Discussion AMD Threadripper 3000 series announcement and reviews

[Kocicak]

24 cores for 1400 and 32 cores for 2000 USD?

That is expensive. It does not put much pressure on Intel. It also does not motivate people too much to change platforms from AM4 to sTRX4. I must say I am surprised.

I bet that some people at Intel are pretty relieved now.

 

[Hitman928]

Next gen Threadrippers are official. I will add to this post as more details and review come out. Please PM me if you want to see articles or reviews added.

AMD Q4: 16-core Ryzen 9 3950X, Threadripper Up To 32-Core 3970X, Coming November 25th

www.anandtech.com

AMD Ryzen out-cores Intel Core with latest Threadripper processors

Depending upon your needs, 32 cores is either amazing or absurd.

www.cnet.com

The new CPUs will require a new socket so obviously no drop in upgrades for current TR owners. Looks like Nov 25 is the actual release date so still a little bit of time to wait.

AMD Ryzen 9 16 Core Launch and New Threadripper Details

We see the new 16-core AMD Ryzen 9 3950X with 16 cores launching in November. Also new details on upcoming AMD Ryzen Threadripper 24 and 32 core parts

www.servethehome.com

According to this article the IO die is distinct from the one Epyc uses though no details provided yet.

 

[caswow]

how dare amd price the best hedt cpus accordingly to their lineup. how dare they

 

[tamz_msc]

The naming leaves little room for a 16 core, which would have killed off Cascade Lake X for good, which is surprising to be honest.

The high barrier to entry due to the pricing would turn off many who are just looking for extra PCIe lanes. Makes Cascade Lake X a decent alternative.

 

[Kocicak]

You pay (will pay) 750 for 16 cores at AM4, one could expect to pay max. 1500 (+ 50 or 100 extra for the different platform, pricier package etc.) for 32 cores.

 

[Kocicak]

Makes Cascade Lake X a decent alternative.

Exactly. AMD left Intel too much breathing room.

 

[tamz_msc]

You pay (will pay) 750 for 16 cores at AM4, one could expect to pay max. 1500 (+ 50 or 100 extra for the different platform, pricier package atc.) for 32 cores.

Since when did pricing follow a 1:1 relationship with performance?

 

[jpiniero]

The naming leaves little room for a 16 core, which would have killed off Cascade Lake X for good, which is surprising to be honest.

But they have the 3950X.

DIY HEDT is really about the moar corez e-penis, which AMD surely will win. Intel bothered to do Cascade Lake X because of OEM workstations more than anything else. That would be my question to AMD if they are capable of getting some OEM deals.

 

[Kenmitch]

You pay (will pay) 750 for 16 cores at AM4, one could expect to pay max. 1500 (+ 50 or 100 extra for the different platform, pricier package etc.) for 32 cores.

I'd imagine it's best to wait for the reviews to drop before determining the value of the offerings in question.

 

[jpiniero]

It is true that the prices are higher than I expected.

 

[tamz_msc]

But they have the 3950X.

DIY HEDT is really about the moar corez e-penis, which AMD surely will win. Intel bothered to do Cascade Lake X because of OEM workstations more than anything else. That would be my question to AMD if they are capable of getting some OEM deals.

Is that so? I see quite a few people clamouring for HEDT because they want their I/O, not necessarily moar cores.

 

[Edgemeal]

AMD should charge as much as possible for these chips while they can. If this was an Intel launch no one would be crying about a new socket or higher prices and would just bend over and take it!

 

[dnavas]

AMD should charge as much as possible for these chips while they can. If this was an Intel launch no one would be crying about a new socket or higher prices

Wrong. The same people would be crying about both a new socket and higher prices. I know because I was that person. I mean, AMD should price things where they think it'll sell. I'll fail to buy it if I don't see the value. Pretty simple. I'll enjoy my 2950x, and maybe, someday, the motherboard prices will come back to earth, and CPU pricing will get under $1k. Or Intel will get a clue. Or AMD will figure out something clever to do with the extra space on their 24/32 core offerings. Or.... :shrug: But for now, I see what's meant by "up up" :|
Hard pass for me.

 

[rainy]

24 cores for 1400 and 32 cores for 2000 USD?

2970WX price was 1299 dollars and 2990WX 1799 - it's increase by 100/200 dollars, which is relatively small for decent performance gains and no more NUMA issues.

