GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, and hardware solutions, today announced the availability of BIOS updates for its TRX50 motherboard lineup, bringing full support for AMD's latest launched Ryzen Threadripper 9000 series and Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9000 WX-series processors. The new firmware enables users to take full advantage of AMD's cutting-edge TSMC 4 nm processors on GIGABYTE's premium TRX50 platform.

The updated BIOS versions, featuring Combo-AGESA 1.0.0.0 or later version, are now available for download from GIGABYTE's official website. Compatible motherboards include the TRX50 AERO D and TRX50 AI TOP models, both engineered to deliver exceptional performance with the new AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9000 series and Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9000 WX-series processors.

Enermax at the 2025 Computex showed us several of its latest innovations with PC and workstation cases. We begin our tour with an attraction in the Enermax booth—a fluorinated liquid immersed workstation that implements a copper foam-lattice heatsink that dissipates heat from a Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7000 processor and as many as four high-end GPUs, to the immersion fluid. Next up, is the Studio-G, a production eGPU enclosure Enermax co-designed with Sparkle. The enclosure features an 850 W ATX 3.1 power supply that can feed a graphics card with a 600 W 12V-2x6 connector or 3x 8-pin PCIe power, while the PCI-Express 4.0 x16 slot (electrical x4) puts out an additional 96 W. The enclosure features a bridge chip that converts the PCI-Express 4.0 x4 to a Thunderbolt 5 interface, which includes support for 120 Gbps host-to-GPU and 40 Gbps GPU-to-host asymmetric bandwidth boost. The demo unit was shown featuring a PowerColor RX 9070 XT Red Devil with 3x 8-pin PCIe power.

On our way to the company's main case stand, we also spotted the Enermax Open Frame system, targeting enthusiasts and overclockers. It suppors motherboards as large as E-ATX, and was demoed with a Xeon W-3595X based workstation build with an RTX 5090. The EL 501A Air and EL 600A Scenic are ATX mid-tower cases. The Scenic comes with tempered glass front panel that curves along the edges, while the Air comes with a mesh intake. The Scenic comes with up to 9 fan mounts, while the Air comes with 12. Both cases offer up to 43 cm of clearance for graphics cards, and up to 16.5 cm clearance for CPU coolers. You get a spacious crawlspace behind the motherboard tray for better cable management, and modern front-panel features such as USB 3.2 type-C. Both cases come in white and black trims.

Enermax CPU and case cooling product lineup shown at Computex 2025 is led by the Aquasoar series. The Aquasoar 360 is the company's premium AIO CLC featuring a pump-block with not one, but two displays. The larger 3.5-inch main display is along the top of the pump-block, while the smaller 2.4-inch one moves on a hinge—you can have it face the top, or the side. Each of the three 120 mm radiator fans comes in a uniquely designed fan frame, and implements daisy-chaining to reduce cable clutter.

The Aquasoar ACS 360 is a step up from the Aquasoar 360, with three exclusive features—its cold plate implements AeroCore Structure (ACS), which extends the copper cold-plate with an extruded aluminium heatsink. A 70 mm fan sits on top of this heatsink, airflow from this fan not just dissipates heat from this heatsink, but also cools the VRM area. The third exclusive feature is its 360 mm x 120 mm compound fan replacing the daisy-chained 3x 120 mm, which further reduces the cable clutter. Each impeller can push up to 82 CFM of airflow.

ASRock proudly announces that its WRX90 WS EVO and TRX50 WS workstation motherboards now offer full support for AMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro 9000 and Threadripper 9000 series processors, delivering outstanding computing performance for HEDT & Workstation platform. Featuring the latest Zen 5 architecture, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro 9000 / Threadripper 9000 series processors boast up to 96 cores and supports more PCIe 5.0 lanes, setting a new benchmark for industry-leading performance.

ASRock WS series motherboards, including the WRX90 WS EVO and TRX50 WS, support AMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro 9000 / Threadripper 9000 series processors through a simple BIOS update, which is now available to download from ASRock official website.

