AMD Q4: 16-core Ryzen 9 3950X, Threadripper Up To 32-Core 3970X, Coming November 25th
by Dr. Ian Cutress on November 7, 2019 9:00 AM ESTHigh-End Desktop? What’s That?
The Ryzen 9 3950X Comes Into View
As teased at E3 and seemingly every show that AMD has been to since, we’re now ready to get our hands on AMD’s top-tier consumer-grade processor. The Ryzen 9 3950X is the bigger cousin to the Ryzen 9 3900X, this time using two 8-core chiplets built on TSMC’s 7nm process with the Zen 2 microarchitecture. This is paired with the same I/O die, and overall this Ryzen 9 3950X will offer four more cores and +100 MHz on the turbo frequency over the 3900X, all at a $749 recommended retail price point.
AMD 'Matisse' Ryzen 3000 Series CPUs | |||||||||||
AnandTech | Cores Threads |
Base Freq |
Boost Freq |
L2 Cache |
L3 Cache |
PCIe 4.0 |
Chiplets IO+CPU |
TDP | Price (SEP) |
||
Ryzen 9 | 3950X | 16C | 32T | 3.5 | 4.7 | 8 MB | 64 MB | 16+4+4 | 1+2 | 105W | $749 |
Ryzen 9 | 3900X | 12C | 24T | 3.8 | 4.6 | 6 MB | 64 MB | 16+4+4 | 1+2 | 105W | $499 |
Ryzen 9 | 3900 | 12C | 24T | 3.1 | 4.3 | 6 MB | 64 MB | 16+4+4 | 1+2 | 65W | OEM |
Ryzen 7 | 3800X | 8C | 16T | 3.9 | 4.5 | 4 MB | 32 MB | 16+4+4 | 1+1 | 105W | $399 |
Ryzen 7 | 3700X | 8C | 16T | 3.6 | 4.4 | 4 MB | 32 MB | 16+4+4 | 1+1 | 65W | $329 |
Ryzen 5 | 3600X | 6C | 12T | 3.8 | 4.4 | 3 MB | 32 MB | 16+4+4 | 1+1 | 95W | $249 |
Ryzen 5 | 3600 | 6C | 12T | 3.6 | 4.2 | 3 MB | 32 MB | 16+4+4 | 1+1 | 65W | $199 |
Ryzen 5 | 3500X | 6C | 6T | 3.6 | 4.1 | 3 MB | 32 MB | 16+4+4 | 1+1 | 65W | OEM |
The Ryzen 9 3950X will be compatible in the majority of AM4 motherboards, although in order to take advantage of the 24 PCIe 4.0 lanes on the CPU, an X570 motherboard is recommended. The 16 cores offer a 3.5 GHz base frequency and a 4.7 GHz single core boost frequency; the overall all-core turbo frequency will be dependent on the motherboard used, the quality of the silicon, and the turbo in play.
The 105W TDP matches that of the 12-core part, and it should be noted that the 3950X will not come with an in-the-box cooler. Instead, AMD argues that customers looking at this price range of CPU typically go out and purchase their own, something better than the 125 W Wraith Prism that AMD might have put in the box. To that end AMD is going to publish a list of recommended cooling solutions that are pre-validated by AMD on the website, which should be live on today (the 7th).
Regarding BIOS and AGESA versions on motherboards: AMD has stated that AGESA 1.0.0.4B (also known as 1.0.0.4 Patch B) is going to be required in order to enable full performance on the Ryzen 9 3950X. AMD stated that this AGESA version actually unites several different groups of Ryzen CPUs under the same numbering scheme, to make it easier to manage. It is worth noting that when quizzed, AMD acknowledged that some motherboard manufacturers were putting out ‘beta’ versions of 1.0.0.4B, rather than the full release, and they recommend that users should wait for a full 1.0.0.4B version for their motherboard (even though some motherboard manufacturers aren’t exactly being clear).
In terms of performance, AMD claims a +22% single thread performance jump for the 3950X over the 2700X, in 1080p gaming the company claims it goes toe-to-toe against the Core i9-9900K and trounces the Core i9-9920X (a $1200 CPU), and in content creation it surpasses both the 9900K and 9920X by 18-79% in selected tests. The company also states that a 16-core 3950X uses less wall power than an 8-core 9900K system.