Ryzen Threadripper - AMD - WikiChip

Ryzen Threadripper (pronounced Rye-Zen Thread-ripper) is a family of 64-bit x86 high-performance desktop and workstation microprocessors. Ryzen Threadripper is geared toward prosumers that rely on heavily threaded applications and multitasking.

en.wikichip.org

 

[Hitman928]

Huge price gap between 16 core 3950X and 24 core 3960X. Obviously you're getting HEDT platform features as well for the price jump, but still seems too large. I wonder if AMD is expecting the 10xxx line of intel HEDT processors to be very supply limited, otherwise the new TR pricing doesn't make much sense to me. Possibly we see a TR price drop once the intel line is released with general availability?

 

[Kocicak]

2970WX price was 1299 dollars and 2990WX 1799 - it's increase by 100/200 dollars, which is relatively small for decent performance gains and no more NUMA issues.

I do not believe that comparing with own past products and their features makes more sense than comparing with upcoming competing products.

Intel will have 18 cores for 1000 USD and AMD coming with 24 cores for 1400 USD will push many people willing to spend around a grand for a new CPU to buy Intel. AMD just solved decision problem for a number of customers. If AMD offered 24 cores for a grand or so, most people would buy AMD, just because 24 is more than 18 and the difference is so obvious, that even some long term Intel users would buckle.

A new socket is a complication making buying the new CPUs connected with building whole new systems. That is the ground for brand decisions and also a significant financial investment territory with high priced CPUs not helping anything.

 

[Hitman928]

Also from the Anandtech article regarding all 3000 series CPUs:

One side announcement from AMD, regarding all of the Ryzen 3000 hardware, is that every CPU now supports a cTDP down mode through the Ryzen Master software. With the tool, users can select the next power range down from the TDP of the processor. This means that 95W/105W CPUs can be set to run at 65W, then the 65W CPUs can be set to run at 45W, and the 45W CPUs can run at 35W.





AMD is doing this because they have seen a number of customers request high-core count processors at lower TDP values. Rather than releasing a wide array of X and non-X parts to satisfy all different areas of the market, AMD is offering this ‘cTDP down-like’ option for system builders that do want to focus on something like a 65W 16-core processor for their system. This isn’t to say that AMD will not release non-X CPUs in the future (they’re typically cheaper than the X CPUs), but rather than have customers wait for those parts to enter the market, AMD is giving this option to speed up adoption.

 

[Markfw]

I am a little pissed off that the new threadrippers will not work in the x399 socket. But I do see a 3970x coming to my farm for thanksgiving !

 

[rainy]

I If AMD offered 24 cores for a grand or so, most people would buy AMD, just because 24 is more than 18 and the difference is so obvious, that even some long term Intel users would buckle.

I really wish to understand, why AMD should release 3960X for 300 dollars less than 2970WX despite of better performance (higher IPC/clocks)?

Btw, HEDT was never intended as the volume product.

 

[Kocicak]

Because they want to increase market share, as mentioned multiple times by AMD CEO.

BTW I believe other things may be at play here. What if AMD would not be able to produce enough CPUs with lower prices anyway? What if the stock of second gen. CPUs is still so large, that AMD wants to keep selling them without having to lower their prices too much?

 

[Markfw]

You pay (will pay) 750 for 16 cores at AM4, one could expect to pay max. 1500 (+ 50 or 100 extra for the different platform, pricier package etc.) for 32 cores.

Wrong. The threadrippers have 4 channel memory, and a lot more PCIE lanes that AM4 does not give you, of course they will be more expensive.

 

[Markfw]

I do not believe that comparing with own past products and their features makes more sense than comparing with upcoming competing products.

Intel will have 18 cores for 1000 USD and AMD coming with 24 cores for 1400 USD will push many people willing to spend around a grand for a new CPU to buy Intel. AMD just solved decision problem for a number of customers. If AMD offered 24 cores for a grand or so, most people would buy AMD, just because 24 is more than 18 and the difference is so obvious, that even some long term Intel users would buckle.

A new socket is a complication making buying the new CPUs connected with building whole new systems. That is the ground for brand decisions and also a significant financial investment territory with high priced CPUs not helping anything.

If you want to be in that ballpark, you can buy 24 core OLDer TR CPUs for $800 today on x399 platform.

Here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/AMD-Ryzen-YD297XAZAFWOF-Threadripper-2970wx-24-core-3ghz-Socket-Str4/323959096009?_trkparms=aid=1110001&algo=SPLICE.SIM&ao=1&asc=40718&meid=600f28f3c11648f699fe215d74d90d0b&pid=100005&rk=1&rkt=12&mehot=co&sd=383217599824&itm=323959096009&pmt=0&noa=1&pg=2047675&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

 

[Topweasel]

I am a little pissed off that the new threadrippers will not work in the x399 socket. But I do see a 3970x coming to my farm for thanksgiving !

