64-Core/128-Thread 3990X To Join AMD's Ryzen Threadripper Lineup In 2020

👤by Tim Harmer Comments 📅26.11.2019 00:00:10



When AMD launched the 3rd Generation Ryzen Threadripper CPUs earlier this month it seemed inevitable that additional SKUs would be released positioned above the 3970X flagship. AMD would nonetheless not be drawn, emphasising that their focus was on successfully launching the 3950X, 3960X and 3970X, and future plans were a topic for another day. Today is that day.

Read our review of the 24-core, 48-thread Ryzen Threadripper 3960X here!

The new Threadripper lineup is now established, as are the rather surprising number of TRX40 motherboards models alongside them, and the mainstream desktop finally has its flagship (even if they're hard to come by). So, with little fanfare, AMD shared their plans for the true Threadripper flagship: the behemoth 3990X.


IMG Source: @brolyx5


And weren't not mincing words here: 64 cores and 128 threads is very much a behemoth outside of server-class chips (where it's merely 'stonkingly massive'). It doubles the maximum number of cores per PC available to consumers (even if they will come at a price) and roundly trounces anything Intel has available, claiming truly undisputed leadership in this space.

The question is how much of the EPYC Rome functionality the 3990X will inherit. In theory it could support eight-channel memory configurations, and will have an absurd number (~140) of PCI-Express 4.0 lanes available. On the flip side, clock speeds will be a concern is AMD are committing to the 280W TDP unchanged from the rest of the 3rd Gen. Threadripper line. Can consumer software even take advantage of this many cores, or will new tools need to be developed alongside the platform?

And what about the price? The 3970X is a $2000 chip; how much will the 3990X be? $3500? $5000?

And does this mean that 7nm manufacturing constraints have eased?

Anyway, enough speculation. We'll finish by saying that if anyone thought that AMD would be taking an opportunity to rest on their laurels, you now have their response.




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