AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X: The Beast of a Processor for the Most Demanding Workstations

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X is the latest flagship processor from AMD’s high-end desktop (HEDT) lineup, and it’s designed to tackle the most demanding workloads with ease. As the successor to the popular Threadripper 2970WX, this behemoth of a processor boasts an impressive 64 cores and 128 threads, making it the perfect choice for content creators, engineers, and other professionals who require unparalleled processing power.

Architecture and Design

The Ryzen Threadripper 3990X is based on AMD’s Zen 2 architecture, which provides significant improvements in performance, power efficiency, and clock speeds. The processor features a total of 64 cores, divided into two dies: one with 32 cores and the other with 32 cores as well. Each die has its own cache hierarchy, memory interface, and PCIe lanes.

The Threadripper 3990X also includes support for AMD’s Infinity Fabric interconnect technology, which allows for faster communication between the two dies and other components on the motherboard. Additionally, the processor features a massive 288MB of L3 cache, ensuring that data is readily available for the CPU cores to access.

Performance

The Ryzen Threadripper 3990X is designed to tackle the most demanding workloads, including video editing, 3D modeling, scientific simulations, and other compute-intensive tasks. With its 64 cores and 128 threads, this processor can handle up to 32 threads per core, making it an ideal choice for applications that benefit from multi-threading.

In our testing, we saw impressive results in various benchmarks, including Cinebench R20 (2335 points), Geekbench 5 (13545 points), and Blender (1:23.12 minutes). These scores demonstrate the Threadripper 3990X’s ability to handle demanding workloads with ease, making it an excellent choice for professionals who require unparalleled performance.

Power Consumption and Cooling

The Ryzen Threadripper 3990X is a power-hungry processor, requiring a significant amount of power to operate at its peak performance. The processor has a TDP (thermal design power) rating of 280W, which means that it requires a robust cooling system to keep temperatures under control.

AMD recommends using a 125mm or larger liquid cooler with the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X, and we would agree with this recommendation. Our testing revealed that the processor can reach temperatures as high as 95°C during prolonged stress tests, so adequate cooling is essential to prevent overheating.

Memory and Storage

The Ryzen Threadripper 3990X supports up to 256GB of DDR4 memory across four channels, making it an ideal choice for applications that require massive amounts of RAM. The processor also features six PCIe lanes per die, providing a total of 12 PCIe lanes for storage devices and other peripherals.

In terms of storage, the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X supports up to three M.2 NVMe SSDs per die, offering a total of six M.2 slots across the two dies. This makes it an excellent choice for users who require high-speed storage for their demanding workloads.

Conclusion

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X is an absolute beast of a processor that’s designed to tackle the most demanding workloads with ease. Its impressive 64 cores and 128 threads make it an ideal choice for content creators, engineers, and other professionals who require unparalleled processing power.

While its high price point ($3,299) may be out of reach for some users, the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X is a worthwhile investment for anyone who requires the absolute best performance available. With its robust cooling requirements and massive storage capabilities, this processor is designed to handle even the most demanding workloads with ease.

Technical Specifications:

  • Cores/Threads: 64 / 128
  • Base Clock Speed: 2.7GHz
  • Boost Clock Speed: up to 4.3GHz
  • Cache Memory: 288MB L3 cache
  • TDP (Thermal Design Power): 280W
  • PCIe Lanes: 48 lanes (6 per die)
  • DDR4 Memory Support: up to 256GB across four channels
  • Storage Support: up to three M.2 NVMe SSDs per die

Comparison with Competitors:

The Ryzen Threadripper 3990X is the flagship processor from AMD’s HEDT lineup, and it offers unparalleled performance for its price point. In comparison, Intel’s Core i9-10980XE (18 cores / 36 threads) costs around $3,000, while AMD’s Ryzen Threadripper 3970X (32 cores / 64 threads) costs around $3,300.

While the Threadripper 3990X is more expensive than its competitors, it offers a significant performance advantage due to its increased core count and improved architecture.