahaha.

[@haldorasgirson9463]

If I was them I would say thanks we will pay great attention to this. Bummer that this was a 3D chip. I upgraded my 3000 series processor to the 5800X3D and it was an excellent upgrade.

[@andersjjensen]

@@haldorasgirson9463 This failure has been reported for non-X3D chips as well. This seems completely specific to AM5, and from Buildzoid's analysis this is purely a voltage regulation issue that is entirely preventable with firmware.

[@themadoneplays7842]

@@arkain1 Well, it is possible they are seeing the failures themselves and are working on a solution for both hardware and firmware. I mean, let's be completely fair here, as this issue mainly affects ASUS boards, so maybe AMD didn't know about this issue right off. I'm sure they will correct the issue in the interest of public relations.

[@TTM1895]

That is an impressive amount of test. I can't believe you went through all of this to find a specific issue.

[@GamersNexus]

Remember the hands-on we did was mostly Root Cause Analysis -- our Failure Lab contact externally did the stuff you're seeing today! It's an awesome amount of stuff all combined!

[@DeejayPozE]

​@@GamersNexusI think maybe he meant at least coughing up the amount of money for this testing. This could not have been cheap getting all of this done.

[@camplethargic8]

This was fascinating! I feel I learned some things.

[@Aerobrake]

@@GamersNexus Guys this was amazing!

[@TheCastorPlays]

Ohhhh my god. I cannot stress enough how awesome these images are! As a material scientist myself, I have worked with all these techniques myself in the past years, but this has been done on an extremely impressive level of detail and technical skill! Hats off to that FA lab, they really know their stuff!

[@warhokn4178]

Why can't they talk about it? Is the nature of the work highly secretive? I guess I'm wondering if it's industry standard, or something different, because I'm interested in this stuff.

[@vocassen]

@@warhokn4178 With this amount of tools and knowledge, they likely work with big chip manufacturers directly (maybe not AMD/Intel, they probably have their own, but maybe Qualcomm etc.). Don't want to break any bridges by allowing the public eye to see stuff that usually is reserved for internal use only.

[@SlenderSmurf]

Me too! Love these SEM images. "Maybe better magnification than you can get with a normal microscope" is a big understatement though lol

[@The_Keeper]

@@vocassen Not to mention, there is probably some expansive and gnarly NDAs in play here.

[@warhokn4178]

@@vocassen That makes sense to me.

[@zackmatey1793]

Here's the video we've all been waiting for! Great work as always GN - your contribution to this industry cannot be understated

[@GamersNexus]

Very kind of you to say! I don't know that we've changed a ton yet, but we're doing our best to influence companies in a positive way!

[@TheAnzamin]

​@@GamersNexus The power supplies no longer blowing up, AIOs being avoided etc say different. Seriously its not just the changes from manufacturers but also awareness for consumers. You've changed so much and the fact that you're still here and have somehow managed to keep that integrity is awesome.

[@zackmatey1793]

​@@GamersNexus You've really made an impact. GN has been able to put pressure on manufacturers in a way no one else has - Nvidia with the 12 pin issue, Gigabyte with their PSU issue, Nzxt with their riser cable - the list goes on. The combination of your thoroughness and experience and your journalistic integrity and independence makes GN a force to be reckoned with, and manufacturers know that now

[@phlogistanjones2722]

@@GamersNexus OH you HAVE. Personal example: The Fractal Torrent Case. They ***CAME TO YOU*** and told you about an issue AFTER you gave it a glowing review. They pulled the product. FIXED the issue. I bought one for EXACTLY that reason. So yes, you DID make a difference.

[@shinseitaizen]

This is super well done, GN. Might I recommend more of those "bearings shots" like at 14:55 in the future? Or a 3D model of a deconstructed CPU in the corner to clarify where you're looking at each stage of the analysis?

[@GamersNexus]

Definitely can do!