AMD at Computex 2025 announced the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9000 series processors targeting high-end desktops (HEDT) and workstations. These processors are codenamed "Shimada Peak," and are based on the "Zen 5" microarchitecture. "Shimada Peak" is a variation of the EPYC "Turin" MCM, designed for Socket TR5, with slightly modified I/O. The chip puts out up to 128 PCIe Gen 5 lanes but lacks CXL capability on these lanes, and the memory I/O is set to 8-channel DDR5 (16 sub-channels), down from 12-channel DDR5 on "Turin" (24 sub-channels).

The top SKU, the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9995WX, comes with a 96-core/192-thread configuration, a 128-lane PCIe Gen 5 I/O, and an 8-channel DDR5 memory interface. The chip comes with a maximum boost frequency of 5.40 GHz, and a total of 384 MB of L3 cache (12x 32 MB). AMD claims a significant 10-20% gain in Cinebench 2024 nT performance over the previous generation 7995WX "Zen 4" processor, and nearly 220% gain over the Intel Xeon W9-3595X processor. Across a wide segment of media, design, architecture, science, and LLM inferencing use-cases, the 9995WX is shown posting performance leads ranging anywhere from 44% to 145% over the W9-3595X. The Threadripper PRO 9000 series will be an OEM-exclusive launch through workstation partners such as Lenovo.

In the weeks leading up to Computex 2025, industry watchdogs have noticed an uptick of next-gen Ryzen Threadripper PRO processor inside info leaks. AMD leadership is expected to introduce "Shimada Peak" 9000WX CPUs during a May 21 on-stage presentation. Despite the company's continued delivery of "silent treatment," external partners and other associates have alluded to an imminent arrival of Zen 5-based workstation-grade processors—very likely positioned as natural successors to Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7000WX (Zen 4) options. As of May 6, the Serial ATA International Organization (SATA-IO) website has produced another "official leak." The independent/non-profit body's recent publication of a dedicated "AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9000 WX-Series Processors" page was highlighted by VideoCardz. "Shimada Peak's" certification seems to pave the way for a looming launch; perhaps shortly after a rumored unveiling in Taipei, Taiwan. Processor technology observers reckon that a non-PRO 9000X series will arrive at a later date—so far, succeeding generation Threadripper leaks have not outlined an adjacent High-End Desktop (HEDT) line. Unfortunately, SATA-IO's latest repository update does not contain any additional supportive info.

V-Color Technology Inc., a leading innovator in high-performance memory solutions, is proud to announce the industry's first DDR5 OC RDIMM RGB modules. Engineered to redefine workstation and professional computing performance, these revolutionary modules will come in capacities ranging from 16 GB per module up to 64 GB or 512 GB in configurations of 64 GB x 8 and with configurations that reach 8000 MT/s delivering exceptional speeds in addition a new ultra-low timing RDIMM of CL26 now enters the line-up, fully optimized for AMD Ryzen Threadripper and Intel Xeon processor platforms. Protected under Patent No. M667728, v-color's DDR5 OC RDIMM RGB modules feature an advanced design with RGB LEDs, combining vibrant visual aesthetics with outstanding performance, bandwidth, and reliability. Designed specifically for AI development, professional multitasking, data analytics, and demanding creative workloads, these modules deliver unmatched speed, reliability, and efficiency.

Elevating Memory Performance
Crafted with Premium Original Top-Tier ICs and ON-Die ECC technology, v-color's DDR5 OC RDIMM RGB modules deliver exceptional data integrity and stability for demanding professional workloads. Featuring an advanced memory architecture, these modules push the boundaries of performance, reaching speeds of up to 8000 MT/s while also offering configurations with ultra-low Timing like 6000 MT/s CL28. Designed for AI development, real-time analytics, and complex 3D rendering, they ensure lightning-fast responsiveness in the most intensive computing environments.