I get that. I wish they could have done something about allowing the CPU's talk down to the four lanes to the chipset. But my guess is this is a sign that even if Ryzen moves to DDR5 with Zen 4 that EPYC and TR will wait another gen and they figured swapping in the middle and getting 2 more upgrades on this socket and adding features now was better then trying to drag out its current config.

Specially when you get down to what these CPU's are at the heart of it. With TR1 having 8-16c it was a straight up Competitor to Intel's HDET lineup and the chipset was just a rebranded X370. With TR2 it was really the tail of two configs, the standard HDET fare up to 16c, then the WX lineup that had a billion and one weaknesses but was a great and affordable compute beast for workstations. With TR3 you basically have AMD wiping out the need for a HDET setup to compete with Intel's whole HDET lineup (honestly I think the 3950 is going walk over the 10990xe in just about everything). Starting at 24c and up. TR3 really leaves everything gaming behind (though I expect them to be as good if not better then anything x299 at gaming) and leaves the lineup being really only a Workstation CPU. If there was a time to let there be distinction between the types of products TR were, this is the time. Lets not forget that TR started as a min effort, skunkwork product to see if AMD could get a HDET project out there when they had no funds. This really becomes the point that TR gets an opportunity to stand up on its own and not held back because of design decisions made when they couldn't really change or develop anything.

PS. Though you can sit happy that everything you have that's not a 2990wx can probably be upgraded to one on the cheap as TR2 starts to go through its heavy discount phase.

 

[Atari2600]

I am a little pissed off that the new threadrippers will not work in the x399 socket.

+1

The "forward looking features" sounds like PR crap given they won't commit to long term platform support.

Furthermore, we know DDR5 is coming down the track. Is Zen3 gonna be DDR5? If so, this is a single-use motherboard. edit: Ah, I remember now Zen3 is definitely DDR4. So its a single step upgrade.

I slate Intel for it - its only fair I slate AMD for it too.


Perhaps some will find the added I/O worth it. I won't, so not overly happy. I'll live quite happily with my 2950 for the time being.

 

[Topweasel]

I do not believe that comparing with own past products and their features makes more sense than comparing with upcoming competing products.

Why would they. The 24c and 32c TR's are still some of the top HDET CPU's, so it replacing good with better. They were heavily compromised CPU's, something that these guys won't be and just on clocks will be a lot faster add in the reduced latency, better memory com, and all cores having same connection to mem. These guys will be some of the more premium performing (pro)consumer products.

Intel will have 18 cores for 1000 USD and AMD coming with 24 cores for 1400 USD will push many people willing to spend around a grand for a new CPU to buy Intel. AMD just solved decision problem for a number of customers. If AMD offered 24 cores for a grand or so, most people would buy AMD, just because 24 is more than 18 and the difference is so obvious, that even some long term Intel users would buckle.

While there is some value in battling Intel straight up and I do think AMD is missing the boat with the gap between the 3950x and 3960x, we are seeing the downside to AMD's modularity. They can core up everything like crazy. But they have certain performance brackets they just can't slide themselves into. I do think it would have been smart to allow for a 16c TR3 for guys who want the IO over the cores. That's all they could do, 16/24/32/48/64. They have a performance value set for their sockets and per core and its really really competitive pricing. Intel finally caught up to it a bit. But AMD shouldn't cut a third off the pricing just to line it up into the pricing Teir of Intel. Outside the IO the 3950x is probably going to eat its lunch anyways. These are expensive CPU's sure and TR as a whole kind of left the market, that it itself premiered in. But these aren't expensive in what they are. They are amazing values. You really should spend some time studying business, because you obviously struggle to understand the market at all.

A new socket is a complication making buying the new CPUs connected with building whole new systems. That is the ground for brand decisions and also a significant financial investment territory with high priced CPUs not helping anything.

Well that's the problem with TR still using the EPYC configuration and moving up market. There is good technical reasons to make the decision AMD did to require a new socket. But in the end their CPU configurations that result from the architecture decisions of Zen 2 leave AMD with only a handful of viable configs with most of them sitting at the high end of core counts and perfomance pulling TR out of HDET and putting it fully into the workstation markets. It's smart to use this time as an image rebranding. Honestly if it was me I'd also get rid of the Ryzen name at the front (maybe the did, haven't checked).