[@jackwinter1507]

@@GamersNexus KZbin recommended this 4 days late… but yeah totally agree these images were super helpful and quite frankly cool to see in general

[@bobcanning6009]

In all honesty, while it is clearly a problem that this has happened, I can't help but be truly impressed at the astonishing scale engineering and knowledge that has to go into the design and manufacture of chips. And stellar content like this allows me a brief but incredibly meaningful glimpse into that world. Thanks Steve and team. You guys are slaying!

[@MLWJ1993]

Even more mindblowing is how fast this technology progressed.

[@TheSaival]

chips are basically magic labirynths for electrons made from sand

[@clarenceoveur9497]

Yeah it's pretty mind blowing that these things work at all, considering the absurd number of microscopic parts.

[@satibel]

@@TheSaival yeah the "graving runes into rocks" thing from stories amd made a mistake and put a bit too much lightning and it created fire

[@nullvoid3545]

It bothers me that there are so few companys in the world even legally allowed to know how this tech works. Government protected trade secrets make me wonder why we tolerate the existence of patents in the first place.

[@masterjed1688]

Thanks for investigating so deeply GN team it's wonderful to know there's a KZbin channel out there to inform the consumer. Hope you guys continue to grow and have fun can't wait to see the next big project.

[@11131618570]

As an NDT inspector to see our industry methods of inspection applied like this is so cool. Thank you for doing this inspection.

[@Warhorse469]

stop lying about your occupation.

[@K4nj]

@@Warhorse469 lol

[@phlogistanjones2722]

@@K4nj That guy uteopia uhg... He has made similar childish snotty yammerings to several commenters. I think his mom needs to take his pixie stix away and get him to take a nap.

[@arthurmoore9488]

@@phlogistanjones2722 I'll still take the kid trolls over the giveaway spam any day.

[@JohnTitor_0]

@@Warhorse469 understandable you wouldn't believe him considering the large amount of people that just happen to stumble upon a video of an incident that they just happened to be involved with somehow. in this case though they're really an NDT inspector, not like it's that rare of a job they're all over the world and more then likely would be the type to watch tech videos to begin with.

[@SamanthaVimes177]

GN really is a champion for the consumer. Like we'd never, ever get full disclosure or anything like it if it wasn't for GN, it's contacts and the community support enabling in-depth analysis like this.

[@RafaLiwoch]

Thanks for a great video, normally I don't donate but this time is different. A lot of effort put into it, and absolutely your vid raises the bar. Congrats for the entire team. I only wish you included more behind the scenes from the scans and the analysis, but totally get it why you couldn't. Cheers.

[@GamersNexus]

Thank you so much for the support! Yeah, would love to show more of the lab itself, but sadly they have too many confidential projects in the background so they can't be shown. Still thrilled with what we got!

[@_ryju_]

@@GamersNexus Understandable, especially in this age of aggresive privacy invasions, data & information theft. Keep it to yourselves, isolate those from the internet, even avoid speaking about them around your phones. You probably know better than us how much our electronics that can connect to the internet are compromised.

[@MrRedRye]

This just reiterated to me how amazing it is that they manufacture these products in such vast quantities. It really is hard to believe how small all of the connections are and that it works at all.

[@memitim171]

It's mad isn't it? Especially when we get down to that scale and you can't even see a hint of a transistor.

[@synapse5791]

@@memitim171 Its instane tbh how a light beam can make transistors and do this on such a scale seems almost impossible that some metals can make something like a cpu.

[@linmal2242]

@@synapse5791 Yes it is amazing! To be accurate transistors aren't made from metals they are made from different metal doped semiconductor material which is usually Silicon.

[@synapse5791]

@@linmal2242 Yeah Its still kinda amazing how they work. Like how do you tell a bunch of materials to do something in a linear way which you can easily control? Its really

[@CyberLima7]

yep we can´t even inagine there is a big AMD logo in there lool

[@Verpal]

The decision of separating this situation into 2 video definitely paid off, well done!