Unlocked CPU Pricing and Select Others |
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AMD (MSRP Pricing) |
Cores | AnandTech | Cores | Intel* (OEM Pricing) |
$900-$999 | 18/36 | Core i9-10980XE ($979) | ||
$800-$899 | ||||
Ryzen 9 3950X ($749) | 16/32 | $700-$799 | 14/28 | Core i9-10940X ($784) |
$600-$699 | 12/24 | Core i9-10920X ($689) | ||
$500-$599 | 10/20 8/16 |
Core i9-10900X ($590) Core i9-9900KS ($513) |
||
Ryzen 9 3900X ($499) | 12/24 | $400-$499 | 8/16 | Core i9-9900K/F ($488) |
Ryzen 7 3800X ($399) | 8/16 | $350-$399 | 8/8 | Core i7-9700K/F ($374) |
Ryzen 7 3700X ($329) | 8/16 | $300-$349 | ||
$250-$299 | 6/6 | Core i5-9600K ($262) | ||
Ryzen 5 3600X ($249) | 6/12 | $200-$249 | ||
Ryzen 5 3600 ($199) | 6/12 | Below $200 | 4/4 | Core i3-9350K ($173) |
*Intel quotes OEM/tray pricing. Retail pricing will sometimes be $20-$50 higher. |
With Intel cutting its upcoming Cascade Lake-X HEDT processor line in half (and conveniently not releasing a 16-core part), the field does get a little more competitive for anyone looking at building a holiday system. What is important to note here is that AMD is shifting the line between consumer and high-end desktop higher: users spending $749 on a CPU get a ton of cores, but if they need more PCIe lanes, they have to go even higher to get the latest and greatest (see 3rd Gen Threadripper below). On a different note, AMD did state that Intel’s recent price adjustments had no effect on its product plans.
One side announcement from AMD, regarding all of the Ryzen 3000 hardware, is that every CPU now supports a cTDP down mode through the Ryzen Master software. With the tool, users can select the next power range down from the TDP of the processor. This means that 95W/105W CPUs can be set to run at 65W, then the 65W CPUs can be set to run at 45W, and the 45W CPUs can run at 35W.
AMD is doing this because they have seen a number of customers request high-core count processors at lower TDP values. Rather than releasing a wide array of X and non-X parts to satisfy all different areas of the market, AMD is offering this ‘cTDP down-like’ option for system builders that do want to focus on something like a 65W 16-core processor for their system. This isn’t to say that AMD will not release non-X CPUs in the future (they’re typically cheaper than the X CPUs), but rather than have customers wait for those parts to enter the market, AMD is giving this option to speed up adoption.
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Death666Angel - Thursday, November 7, 2019 - link
Do you mean Intel has had overlapping HEDT and mainstream CPUs as in they had the same core counts? Sure, AMD had that as well, 8C TR is a thing after all. Or do you mean Intel had the same name for HEDT and mainstream CPUs before? Because a 16 core TR3 would fit in the 3950X naming scheme that is now taken up by the AM4 equivalent.And 3955X would look a bit messy to me. :Dpkv - Friday, November 8, 2019 - link
meant the former; similarly powerful cpus, one for mainstream, the other for HEDT.Kjella - Thursday, November 7, 2019 - link
I've no doubt there'll be a 16 core TR3, they'd get paid very well for a 4+4+4+4 dud chip combo but they probably want to clear the first wave of people that won't wait first. I'm thinking 2-3 months out like February or so, that's just me looking into the crystal ball though.pkv - Friday, November 8, 2019 - link
there's an interview of an amd senior technical marketing manager in pcworld https://www.pcworld.com/article/3305945/watch-the-... ; the absence of 16c was one of the first questions. He answered the absence of 16c is deliberate, in order to have a clear boundary between mainstream and HEDT. So the prospects of having in a few months 16c on TR40x are nil atm.AbRASiON - Thursday, November 7, 2019 - link
AMD *STILL* continues to ignore business desktops and home performance enthusiasts who don't game.Where is the higher performance processors with extreemely basic graphics/ Where's the 3000G with 6 cores?
Some people just want a 6 core Ryzen but a very very simple GPU for basic Windows tasks / video.
Intel can do it with the 8400.
Death666Angel - Thursday, November 7, 2019 - link
When Zen2 enters APUs you will likely get your wish.But what is wrong with just getting a 1030 GT?
AbRASiON - Thursday, November 7, 2019 - link
1030 GT is a point of failure, heat, cost, PCI slot.Intel produce perfectly good graphics for my need (and 500 users at my place of work) - for "free"
AMD NEED to produce processors with 6 to 8 cores, decent computing power and a very very VERY simple GPU.
I'm happy with iGPU levels, as it stands, AMD do not have a product for me, it's sad.
Korguz - Thursday, November 7, 2019 - link
as Death666Angel said.. wait till amd migrates the zen 2 core over to their APU's. and you will be able to get what you are looking forphoenix_rizzen - Friday, November 8, 2019 - link
B450-based motherboard, Ryzen 5 2600 or 3600 CPU, and an Nvidia 730 GPU makes for a great, silent office computer. And gives you triple-monitor support to boot. Or an AMD Radeon Pro Wx 3100 or 3200, which gives you even better multi-monitor support. Both are fanless. Add NVMe and 16 GB of RAM and you have a great, little, silent workstation.While it would be nice to have more than 4 cores in an APU, it will be another year or so before that's available from AMD. Really hoping Zen2 chiplet design leads to 4-, 6-, and 8-core APUs.
scineram - Friday, November 8, 2019 - link
No.