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.
| Hardware Providers | |||
| Sapphire RX 460 Nitro | MSI GTX 1080 Gaming X OC | Crucial MX200 + MX500 SSDs |
Corsair AX860i + AX1200i PSUs |
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| G.Skill RipjawsV, SniperX, FlareX |
Crucial Ballistix DDR4 |
Silverstone Coolers |
Silverstone Fans |
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Slash3 - Tuesday, November 26, 2019 - link
AnandTech frustratingly doesn't seem to ever list their memory subtimings, but as they test at "JEDEC" standard, it may be as loose as 2933 CL19-19-19 vs your 2933 CL14. This could easily account for the difference in benchmark results.alufan - Monday, November 25, 2019 - link
So Thread ripper is here, I will never have a use for this chip but I want one...just because, probably the single biggest uplift in CPU performance for a great many years.Still 10 intel featuring articles on the main page vs 4 featuring AMD though, shame really and it would have been nice for you to have a proper dig at intel for its pathetic attempt to skew CPU bench results by moving the embargo forward, try taking a tip off linus man he told it like it was as have many others.
Grobert783 - Monday, November 25, 2019 - link
So many cores and yet no one cares PLUS we all know AMD sucks. Thank youyeeeeman - Monday, November 25, 2019 - link
LolXyler94 - Monday, November 25, 2019 - link
Ah yes, the infamous "Nobody cares" argument of a fanboy.And yet you cares enough to click the article, go to the comment section, and write this comment. I won't comment about your other comment though, clearly you didn't RTFA
darwi - Monday, November 25, 2019 - link
With so much cores Anandtech should consider virtualization benchmark/uses casesthere is some good automated Lab Scripts available.
On Windows Nested Virtualization is still not enabled on AMD Processor.
-> still not announced for Windows 20H1, perhaps for 2OH2 since major overhaul for Azure is underway.
Ryzen Master is still incompatible with VBS (Virtualization based Security).
This situation prevent to test some features in Windows VM :
- With more and more feature relying on virtualization (WSL, Security, workload isolation, ...)
- For advanced scenarios (Labs for testing infrastructure deployment, ESXi, hyper-v, compiler, etc...)
By ignoring the 1k segment AMD could overplay their advantages :
- the cpu is only a part of the package (you have to add a beefy psu and cooling system and a decent amount
of RAM) if you want to make a meaningfull use of such platform.
- the moherboad price take a major rise (Apple accessories manufacturer syndrom ?) - without high ends feature regarding connectivity
where are the multi-gig network and Thunderbolt ports ?, but RGB pins are plenty ...
- forcing the early TR adopters to a 2k-2,5k investment to jump to the TR3+ architecture (if cooler and RAM, PSU remain the same)
and chipset reset could do some damage too.
And finally the 10980XE (with more PCI 3 lanes, and more memory) will not be the best but enough and more affordable.
I'm a an owner of TR 1950X.
Questions :
> Nested Virtualization will eventually comming to AMD ? (for a future interview with AMD CEO/CTO)
> Air Cooling is it still suitable for TR3 ?
And thanx to Anandtech for those reviews and the worth of drilling down into details.
That's my 2cents.
Irata - Monday, November 25, 2019 - link
Wait, what ? The 10980XE has more PCIe lanes than TR3?And the rest...is pot legal where you live?
darwi - Monday, November 25, 2019 - link
I was comparing with the nearest AMD offrer to the 10908XE v: The Ryzen 3950X.Furthermore the PCI4 cards are very few for the moment.
May be there is some room for a TR3 3950X like the TR 1920 in his time.
The 1K is for 1K$.
lobz - Tuesday, November 26, 2019 - link
I usually don't do drugs but I'll have some from what you're having...Xyler94 - Monday, November 25, 2019 - link
In what world is 60 PCIe 4.0 lanes less than 48 PCIe 3.0 lanes?You do know... that PCIe 4 is backwards compatible, so Threadripper has effectively 60 lanes of PCIe 3, right? I don't know about you... but 60 is more than 48...