[@spacepxl]

This was absolutely fascinating. But honestly, the more I learn about the structure of CPUs, how they are made, and how they work, the more I am convinced that they really are magic. The fact that you can zoom in so far, with all sorts of advanced equipment, and yet still not be able to resolve the transistors, is absoutely wild. It's one thing to hear "20 nanometers, 11nm, 7nm" etc but another entirely to understand just how infinitesimally small that really is.

[@AlleonoriCat]

Yeah, when people say that we will eventually won't be able to shrink the transistors more because on the quantum scale physics goes out of whack it sounds like Sci-Fi, but we are almost there already.

[@thesteelrodent1796]

@@AlleonoriCat we are almost there already. The different layers are barely more than one atom thick and because it's so thin they're limited at how much more they can shrink while still keeping electric flow under control - the risk of cross-talk and shorts becomes greater every time they shave a nanometer off

[@ledoynier3694]

@@thesteelrodent1796 The transistors are small, but once you get to the vias and interconnect layers, they become huge in comparison, thousands, tens of thousands of angstroms ;) But on the silicon it's damn small.

[@TheEchelon]

Imagine the machines (ASML) that make these chips ;)

[@phenax1144]

They should be able to resolve the transistors if they zoomed in and took the time to adjust the astigmatism and focus with the SEM

[@Psychx_]

Thanks for the insane effort, Gamers Nexus team! That must have been expensive as hell.

[@radar4104]

Despite not being an engineer with a perfect understanding of everything you described, this content is still amazing to see. Highly looking forward to part 3 of this series!

[@Duke_de_Plata]

You expect us to believe some "lab" has all of this high tech testing equipment and just happen to test CPU's for you? Sure Steve, the gig is up. Show the secret testing facility you have out back!

[@GamersNexus]

hahahaha

[@pretzel_tfg]

He did say "testing we *currently* can't do" Give them time... the fan tester is just the beginning it looks!

[@paulie-g]

It's a DOD lab, Steve has clearly become a DIA asset in the past couple years. Probably the only one there who speaks Chinese.

[@quesonegro]

Why do you think they released a 15 year anniversary shirt? Gotta find some way to pay off all that hardware!

[@JohnWiku]

Area 51 ☠️

[@_ryju_]

I have seen PhD students who aren't half as thorough or scientific during their thesis defense. You really set the bar high. Heartfelt thanks to Steve, Patrick, Mike & Vitalii and the rest of the team.

[@ericpeterson1383]

Feeling good about the mats I ordered last week. Happy to support this content, thank you for your work on this.

[@GamersNexus]

Thank you so much for doing that!

[@E_Sunbro]

This is unbelievably fascinating, and to think we'd never know about any of this if the issues were left to the manufacturers to remedy. If anything, they should be thanking you guys. You probably saved them a ton more RMAs. Many thanks to you and the team for all you do.

[@stephenclark316]

This is really incredible reporting. I used to work in a clean room and had to do SEM and similar type measurements on our wafers. This is truly Ph.D. and academic level analysis. This is like what many researchers would be publishing in academia. What's more is you did it all in just a couple weeks. Very well done. I joined your channel over this. You guys deserve it. Great reporting! Nothing like this on any other channel I know of.

[@DrMuFFinMan]

Love the content, very thankful that the tech community has a group like Gamers Nexus that loves both tech, the community, and troubleshooting to this extent. Thanks Steve and Crew for all the reviews and content you provide. Also, thanks to the fantastic work at the failure analysis lab.

[@GamersNexus]

Thank you so much! And we've let the lab know the community appreciates the work!

[@ethanchung2190]

Thanks again for the video GN! It’s always interesting to see the insides of these CPUs.

[@GamersNexus]

Super educational to see all this!

[@johnwethekylow]

I feel like I absorbed 100% of this video's information despite how technical it all gets. Your presentation and breakdown is amazing. This hits that perfect spot in being "edu-tainment".

[@blower1]

As an electronics engineer - that was fascinating to watch, some amazing content there. Great job to everyone.