Mid-week, leakers produced an impressive list of unannounced next-gen AMD processor families—spanning across workstation, desktop, and laptop/notebook product lines. Additional data mining activities have outlined a possible "PRO model-only" release of Ryzen Threadripper Pro "Shimada Peak" 9000WX CPUs. AMD's upcoming Computex 2025 presentation plans could include an unveiling of their much-leaked Zen 5 workstation-grade processor family. Curiously, AMD's Technical Information Portal does not list a "Shimada Peak" High-End Desktop (HEDT) category—industry watchers expected to see a successor to the current-gen Ryzen Threadripper (non-PRO) 7000X "Storm Peak" series. In theory, next-gen HEDT models could be introduced at a later date. All leaked identifiers have featured "-5WX" affixes; denoting workstation deployments. Keen observers have not found products IPs ending with "-0X." InstLatX64's supplementary investigations seemed to confirm presences of the vast majority of recently disclosed next-wave product ranges—namely Ryzen 9000G "Gorgon Point" APUs and EPYC 4005 "Grado" CPUs. Another anomaly was discovered; the alleged Arm-based "Soundwave" SoC family was notably absent from Team Red's tech info repository.

AMD's next-gen Ryzen Threadripper High-End Desktop (HEDT) processor family remains under wraps, but the latest insider whispers indicate a potential official introduction at Computex 2025. So far, leaks have provided the majority of insights into Team Red's speculated "Shimada Peak" 9000WX series. Mid-way through this month, three more unannounced product identifiers appeared online—industry observers are still seeking out a futuristic 96-core "9995WX" model. AMD's teaser material—regarding Jack Huynh's upcoming keynote presentation—does not list anything bearing a Threadripper label. Fresh evidence—not from a shipping manifest—points to a possible upcoming inclusion. As disclosed by the PCGH.de crew; GIGABYTE has rolled out an F10a BIOS update for TRX50 AERO D motherboards—accompanying release notes mention intriguing "Next Gen CPU Support."

PCGH's investigative piece put a spotlight on an exciting specification point, but potential customers will probably be greeted by corresponding extreme "niche" pricing. The article elaborated on this fan-favorite technology: "workstation and high-end desktop processors from the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9000 and Ryzen Threadripper Pro 9000 series—also known as 'Shimada Peak'—will feature multiple 3D V-Caches consisting of up to four stacks on as many chiplets, and could thus represent, for the first time, an option for gamers who benefit from as many processor cores and massive L3 cache as possible...(this CPU platform) will continue to be housed on the already established LGA4844 ('sTR5') socket and will most likely be compatible with the two chipsets: the TRX50 and WRX90. However, the much more interesting information is provided by the UEFI/BIOS itself, as this is where the use of the CPU's 3D V-Cache can now be configured. Configurations with 1, 2, or even 4 memory 'stacks' are available, as well as a corresponding auto-feature." GIGABYTE's "official" leak suggests the distribution of evaluation samples—naturally, review outlet test rig's would require support for "Shimada Peak" CPUs.

Going back to May 2023, an industry inside report suggested that AMD was planning a new generation Ryzen Threadripper High-End Desktop (HEDT) processor series. At the time, "Shimada Peak" was linked to a possible 2025 launch. Over the ensuing years, shipping manifests have revealed the transfer of various 9000 SKUs between Team Red facilities—starting with a mysterious 96-core prototype. Industry observers have been seeking out newer evidence of AMD's next-gen flagship "Zen 5" Threadripper chip; likely going under a "9995WX" moniker.

Late last week, a fresh leak unearthed a likely sub-flagship SKU: the 9985WX. This alleged 64-core SKU was spotted—by Everest (aka Olrak29)—alongside 9955WX (16-core) and 9945WX (12-core) siblings, in a shipping manifest. As reported on TechPowerUp on March 21, the same source uncovered two other entry-level models: the 9975WX (32-core) and 9965WX (24-core) parts. Unfortunately, Team Red's rumored monstrous 96-core 9995WX processor was not listed within fresh batches of shipping documents. Industry watchdogs expect AMD to repeat its product layout from past generations; spanning from entry-tier 12-core offerings up to the aforementioned 96-core range-topper. The latest leak suggests utilization of the SP6 socket type, and 350 W TDPs (across all product identifiers).

