AMD's 'New Era of PC Gaming' presentation at E3 2015 was quite a barnstormer back in June. As well as the predicted Radeon 300 Series graphics cards the rumoured Fiji-based HBM packing graphics cards were more numerous than we had expected. To top it all off we got to see the first of the Project Quantum 'console sized' mini PC. At that time we heard that twin-Fiji packing Project Quantum PC was aimed at 4K and VR and would be made available this autumn.
In an update about Project Quantum in late June we first reported upon the slightly controversial decision by AMD to use an Intel Core i7-4790K 'Devil's Canyon' processor at the heart of the Quantum PC, as demonstrated by the Sunnyvale chipmaker. Explaining the Intel CPU decision, AMD told Tom's Hardware that customers "want to pick and choose the balance of components that they want," and the machine shown off at the E3 event was considered to be the pinnacle of desirability at that time. Fleshing out plans a little more than we had heard at E3, AMD was apparently designing Quantum PCs featuring both AMD and Intel CPU choices, to address the entire market. The release schedule remained as 'autumn'.
Today PCR published an article containing interview segments with AMD's gaming scientist Richard Huddy. From this new interview it sounds like there are currently absolutely no plans to manufacture the powerful eight litre PC.
Huddy said that the interest in Project Quantum from both the public and journalists was very high in the wake of E3. However he explained to PCR that "For us it was a concept PC and that's really important." Illustrating his point more clearly he drew parallels to the auto industry, "We built it as a concept PC, so like concept cars it's not usually practical to take it straight to market, that wouldn't make a great deal of sense." Throughout the interview he revisited the idea that Project Quantum was just a concept.
The commercial production of the Project Quantum was not ruled out by Huddy, but there appear to be absolutely no plans in place to make it a reality. On the topic of the mini PC's potential production Huddy told PCR that "I don't know whether we have an OEM who is committed to building something like it." AMD would need to have conversations with OEMs he said and then it "might well turn it into a real product". Making the project into a shipping product wouldn't be a great effort he thought, but if it was produced it would only be a low-volume "custom piece, not a high volume piece" he believed.
Update 05/08/15
AMD has since contacted HEXUS to issue a statement regarding the possibility of retail availability for the Project Quantum box, and we quote it verbatim:
"AMD hasn’t announced any partners or GTM plans at this stage, and remains fully committed to driving exciting new form factors like Project Quantum into the market."