[@mjc0961]

This was really cool to see! I can't believe it got hot enough to melt copper. Crazy. I already bought a shirt when part one launched, so I guess I'll try this thanks button. Anyway I'm off to look for that GN sandwich shop.

[@GamersNexus]

I do really want a substrate sandwich shop now... Thanks so much for the additional contribution and the shirt purchase! That's all very kind and we're humbled to receive the community support and appreciative.

[@meghankrajchi4913]

@@GamersNexus Dude, you guys don't even have a fully functional kitchen in the break room! I spent four (?) years being low-grade annoyed that nobody could even make a grilled cheese and tater tots at old office. Feed GN! Great content, as always!

[@ninjasiren]

​@@GamersNexus Would love some melted copper on that sandwich 🤣❤️

[@phyde1885]

As a retired EE this BLOWED me AWAY ! I wasn't expecting this level of Science displayed in such a PROFESSIONAL Manner & DEPTH, "BRAVO" !! 🎓 I think you have out-done yourself this round. LINUS would be PROUD of YOU ! 😎

[@alt5494]

That this level of independent testing is being done is absolutely incredible.

[@jasonfullerton7763]

I assure you, the cost for this amount and type of FA is not trivial.

[@proCaylak]

I just wonder why that FA lab prefers to stay anonymous. do they want individuals to stay away from them that much?

[@0xC5]

materials science grad student here - always love it when y'all get to do failure analysis videos and get all this neat microscopy and XPS data. you present it in an extremely accessible way and i love seeing materials science analysis techniques being put front and center. wonderful journalism as always, keep up the good work

[@jamiereinig]

BS in MSE, class of 1999 here - this brought back some memories and showed off some new techniques / equipment. GN never fails to deliver!

[@mikeydude750]

Finished my MatSci PhD last year, working in the industry now and yeah I'm always tickled when I see youtubers sharing this sort of stuff

[@philipnel8471]

You deserve a "bonus donation" from AMD you did their job for them. AS a Technician myself this is an awesome video. Thank you

[@jacksonsneed7689]

ABSOLUTELY NEXT LEVEL! The fact that y'all, as an independent group, invest so much time and money investigating these types of situations, AND that y'all disclose everything that's legally possible to disclose is incredible! Obviously there are limits, and y'all can't violate NDAs or expose sensitive IP, but y'all do walk right up to that line, so thank you! Putting this whole thing together, and educating the public on the possible failure paths is something y'all should be extremely proud of, because as far as I know, nobody else is doing this kind of work, with this much detail, with this much transparency! I cannot express how grateful I am for this channel and the entire GN team, and I'm damn sure that I'm not alone in that! Thank you again to everyone involved, and even though you had to keep the failure analysis lab and the FA tech's name confidential, please pass along a massive thanks to said FA tech & lab. Awesome, just awesome.😀👍🐧🐧

[@WickedRibbon]

This analysis is unbelievably cool! It's so rare to see these chips in such detail and magnification. Massive props to both GN and the failure analysis lab for their brilliant work.

[@haziqtheunique]

Man... it's gotta be hard for PC hardware manufacturers to pull the wool over the eyes of the consumer base, when you have objective engineer-grade examination & testing coming from one of the most reputable critics in the scene. Unironically... thanks, Steve. Keep being a thorn in the side of PC hardware companies.

[@BuzzKiller23]

Your work is unrivaled. Thank you so much for your hard work and dedication.

[@GamersNexus]

Thank you so much for the support!