BOXX Technologies, the leading innovator of high-performance computer workstations, rendering systems, and servers, today announced that it is hosting demonstrations of its APEXX T4 PRO workstation inside BOXX booth #SL10113 at the 2025 NAB Show through April 9th, in Las Vegas, NV. Purpose-built to accelerate VFX, animation, compositing, film editing, and broadcast, the remarkably fast, liquid-cooled, and versatile workstation will be joined by FLEXX, the innovative BOXX data center workstation platform designed for on premise or remote installations.

BOXX APEXX: The Pinnacle of Performance
"APEXX T4 PRO is the media and entertainment workstation that does it all," said BOXX CEO Kirk Schell. "From the blazing fast AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO CPU and NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell GPUs, to renowned BOXX performance tuning like liquid cooling, this system delivers unrivaled, top-tier performance for all facets of post production, live broadcast, and virtual production."

I've had the privilege of leading the MNC at AMD for the past five years. In this role, I work with Dell, HP, Lenovo, Supermicro, and other leading workstation manufacturers to develop, market, and sell workstations using AMD Ryzen PRO and AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO processors. In this brief time, we've seen over 25 customers develop AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO processor-powered workstations that are transforming the capabilities of premium workstations. Many of you who have followed our journey already know that AMD Threadripper PRO CPU delivers up to an industry-leading 96-cores per processor. However, many of you may not have heard that every AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7000WX-Series processor model offers single-threaded frequencies of over 5 GHz, delivering a no-compromise architecture for lightly threaded and multithreaded applications.

Another secret of AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO processors is that they enable GPU-centric workloads to run faster. When pairing the same professional graphics card with AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO vs. the competition's processor, AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO CPU delivers up to 38% faster graphics performance, up to 29% faster GPU compute performance, and up to 29% faster GPU AI performance. Finally, one unique thing that AMD does is collaborate with leading workstation software manufacturers to optimize their software for the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO architecture. These include 3ds Max, AutoCAD, Inventor, and Maya covering media and entertainment, design, engineering, and manufacturing.

Unannounced AMD Threadripper 9000 "Shimada Peak" processor SKUs have once again appeared on leaked shipping manifests—a 96-core variant was uncovered under similar circumstances last summer. The latest discovery—courtesy of reliable investigator Everest/Olrak_29 combing through info published on NBD—reveals a Zen 5-based product stack that lists 16, 32, 64 and 96-core models. Until now, industry watchdogs have not spotted evidence of 32-core and 64-core SKUs—alongside prior leaks that only mentioned 16-core and 96-core parts.

Team Red has not officially announced that it is working on a follow-up to its current generation Zen 4-equipped Threadripper 7000 "Storm Peak" CPU series, but tipsters believe that fundamental similarities—based on leaked core counts and specifications—position "Shimada Peak" as the logical/inevitable successor. Speculation points to all the leaked Threadripper 9000 HEDT processors having a TDP rating of 350 W. Industry insiders propose that the highest-end variant—sporting 96 cores and 192 threads—will contain 12 CCDs (eight cores per CCD), 32 MB L3 cache (per CCD), and a lone I/O die. Wccftech theorizes that the 32-core model will be specced with four CCDs, while "the 64-core variant will come with eight CCDs." Insiders have whispered about a possible "later in 2025" launch window for "Shimada Peak."

ENERMAX is proud to be launching its new workstation-level CPU AIO cooler: LIQTECH XTR. Specifically designed for the AMD Ryzen Threadripper and Intel Xeon W series processors with a cooling capacity of over 550 W. LIQTECH XTR AIO cooler debuted at Computex 2024 with a live demo, achieving a cooling capacity of over 550 W. The LIQTECH XTR 360 mm CPU cooler features an enlarged cold plate design on its water block, fully covering the IHS area of both AMD Threadripper and Intel Xeon W series processors. Thanks to ENERMAX's high-efficient EP1 pump with a 450L/h flow rate and 3000 RPM radiator fans, LIQTECH XTR can provide more than 550 W cooling capacity on both AMD and Intel platforms.

