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 EST
AMD is set to close out the year on a high note. As promised, the company will be delivering its latest 16-core Ryzen 9 3950X processor, built with two 7nm TSMC chiplets, to the consumer platform for $749. Not only this, but AMD today has lifted the covers on its next generation Threadripper platform, which includes Zen 2-based chiplets, a new socket, and an astounding 4x increase in CPU-to-chipset bandwidth.
This year AMD is presenting its ‘Fall 2019 Desktop Update’, covering the new products for the holiday season. Q4 is historically a good target for increased consumer sales, as long as the products hit the right price point and are available in volume for the peak shopping periods. We’ve been waiting mercilessly for more details about the crème-de-la-crème of what AMD has to offer with its 7nm product portfolio for both mainstream Ryzen desktop processors, but also the creator and workstation focused 3rd Gen Threadripper. After continuously requesting information from CEO Lisa Su since the middle of the year, AMD is lifting the lid on the product details, pricing, and launch dates.
The short version of today’s announcement revolves around several parts, in completely different markets.
- The Ryzen 9 3950X 16-core CPU for desktops
- Ryzen Threadripper 3rd Gen Family: Starting with the 24-core 3960X and 32-core 3970X
- New TRX40 motherboards for the new Threadripper Processors
- A new $49 Athlon 3000G for the entry level market
All of this hardware is set to come to market through the month of November at the following dates:
- Ryzen 9 3950X: Retail on November 25
- TR 3960X and TR 3970X on November 25th
- TRX40 motherboards on November 25th
- Athlon 3000G on November 19th
One key takeaway from today’s announcements is how AMD is moving the traditional desktop and high-end desktop markets. When CEO Dr. Lisa Su was asked earlier this year what will happen to Threadripper as the mainstream Ryzen family moves ‘up’ in performance, her response was that ‘Threadripper will move up-up’. To that effect, we are seeing AMD’s delineation between mainstream desktop and high-end desktop move up to between 16-core and 24-core, with room at the top for more cores if AMD wants to go that way.
Our Group Interview with Dr. Lisa Su at Computex 2019
This new hardware is also breaking new records for enthusiast CPU TDP values, as well as representing new ground on the latest 7nm process technology now available to the wider market. Details about pricing, TDP, AMD’s strategy, AMD’s performance numbers, TRX40 chipset information, and analysis of the announcements are all inside.
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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.