[@purplegill10]

I'm not home and decided to watch this while out and I just HAD to log in to show my appreciation for this video. This was one of the coolest videos I've ever seen on this entire platform and you all outdid yourselves on this one. I already was gushing over that 3dfx recreation video you guys did and if this is the kind of quality you guys are doing for your "specials" from here on out then y'all have clearly evolved into something far more than just the regular tech journalism we've seen in the space for years. Fantastic job by the team, fantastic job by the FA lab, and we should all consider ourselves lucky that you even exist in this space where this would have likely just been blown over as a few unlucky people with blown cpus rather than the educational masterpiece this has become. Awesome work. -Also hey, when are we getting a GN Burger Substrate Sandwich shirt?-

[@42436freak]

This is true forensic reporting that stands completely unmatched in the industry. I have run SEMs ( a phenom xl similar to the model used) and this testing is many thousands of dollars, not to mention time consuming. The depth, detail, and technical competence of this report is outstanding. You really should write a white paper about this and submit it to a journal. You did all the work why not get some extra credit and show the industry that we are paying attention.

[@RAZGR1Z]

Wow this is so damn cool to see! I'd love to see what the day-to-day is like in that lab! Thanks to everyone involved to bring us this video!

[@hologram94]

I work in a FA Lab, its quite fun to see different things every day. The FA lab that GN sent the sample to did a pretty good job.

[@osgeld]

I worked in one for a while (and still regularly use similar lab services, and have a cross sectioning lab setup minus a SEM ) once you are over the shock and awe of the capabilities ... its about as exciting as a dentist office, but since its full of nerds there's a lot more pranks

[@alext3811]

Ironic considering that these failures are coming from a lack of cooling.

[@bituniverse8677]

THIS IS AMAZING! The amount of detail you can get out of SEM, just, blew me away. Also the fact that we can make things this small and reliably is just insane, and it's even things we take for granted now in days. We just expect CPUs to just work at such a small scale.

[@stevewatson6839]

"Also the fact that we can make things this small and reliably is just insane." Ironic comment, considering. You win today's Internetz! 🤣🤣🤣👍👍👍

[@deusvult6695]

This kind of high level reporting with incredibly expensive imaging is so impressive to see and I cannot praise GN and their contacts enough for bringing this kind of data (and going to the effort of explaining it!) to the public. Keep up this kind of reporting boys, you are doing the work we need and want!

[@jayjay00agnt]

Awesome work and really appreciative of this kind of investigation and analysis. Can't wait for the next video.

[@primodragoneitaliano]

I never expected to see highly-reputable science publication-grade images on GN and yet here we are. Calling the work done here "outstanding" wouldn't even scratch the surface of it all. Thank you for all you do for consumers ! :D

[@Gago_94]

I’m working in one CPU manufacturing site in the lithography department and to be honest I’m still learning and catching up on many terms and phrases you guys used in this series of videos but one thing is for sure, I’ve learned more from your videos then from one year of working with those products every week for 40 hours. 😃 And I’m not expert but I’m pretty sure that even nuclear catastrophe which happened in Chernobyl wasn’t investigated in such a precise manner with so much effort for all smallest details. Great job guys 💪it’s amazing to see so many new discoveries and to learn more about products which we all use every single day in our life and yet 99% of us have no clue what it really is or how it actually works. Can’t wait for the next episode ❤

[@GiuseppeSan]

I work on semiconductor devices and have ordered many of these techniques for FA before. Being able to see a full FA analysis (very well explained btw) for the CPU I just bought is simply a treat I never thought I'd get. You guys did a great job explanaining the techniques, and it was so cool to see cross sections! The materials science / characterization nerd in me was thrilled to watch this and is also quite proud of you guys. Excellent video.

[@TheCgOrion]

This is absolutely world class work. Amazing effort, as usual. Thank you to the unnamed lab, and engineer.

[@martinpalmer6203]

uNvidianamed failure lab that knows semiconductors and is setup for them lol just guessing, but ittd make sense why this would cause the engineer to be terminated if anyone found out...

[@LampoTuono-tp2li]

Thanks for your hard work from an EE student who loves the truth and not the marketing lies.

[@HeavyC78]

I work in the semiconductor sector in Metrology. So seeing this in-depth analysis is awesome and concerning at the same time. Thanks guys for the education, long hours, money spent investigating!

[@Warhorse469]

know you don't.