LIQTECH XTR AIO cooler is also the first ENERMAX CPU cooler to implement the magnetic, fully rotatable, real-time status digital display. Users can manually adjust the LED screen on the water block to set their preferred digital direction. The additional software, ENERMAX's tuner, can further provide a real-time data showing on the water block. ENERMAX's LIQTECH XTR AIO cooler is the perfect cooling solution for workstations that need to perform heavy duty tasks such as 3D rendering, product visualization & simulation, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning acceleration. It fully supports AMD socket sTR5/SP6/sWRX8/sTRX4/TR4/SP3 and Intel socket LGA 4677.

IceGiant at the 2025 International CES showed us their ProSiphon TITAN series CPU coolers for workstations and gaming desktops. These are closed loop liquid CPU coolers based on the ProSiphon technology IceGiant innovated. It works on the fluid siphon technology, where a thermal gradient in the loop drives coolant instead of a pump. Heat dissipates more efficiently to the coolant, and there's no crackling noise from the pump. The only downside to this are that the siphon tubes are rigid and you have to plan your build well.

There were two models on display. The TITAN-TR 360 is designed for AMD Socket SP5 or sTR5, which seats Ryzen Threadripper 7000 series workstation processors, which is a testament to the technology. Some of the processor models in the Threadripper WX7000 series come with TDP as high as 350 W. The other cooler shown is the ProSiphon TITAN 360, which is designed for mainstream desktop CPU socket types, such as AM5 and LGA1851. The cooler can tame high-power flagship chips from Intel and AMD, such as the top-spec Ryzen 9 9000X3D series with their 170 W TDP and 230 W PPT, or the Core Ultra 9 285K with its 125 W base- and 250 W maximum turbo power. IceGiant is backing the coolers with lifetime warranty, although the included fans come with 6-year warranties. The company says that the cooler will outlast the fan, unlike in the case of pump-based CLCs that give in to pump wear and structural degradation over time.

XPG, a fast-growing provider of systems, components, and peripherals for Gamers, Esports Pros, and Tech Enthusiasts and gaming brand of ADATA Technology, the world's leading brand for memory modules and flash memory, has now expanded its product line and officially entered the field of workstations. Today XPG announced the launch of the first AICORE Overclocked DDR5 R-DIMM, with a maximum speed of 8,000 MT/s and a capacity of 32 GB, making challenging large-capacity workstation memory expansions a breeze. AICORE is built for improving overall system performance, process complex data, multi-tasking more quickly, and maximize the efficiency of AI computing.

Born for High-Speed Computing and AI Development
R-DIMM adopts a Register Clock Driver (RCD) and is characterized by high-speed, low-latency, and enhanced operational stability. AICORE Overclocked R-DIMM memory is designed for high speed and stability and is perfect for large-scale data processing, AI generation, 3D rendering and graphics, video post-production editing, and multitasking. AICORE is designed for securities markets that emphasize real-time data analysis and data science professionals or expert image creators to accelerate work efficiency and quickly complete various large-scale projects. AICORE Overclocked DDR5 R-DIMM memory has a maximum speed of 8,000 MT/s which is 1.6 times faster than standard R-DIMM memory, delivering more powerful performance to meet the rigorous speed requirements of high-end systems.

A shipping manifest has revealed a new 96-core Ryzen Threadripper CPU codenamed "Shimada Peak." This processor is expected to incorporate Zen 5 CPU cores and maintain a configuration similar to AMD's current Zen 4 Threadripper flagship. The new CPU will likely be compatible with existing DDR5 HEDT motherboard platforms like TRX50 and WRX90. Its architecture appears to mirror that of AMD's previous 96-core Threadripper and EPYC models, featuring twelve 8-core CCDs and a single IO die. These similarities suggest that the primary change lies in the CCDs.

The Shimada Peak series is unlikely to debut in the near future. Given that the previous generation launched in October 2023 after a considerable delay, a similar timeline may apply here. AMD has remained silent regarding its Threadripper roadmap. Reports suggest AMD is preparing to unveil multiple products soon, the lineup is said to include the Ryzen AI 300 PRO, EPYC Turin, and Instinct MI325X. Following this, the next major showcase is expected to be CES. At this event, Kraken or Strix Halo are anticipated to make an appearance.

