Ryzen 3950X has a release date and Threadripper 3000 introduced
7.11.2019
Translation: machine translated
AMD is really stepping on the gas again towards the end of the year. The company announces a release date of 25 November for the 16-core Ryzen 9 3950X. There are also details on the third-generation Threadrippers.
PC enthusiasts have had to wait a long time, but now the Ryzen 9 3950X finally has a release date of 25 November. AMD has also presented its first benchmarks of the new flagship model.
| Processor | Cores / Threads | Base / boost clock frequency (GHz) | L3 cache (MB) | TDP (Watt) | PCIe lanes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 3950X | 16 / 32 | 3.5 / 4.7 | 64 | 105 | 24 Gen 4 |
| Core i9-10980XE | 18 / 36 | 3.0 / 4.8 | 24.75 | 165 | 48 Gen 3 |
| Ryzen 3900X | 12 / 24 | 3.8 / 4.6 | 64 | 105 | 24 Gen 4 |
Consumer processor with high-end specs
The new AMD flagship does not have a consumer chip as a direct opponent: The 3950X is intended to compete against the Intel Core i9-10980XE high-end desktop processor (HEDT) with 18 cores and 36 threads.
According to AMD, the 3950X is compatible with the AM4 socket on the X570, X470 and B450 motherboards. However, the processor is only validated with the new 1.0.0.4B AGESA. A firmware update is therefore necessary.
The Ryzen 9 3950X comes without a cooler bundle. This is a first for a Ryzen mainstream processor. AMD recommends cooling the 3950X with water.
AMD itself has presented some benchmarks. The 3950X is said to be one per cent faster in the Cinebench R20 single thread benchmark thanks to a 100 MHz higher clock rate than the 3900X. The processor is also said to be faster than the i9-9900K at 1080p in games such as "Fortnite", "Hitman" and "Middle-Earth: Shadow of War". The two processors are also said to be close to each other when gaming at 1080p.
In applications such as Premiere or Resolve, the Ryzen 9 3950X is even over 40 per cent faster than the Intel i9-9900K, according to AMD. As always, the manufacturers' benchmarks should be treated with caution. The first independent benchmarks will show what the processor actually does.
We can't tell you anything about availability and price at the moment. Our colleague Jan Heidenreich will let you know in due course.
Threadripper 3000
With the Threadrippers, AMD has shaken up the HEDT market by offering more cores for less money than Intel. With the third generation, AMD could further widen this gap to Intel. These are the specs of the new processors:
| Processor | Cores / Threads | Base / boost clock frequency (GHz) | Cache Total (MB) | TDP (Watt) | PCIe lanes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TR 3970X | 32 / 64 | 3.7 / 4.5 | 144 | 280 | 88 Gen 4 (72 usable) |
| TR 3960X | 24 / 48 | 3.8 / 4.5 | 140 | 280 | 88 Gen 4 (72 usable) |
In contrast to the consumer processors, AMD is no longer staying true to the TR4 socket with the Threadripper 3000 and is introducing the sTRX4 socket. The socket is mechanically the same as the previous interface, but AMD has changed the pin assignments and added new functions. According to AMD, coolers developed for the TR4 socket are therefore also compatible with the new thread rippers.
With the new socket also comes a new chipset. The TRX40 chipset offers 72 PCIe 4.0 lanes and, with a bandwidth of 16 GB/s, four times as much as the X399 chipset. The platform also provides up to 12 USB 10 Gbps ports.
AMD has shown some benchmarks, but their results should also be taken with a grain of salt. In addition, Intel's Cascade Lake X processors are not yet available and, unlike the aforementioned i9-9980XE, will certainly have a performance boost. Incidentally, the new Threadrippers will also be available on 25 November.
Kevin Hofer
Senior Editor
kevin.hofer@digitecgalaxus.chFrom big data to big brother, Cyborgs to Sci-Fi. All aspects of technology and society fascinate me.
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