[@Name-tn3md]

@@Warhorse469 ikr

[@Malicious2013]

Absolutely incredible. Peering into the heart of a cutting edge process, and the damage that can be caused by gross negligence. I'm astounded that such temperatures can be reached when things do fail. I'm blown away by the effort and the content. Thank you for all you do, GN. ❤

[@rdiznfriends]

those microscope shots are incredibly cool. the scale at which these devices are manufactured is fascinating and frankly unbelievable

[@Kawayolnyo]

Unless someone somewhere someday is finally going Planck-scale and even further/deeper, nah, this is still considered "too large" and "nothing out of ordinary" by laser-etching automated industry's (DUV, EUV, etc) "standards". There's still a helluva lot of "spare room" for "improvement" and "downsizing".

[@jcat96]

12:10 I swear to the Simulation Gods that computers are just simply magic. This microsopy puts into perspective how far modern technology is, not only seeing that tiny, but creating something even smaller and giving it a freaking function. What the hell man

[@shodanargie1574]

26:02 is basically a list of metal band names. Incorrect Doping. Stress Induced Void. Mechanical Overstress. Excessive Pressure. Hot Carriers, Oxide Defects...

[@_sneer_]

Stress Induced Void sounds more like doomer's band, than metal. Maybe punk rock?

[@-DeeKay-]

You guys are amazing! The work you do is incredible. I'm so glad that someone is letting the public in on this instead of any analysis results disappearing deep in a drawer at the manufacturer. Big thanks also to your partner who is setting new standards with their methods and tools.

[@Jerkysan]

honestly the amount of depth you go into is literally insane but if companies know there is a group of people who can do digging like this they will probably react better(one would hope). You and your group really do this community a service and I appricate it a lot.

[@Melsharpe95]

Yep, Gamer's Nexus is to hardware what Digital Foundry is to software. Keep up the fight for the consumer, we genuinely appreciate it.

[@NextEevolution]

Imagine just how quickly and quietly ASUS and/or AMD would try to sweep this under the rug with a superfical and shallow statement if GN wasn't around

[@Freestyle80]

leave Britney alone, AMD are flawlesssss!!!!

[@ArieLash01]

AMD set limits Asus did not follow . If you over clock by default it is not AMD at fault

[@fwabble]

100%

[@Salabar_]

In the previous video GN quoted their source from AMD. So they already figured out the problem at the time. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@GIANNHSPEIRAIAS]

asus saying nothing basicly gaslighted everyone to think its amd

[@herseem]

I've got to hand it to you, this analysis is next level. You've really gone above and beyond. This is why - even though I'm not really a gamer - I find myself gravitating back to this channel. It wouldn't surprise me if AMD themselves are watching this to try to understand the issue better.

[@FlorinArjocu]

Pretty sure they know everything about it by now. Or should. It would be a huge error not to, as you cannot fix the errors you don't know. Anyways, it should not have happened in 2023, they had problems with (lack of) CPU sensors in 2003ish.

[@Arexodius]

AMD probably does watch this, as well as doing their own lab assisted analysis. They will learn from this and shape up for a while after.

[@GoatzombieBubba]

If Asus stops blowing up CPUs with faulty parts on their motherboards.

[@dionelr]

I used to work at a microelectronics plant in the 90s. The designers were always putting logos and letters at the micron level, partially because they could... but also because corporate espionage is a thing. If some company copied a chip (easier to do back then, as chips were not as complicated), they would often copy those logos as well.

[@scottyrz]

This video is incredible Sam, even including video of the equipment used in the diagnostics with great explanations. Thank you! Btw that Fractal North in the background looks like a proper decoration.

[@MegaMuz1]

Great job as usual and gives a once in a lifetime insight on how these types of tests work and what they reveal. Can't wait for the third and final video in this trilogy saga. Just befuddled on this whole dilemma and hopefully my setup doesn't go caput as well.

[@KodiaKSE]

This is the stuff that the manufacturer doesn’t want us consumers to see or… the stuff we really want/need to see. Thank you for always pushing the bar GN.