During Computex 2024, GIGABYTE unveiled its new "AI TOP" series designed to empower users to develop and run AI applications locally on their systems. The AI TOP lineup includes AI-optimized motherboards, graphics cards, and complete system solutions. The flagship motherboard is called TRX50 AI TOP, which boasts support for AMD's Ryzen Threadripper 7000 PRO and a regular series of CPUs. The flagship TRX50 AI TOP motherboard features a special VRM design with beefy heatsinks, four PCIe 5.0 x16 slots for quad-GPU setup, eight-channel DDR5 memory with room for eight DIMMs, and a few M.2 PCIe Gen 5 slots. Next in the AI TOP line is the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER AI TOP edition. Formed as a blower-style cooler, the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER AI TOP is envisioned for tight spaces and parallel installation with other GPUs to accelerate local AI development and inference.

Supposedly, there will be more AI TOP motherboards and GPUs than what is showcased. GIGABYTE may have an AI TOP makeover for Intel's upcoming Z890 AORUS Xtreme, and there could be more GPUs in the future with the blower-style AI TOP design. The goal of AI TOP series is optimization for AI workloads, which require lots of GPUs and lots of memory, like the TRX50 AI TOP motherboard shows.

Today, Lenovo launched the Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 5 designed for professionals who need top-notch performance in a portable 14-inch chassis. Featuring a stunning 16:10 display, this mobile workstation is powered by AMD Ryzen PRO 8040 HS-Series processors. These processors are ultra-advanced and energy-efficient, making them perfect for use in thin and light mobile workstations. The AMD Ryzen PRO HS- Series processors also come with built-in Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities, including an integrated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for optimized performance in AI workflows.

The Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 5 is provided with independent software vendor (ISV) certifications and integrated AMD Radeon graphics, making it ideal for running applications like AutoCAD, Revit, and SOLIDWORKS with seamless performance. This mobile workstation is ideal for mobile power users, offering advanced ThinkShield security features and passes comprehensive MIL-SPEC testing for ultimate durability.

SilverStone today introduced the XE360-TR5, an all-in-one liquid CPU cooler for AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7000-series processors in the Socket TR5 and SP6 packages. The cooler's design consists of a 1U-friendly waterblock, and a 360 mm radiator that integrates the pump and coolant reservoir, which is connected to the block over Nylon-sleeved tubing. The block features a nickel-plated copper main material, with metal alloy top. The cold-plate makes contact with the entire IHS of an sTR5/SP6 processor, providing cooling to all twelve CCDs and the large central sIOD. The pump integrated with the radiator is made as thin as possible using a 6-pole motor.

The 360 mm x 120 mm radiator is 28 mm-thick, and is made of aluminium, and connects to the water block over a 42 cm-long tubing. Each of the three included 120 mm fans turns at speeds ranging between 600 RPM to 2,800 RPM, pushing up to 87.72 CFM of airflow, at a radiator-friendly 3.09 mm H₂O static pressure, and 46 dBA maximum noise output. The company didn't reveal pricing.

Corsair today announced it is entering the DDR5 Workstation market with the introduction of a range of WS DDR5 RDIMM memory kits. Engineered to offer uncompromising performance and reliability, these ECC RDIMM kits redefine the capabilities of the newest workstations, and are compatible with the latest 4th Gen Intel Xeon and AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7000 processors.

This new range of memory kits boasts capacities of up to 256 GB, setting a new standard for memory-intensive tasks such as high-resolution media editing, 3D rendering, and AI training. Rigorously tested and carefully screened, these modules surpass JEDEC specifications with tighter timings and higher frequencies, ensuring optimal performance for the most demanding workloads.

AMD today released the latest version of the Ryzen Chipset Software. Version 6.02.07.2300 WHQL updates the driver versions of its various component drivers, and is applicable to AMD 300-series through 600-series desktop chipsets; and TRX and WRX series Ryzen Threadripper chipsets. The version also identifies a few issues that will be addressed in future updates, such as non-English driver names appearing in the English language selection; incorrect Uninstall log when uninstallation fails; and a failure to upgrade Ryzen PPKG.

The installer from AMD has now been fixed, and we are now hosting the 6.02.07.2300 driver.

