When the 3800X and 3900X came out, they included coolers.
Then the 3800XT and 3800XT bumped the clock speed by around 2%, increased the price by 15–18% (coming in at the prices the X models had been at release, but said X models had come down), and removed the cooler, which effectively bumped the price by, I dunno, maybe another 5% to get equivalent coolers—if you can even get cheap coolers for them.
Now the 5800X and 5900X are coolerless too.
Any idea why they seem to have changed their philosophy here? I’ve always thought having a cooler was very convenient, as on paper the provided cooler seemed to be quite good enough—though to be sure there’s a reason why the 3950X and up don’t include a cooler (“cooler not included, liquid cooling recommended”).
Stock coolers have never been popular among who build their own PCs. They were considered mediocre at best. Since people wouldn't care whether they were in the package or not, removing them might have looked like an easy way to increase profit margins. Removing the cooler from their production cycle might have also increased their production throughput.
Then the 3800XT and 3800XT bumped the clock speed by around 2%, increased the price by 15–18% (coming in at the prices the X models had been at release, but said X models had come down), and removed the cooler, which effectively bumped the price by, I dunno, maybe another 5% to get equivalent coolers—if you can even get cheap coolers for them.
Now the 5800X and 5900X are coolerless too.
Any idea why they seem to have changed their philosophy here? I’ve always thought having a cooler was very convenient, as on paper the provided cooler seemed to be quite good enough—though to be sure there’s a reason why the 3950X and up don’t include a cooler (“cooler not included, liquid cooling recommended”).