[@ArturHawkwing351]

...what a dumb comment

[@jk0000079]

Thanks! Appreciate the effort put into this investigation.

[@Cortage]

I rarely comment, but this video is extremely well made. The work shown here, the unbelievable sights we're all able to see cannot go unnoticed. The instagib reference was the cherry on top, great work from your team and your contact. I really appreciate what you do!

[@V3ptur]

It's great to see someone provide this level of detail and professionalism when it comes industry problems. Providing digestible information to not only inform the users but manufactuers as well and hold them accountable for their actions. These in depth analysis videos are great, keep it up! 👍

[@Hartbreak1]

Didn’t understand any of the technical terms but loved the pictures and the capabilities of that unknown FA lab and that unknown engineer that for unknown reasons we can’t thank directly.

[@Steve_Streza]

Man, it is fascinating to find this whole world of insight and learning you never knew existed. Kudos to the FA lab, hope we keep seeing their work.

[@badmedic6]

I think this was one of the first channels I ever subscribed to. I was building a new PC and thought Steve and GN did a solid job of presenting fair data. I was stoked when they hit 200k. I had no idea they would become the standard that the industry is held to. Righteous work, GN. You are changing the game.

[@LordZordid]

@@SedatedSloth Buildzoid just has a tendency to repeat himself excessively!

[@vomaufgang]

Thank you for this awesome, ridiculously detailed look into this!

[@GamersNexus]

Thank you so much!

[@kidman2505]

Look how much this channel has grown. It's grown in a different direction from other channels, but because of it, we've come to this video. Gamers Nexus has grown to the point that it can do some really impressive research and reporting. As others have said, this channel has raised the bar industry wide. Amazing work!

[@AlasdairGR]

I can't begin to imagine the cost of production for this three part series, with all the expedited shipping, the advanced equipment, and the labor of the lab technician. I hope the views you guys have been getting payout enough on Adsense to cover the cost of production (at the very least). And the increased traffic will hopefully yield a lot of merch sales and new patrons.

[@Dracossaint]

I'm so excited for this piece, it's going to be extremely insightful to see a common mod of failure via power failure

[@Locke99GS]

That list of _what else could go wrong_ helps me realize what all goes into the engineering (electronics, systems, and production) and how complex it must be to keep all of those things in check enough to end up with a functional microprocessor of the likes we have today. Mucho impresso.

[@Patrese_X]

The imagery and explanations are awesome beyond belief. Happy to be a GN Patreon and play a part, no matter how minuscule, in getting this sort of data available to a bigger audience.

[@microArc]

wasn't expecting a Warframe sponsorship. 10/10! thank you again for going through this CPU defect in excruciating detail. i love this kind of investigation and it reassures me that my support for GN is well placed!

[@chincemagnet]

The CT showing the dislocated pins was really cool 😎 so was the cross section, I’ve never seen a CPU like that before. It really gives you a better general idea of how they work

[@Keram1987]

The right level of educational, investigative and nerdy content, boiled down to one video. Thanks for all the hard work GN!

[@Appalling68]

Beyond excellent. Beyond top tier. IMHO the most excellent, informative and useful YT channel I’ve ever seen. Just wow!

[@Soundsaboutright42]

You guys are just so good at what you do. So glad you guys are in this industry

[@thebashfulsparrow]

I love videos like this! It helps to explain the reason why something failed, instead of saying "It failed" and that's it, you go in depth into finding the reason. Thanks for sharing.

[@trongcuong1710]

Thanks for all the effort you and your team put into this. I really appreciate contents that provide details technical analysis like this one

[@sparkythewildcat97]

Crazy to see a youtube video of a test that my company has performed on our modules all the time (CSAM). When I first had it explained to me, CSAM sounded completely insane.

