AMD is set to reintroduce its AMD’s Threadripper processors, now divided into two distinct categories and paired with two new chipsets. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro series caters to high-level professional workstations, while the regular Threadripper targets high-end desktop (HEDT) users and “prosumers” who don’t require certain features like eight-channel memory, vast PCIe Gen 5 lanes, or advanced manageability functions.
Both the Pro and HEDT versions are built on AMD’s latest Zen 4 platform and support the new PCIe Gen 5 for rapid storage. The crown jewel of the Threadripper Pro lineup is the 7995WX, boasting 96 cores, 192 threads, a peak speed of 5.3GHz, an L3 cache of up to 384MB, and 128 PCIe Gen 5 lanes. AMD’s Threadripper Pro lineup begins with the 7945WX, equipped with 12 cores and 24 threads.
For professionals in areas like design, engineering, media, and architecture, the Threadripper HEDT processors might be more appealing. These won’t be easy on the pocket, though. The top-tier 7980X, priced at a hefty $4,999, offers 64 cores, 128 threads, a boost of 5.1GHz, and a total cache of 320MB. Here’s the entire range:
AMD Ryzen Threadripper Prices
- AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7980X – $4,999: 64 cores, 5.1GHz boost, 320MB cache, 350W TDP
- AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7970X – $2,499: 32 cores, 5.3GHz boost, 160MB cache, 350W TDP
- AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7960X – $1,499: 24 cores, 5.3GHz boost, 152MB cache, 320W TDP
If you’re contemplating a new Threadripper for a workstation, selecting compatible memory and motherboards is crucial. Notably, the Threadripper 7000-series will only be compatible with registered memory, excluding the use of unbuffered dual in-line memory modules (UDIMM’s).
In terms of motherboard options, AMD is rolling out the TRX50 for HEDT and WRX90 for the Pro versions. An intriguing point is that the TRX50 motherboards can also house the Pro chips. This means one could, in theory, create a high-end desktop packing 96 cores and 192 threads, though it would lack eight-channel memory and the full 128 lanes of PCIe Gen 5. But with 96 cores, that’s already a powerhouse.
We’re keenly awaiting comprehensive reviews and benchmarks to discern how these new chips fare against Intel’s Xeon and Core offerings, as well as AMD’s standard Ryzen 7000 series. Both the Ryzen 7000 Threadripper CPUs are set to hit the market on November 21st.
