Monday, November 25th 2019

AMD Paves Upgrade Path for TRX40 Platform with 64-core 3990X in 2020

AMD is hours away from market-availability and reviews of its 3rd generation Ryzen Threadripper HEDT processors, which includes two models at launch, the 24-core 3960X, and the 32-core 3970X, with prices starting at USD $1,399. The two are closely related to the 2nd generation EPYC "Rome" server processor family, which we know includes core-counts going all the way up to 64. It was hence obvious that a 64-core Threadripper will launch at some point, and that point is 2020, and the part goes by the name 3990X.

The slide detailing the 3990X mentions its core count of 64-core/128-thread, total cache (L2 + L3), which is a staggering 288 MB, and TDP of "just" 280 W. There is no mention of the chip's clock-speeds, and with the 3970X already priced close to $2,000, one can expect even higher prices for a chip with double the core count. At some point these products stop being HEDT and enter the realm of workstations. Intel's short-term response to even the 3970X could be limited to somehow sell the 28-core "Cascade Lake-SP" with quasi-HEDT branding the way it sells the Xeon W-3175X, and on a different platform than the X299.
Sources: VideoCardz, Brolyx5 (Twitter)
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39 Comments on AMD Paves Upgrade Path for TRX40 Platform with 64-core 3990X in 2020

#26
zlobby
TomgangThis is litterly gonna hurt Intel in the ass.
I like the specifics! :toast:
Posted on Reply
#27
Frick
Fishfaced Nincompoop
fancuckerXeons 56 core Cascade Lake will probably have the last laugh in terms of performance. Let's see if AMD can convince businesses to transfer to a less optimized and unknown product line.
considering the 10980XE have two more cores than the 3950x but doesn’t really get ahead I highly doubt that. The second thing in your post sort of hold true though, but considering how much you can optimize licensing with Epyc (”day one money saver” from STH review) I’m sure they will increase their market share in the coming years, if they can keepstock up.

Is that why desktop avaliability is so low btw? Harvesting parts for Epyc?
Posted on Reply
#28
kapone32
dicktracyPrices are already too damn high for the entry level and the middle of the pack model. Everyone could just forget about the 64 core model.
These CPUs are not made for the average user. The 64 core will probably sell quite well too. It really has me keen to know what the other chipsets are going to have to differentiate from the TR40. I know there was talk of 8 channel RAM but I wonder what else there will be. I also am wondering if the 3960X and 3970X have a TDP of 250W what the 3990X will be.
Posted on Reply
#29
phill
kapone32These CPUs are not made for the average user. The 64 core will probably sell quite well too. It really has me keen to know what the other chipsets are going to have to differentiate from the TR40. I know there was talk of 8 channel RAM but I wonder what else there will be. I also am wondering if the 3960X and 3970X have a TDP of 250W what the 3990X will be.
I think that you'll find the 3960X/3970X are 280w TDP CPUs :)
Posted on Reply
#30
kapone32
phillI think that you'll find the 3960X/3970X are 280w TDP CPUs :)
Sorry you are absolutely correct. Given that could the TDP for the 3990X be like 400W?
Posted on Reply
#31
phill
kapone32Sorry you are absolutely correct. Given that could the TDP for the 3990X be like 400W?
No need to be sorry, it's not an issue :) I'm unsure what the TDP would be, I'm not sure I'd even want to guess!! :)
Posted on Reply
#32
kapone32
phillNo need to be sorry, it's not an issue :) I'm unsure what the TDP would be, I'm not sure I'd even want to guess!! :)
Yeah that is my exact thought process. I guessed at 400 but it might be closer to 500 which would be insane. Regardless I don't think those (64) chips will OC that well.
Posted on Reply
#33
phill
It might be around the 280w mark you never can tell :) Either way, I'm not sure OC'ing that many cores would be that beneficial unless you had no issues or care in the world about power draw :) That said even with 400w, over 128 threads (just for real rough maths) just over 3w a core :)
Posted on Reply
#34
MadHobbit
Well here is a crazy thought. They drop the price of the 3970 to around 1500.00. Drop the 3960 to around 1000.00. Drop the 3950 300-400 dollars and the 3990 comes in at 1999.99. Really put pressure on Intel.
Posted on Reply
#35
kapone32
MadHobbitWell here is a crazy thought. They drop the price of the 3970 to around 1500.00. Drop the 3960 to around 1000.00. Drop the 3950 300-400 dollars and the 3990 comes in at 1999.99. Really put pressure on Intel.
I fully expect that we will see something akin to that in the next 8 to 10 months. The fact that you can buy an original MSRP of $799 for the 1900X and it is now as low as $149.99 supports your argument. I am also sure that we will get board vendors releasing semi affordable TR40 boards at some point too.
Posted on Reply
#36
Super XP
AMD's mainstream Ryzen 9 3950X already obliterated Intel's entire HEDT lineup.
The AMD Threadripper 3000 HEDT series is on a league of there own.
Posted on Reply
#37
kapone32
Super XPAMD's mainstream Ryzen 9 3950X already obliterated Intel's entire HEDT lineup.
The AMD Threadripper 3000 HEDT series is on a league of there own.
You are absolutely right I stiil cannot believe the 3970X is in some applications twice as fast as the 2990WX.
Posted on Reply
#38
R0H1T
I don't expect TR3 prices to drop anytime soon, in fact the biggest driver would be AMD itself. So you might see a slight dip in the next year or so provided AMD is not in the mood to make too much $ off of these parts.
Posted on Reply
#39
Super XP
R0H1TI don't expect TR3 prices to drop anytime soon, in fact the biggest driver would be AMD itself. So you might see a slight dip in the next year or so provided AMD is not in the mood to make too much $ off of these parts.
Where there's no stiff competition, prices seem to stay high and stagnate.
But people don't buy Threadrippers for gaming, those that really need that much power and that much ram such as content creators, video animation etc., will be looking for Threadripper.

But AMD needs to play this right now that Intel is struggling. AMD should concentrate on selling more for slightly less $$$ versus selling less for more $$$ as to help it's market share increase, which then attracts more buyers due to perceived popularity. But also superior price / performance...
Posted on Reply
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