[@_CJ_]

I'll pretend that I understand all the stuff :D It is so awesome to see such level of analysis! Love it :) Really next level of tech channel, thanks guys

[@QuantumS1ngularity]

Dude, this is head and shoulders above everything any tech channel has ever done. That's why GN is the best. It also btw gave me a whole new appreciation for the CPUs themselves. The amount of detail that goes into the production of one of those and the stress they sometimes experience on a regular basis.

[@nickbehr4586]

THe work you guys do, is awesome, i find that there are very few youtubers, willing to go the lengths needed to truly inform the public of the problems out there and even fewer willing to spend cash to acquire failed hardware to test, at their own cost. thank you guys!!!

[@OGSumo]

Technical reviews like this are absolutely indispensable. Insanely fantastic work!

[@fluffyjello]

I love how you guys included an affiliate link for fire extinguishers under the one for the X3D chips in the description lmao, cheeky as always.

[@GamersNexus]

Hahahaha

[@sirflaps7619]

Oh WOW I didn't even notice, that's hilarious!

[@PCFixer]

Hahahaha, gotta have it there so you can purchase one along with your new CPU Mobo, and RAM... just in case... 😂

[@NotSoWittyNow]

I have been in the NDT industry for 15 years and I had a hard time following this. Very thorough! Very well done.

[@Whalerguy]

This is the kind of content that puts GN at the absolute front of the PC tech channels. You do the things we wish we could, then tell us in a concise and unbiased manner what is going on. Keep fighting the good fight, you deserve far more than 2M subs.

[@benjaminoechsli1941]

3:34 "Our team _currently_ can't do this [failure testing], we don't have the tools!" I would not put it past GN to build their own lab eventually, as their staff and funding grows. They're that devoted to the craft. Thanks, Steve! I'll be sure to buy some Substrate Sandwiches to support your team's invaluable work while my friends and I are playing your DnD module. 🥪 🐲 That list of "things that could go wrong that can cause this" honestly just makes me impressed that we don't see this sort of thing happen more often. See y'all in the BIOS segment!

[@JamesSheridan1]

The thing I'm more impressed by than the superlative investigation is the determination to NOT make absolute declarations. Acknowledging that you're making assumptions, that there are other possible paths to the same results, etc. THAT is responsible journalism and THAT is why I subscribe, support, and recommend GN.

[@shaunmctavish1335]

I'm just an ordinary bird lawyer so a lot of this went right over my head. Though the explanation by Steve made it very clear.. Lots of energy and heat made things go boom. The visual exanimations both X-ray and deeper were outstanding. This is amazing work by you guys, please keep up this fantastic content and hard-hitting tech journalism.

[@phlogistanjones2722]

HARVEY??? Is that YOU??? Didja get that thing I sent cha? :D

[@user-dz3ph7dl4m]

Wow - awesome tests! haha of course you don't have the tools they would cost a fortune, this is next level work. Great follow-up team.

[@GamersNexus]

We looked up one of the SEM options and it was like half a million dollars... so.... anyone got a connection with Raid Shadow Legends?

[@stark5353]

@@GamersNexus The clean room at my university just got a brand new Zeiss sigma SEM, for around the price you mentioned. It's such an amazing tool and I feel extremely fortunate to be able to use it several times a week. They charge us (our research group) $35/hour to use it!

[@jordan4310]

@GamersNexus you could get a table top for like $100kish probably

[@nefariousyawn]

​@@GamersNexus That dude at Applied Science built his own!

[@scuba1577]

First off blown away with hardware content bar raising and analytic depth showcased here. There are so many lessons crammed in here and the script is nothing short of a masterclass in communicating technical to multilevel audience. 25:37 - Great list of drink names?

[@coreyjohnson993]

Those SEM images take me back to my SEM class way back when. It looks cool as hell, but a LOT of careful prep work (up to days) is required for about 5 minutes of fun images. The most mind warping thing for me is that you literally can't see some of the items the SEM points out as it you are dealing with points smaller than light (thus the Black and white reproductions from the secondary imaging). Fun class! More importantly, good on GN for digging this deep.