DOWNLOAD: AMD Chipset Software 6.02.07.2300 WHQL

V-COLOR today introduced a series of overclocking memory RDIMM kits for workstations powered by AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7000WX processors on the WRX90 platform that features 8-channel DDR5 memory. The kits include 8 RDIMMs, with densities ranging between 16 GB per RDIMM (128 GB per kit), to 96 GB per RDIMM (768 GB per kit); and comes in speeds ranging between DDR5-5600 and DDR5-7200. The best part? These modules feature AMD EXPO profiles, which should make enabling their advertised speeds as easy as a couple of clicks in the motherboard's UEFI setup program.

An EXPO profile not just applies the kit's memory speed, timings, and voltages, but also several sub-timings and settings that are specific to the AMD platform, which are not found on Intel. V-COLOR has tested its overclocking RDIMMs on popular AMD WRX90 chipset motherboards, namely the ASRock WRX90 WS EVO, ASUS PRO WS WRX90E-SAGE SE, and certain unreleased WRX90 workstation motherboards by Supermicro. Although the RDIMMs lack heatspreaders for the DRAM chips, V-COLOR is including what it calls "micro heatsinks" for the PMIC and RCDs. The RCD in particular is crucial to get Threadrippers to operate at speeds such as DDR5-7200. The kits should be available starting today, with all models available from mid-March. The company didn't reveal pricing.

SilverStone today introduced the XE04-SP6P, a CPU cooler designed for AMD server/workstation sockets sTR5 and SP6, meant for those that use Ryzen Threadripper chips as server processors in rackmount cases as tall as 4U. The cooler is designed for thermal loads as high as 350 W, but is an aluminium fin-stack heatsink that measures 130 mm x 119 mm x 126 mm (WxHxD). This may look rather small for its thermal capacity in comparison to some desktop D-type coolers; but this is a server cooler, the desktop standards for fan noise go out the window, and a high-powered 92 mm fan is used to ventilate this thing. The cooler's capacity is mainly thanks to the high airflow.

The 92 mm high-powered fan comes pre-installed in a cavity between the fin-stack. It turns at speeds of up to 5,000 RPM, pushing 77.7 CFM of airflow at a phenomenal 10.67 mm H₂O static pressure, and a noise output of 43 dBA. The fan features double-ball bearings, and is rated for 90,000 hours. The nickel-plated copper base comes with a pre-applied thermal compound. From this base, six copper heatpipes convey heat through the fin-stack in a configuration similar to that of a D-type cooler. The cooler weighs 743 g, including its fan and factory-fitted RM. The company didn't reveal pricing.

GPTshop.ai is building prototypes of their "ultimate high-end desktop supercomputer," running the NVIDIA GH200 "Grace" CPU for AI and HPC workloads. Michael Larabel—founder and principal author of Phoronix—was first allowed to "remote access" a GPTshop.ai GH200 576 GB workstation converted model in early February—for the purpose of benchmarking it against systems based on AMD EPYC Zen 4 and Intel Xeon Emerald Rapids processors. Larabel noted: "it was a very interesting battle" that demonstrated the capabilities of 72 Arm Neoverse-V2 cores (in Grace). With this GPTshop.ai GH200 system actually being in workstation form, I also ran some additional benchmarks looking at the CPU capabilities of the GH200 compared to AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7000 series workstations."

Larabel had on-site access to two different Threadripper systems—a Hewlett-Packard (HP) Z6 G5 A workstation and a System76 Thelio Major semi-custom build. No comparable Intel "Xeon W hardware" was within reach, so the Team Green desktop supercomputer was only pitched against AMD HEDT processors. The HP review sample was configured with an AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7995WX 96-core / 192-thread Zen 4 processor, 8 x 16 GB DDR5-5200 memory, and NVIDIA RTX A4000 GPU. Larabel said that it was an "all around nice high-end AMD workstation." The System76 Thelio Major was specced with an AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7980X processor "as the top-end non-PRO SKU." It is a 64-core / 128-thread part, working alongside 4 x 32 GB DDR5-4800 memory and a Radeon PRO W7900 graphics card.