The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and 3970X Review: 24 and 32 Cores on 7nm
by Dr. Ian Cutress, Andrei Frumusanu & Gavin Bonshor on November 25, 2019 9:05 AM ESTTest Bed and Setup
As per our processor testing policy, we take a premium category motherboard suitable for the socket, and equip the system with a suitable amount of memory running at the manufacturer's maximum supported frequency. This is also typically run at JEDEC subtimings where possible. It is noted that some users are not keen on this policy, stating that sometimes the maximum supported frequency is quite low, or faster memory is available at a similar price, or that the JEDEC speeds can be prohibitive for performance. While these comments make sense, ultimately very few users apply memory profiles (either XMP or other) as they require interaction with the BIOS, and most users will fall back on JEDEC supported speeds - this includes home users as well as industry who might want to shave off a cent or two from the cost or stay within the margins set by the manufacturer. Where possible, we will extend out testing to include faster memory modules either at the same time as the review or a later date.
Test Setup | |
AMD TR3 | Threadripper 3970X Threadripper 3960X |
Motherboard | ASUS ROG Zenith II Extreme (BIOS 0601) |
CPU Cooler | Thermaltake Riing 360 CLC |
DRAM | Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB 8x8 GB DDR4-3200 |
GPU | MSI GTX 1080 Gaming 8G |
PSU | Corsair AX860i |
SSD | Crucial MX500 2TB |
OS | Windows 10 1909 |
For our motherboards, we are using the latest firmware. It should be noted that our Intel tests do not have the latest Intel security updates for JCC and others, as the motherboard vendors for the models we used have not implemented them yet.
The latest AMD TR3 benchmarks were run by Gavin Bonshor, while I attended Supercomputing in Denver last week. Unfortunately both Intel and AMD decided to sample processors before the annual trade show conference, with launches only a couple of days after the show finished. As a result, our testing has been split between Gavin and myself, and we have endeavored to ensure parity through my automated testing suite.
Also, our compile test seems to have broken itself when we used Windows 10 1909, and due to travel we have not had time to debug why it is no longer working. We hope to get this test up and running in the new year, along with an updated test suite.
We must thank the following companies for kindly providing hardware for our multiple test beds. Some of this hardware is not in this test bed specifically, but is used in other testing.
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Supercell99 - Tuesday, November 26, 2019 - link
I tend to agree, they can low ball AMD for a few years until the catch up. Assuming they completely screw up the 10 nm deployment going into 2022. It takes 3-5 years for for an industry to fully adopt switch course on a mainstream microprocessor.Korguz - Tuesday, November 26, 2019 - link
" they can low ball AMD for a few years until they catch up " not if their investors and shareholders have anything to say about that......Chaitanya - Monday, November 25, 2019 - link
Impressive to say the least.Paul-RP12 - Monday, November 25, 2019 - link
Intel destroyed. This is the end, this is the sunset of the empireyankeeDDL - Monday, November 25, 2019 - link
I wonder how long will it take Intel to go fabless. Now, that would be a shift ... I think it is inevitable.milkywayer - Monday, November 25, 2019 - link
That's what you get for milking the same s****y 4 core cpus for years until the competition not only catches up but also surpasses you. Intel deserved every bich slap this year from AMD.Paul-RP12 - Monday, November 25, 2019 - link
Intel has no chance. they do not have an effective architecture, they do not have a modern technical process. They are hopelessly behind. 3970x of 2000 usd upside about 20% (in applications that use all the cores) Xeon W-3175X of 3000 usd. Its so crazy!!TEAMSWITCHER - Monday, November 25, 2019 - link
Intel's quarterly profit is still more than AMD's revenue. AMD can't make enough products to change that.eva02langley - Monday, November 25, 2019 - link
I said 10 years last year... so maybe around 9 now.niva - Monday, November 25, 2019 - link
I hope they never go fabless, it will be a big problem for consumers in the end... unfortunately it may happen.