We are starting to see various leaks of the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3000 series processors which will be the next-generation HEDT line based on the Zen 2 core architecture. While the existing TR lineup has been compatible with the X399 platform, it looks like AMD is readying a series of new chipsets for their upcoming generation.
AMD TRX40, TRX80 & WRX80 Chipsets For Ryzen Threadripper 3000 CPUs Leak Out
The three chipset models were leaked by USB-IF under the AMD 2019 Premium Chipset listing. The listing mentions the already launched X570 chipset for Ryzen desktop processors and three more variants which include the TRX40, TRX80 and WRX80 chipsets. There are no other details given on the listing page but it's surprising how the page mentions the chipset as a '2019' product, that will suggest we can see a launch this year.
Coming to the chipsets itself, there's some speculation going around at what the naming schemes could mean. The TRX naming scheme is for the enthusiast Ryzen Threadripper processors while the WRX naming scheme is for the workstation-grade Ryzen Threadripper processors. Last year, AMD's Ryzen Threadripper 2000 series processors launched in two flavors, the higher-end series was given the WX moniker as they featured much higher core count and were optimized mostly for mega-tasking and workstation tasks. Rest of the lineup was given the regular X moniker and were better suited for high-end enthusiasts who wanted good gaming performance and lots of cores at hand for additional tasks such as streaming, content creation, etc.
AMD could be segmenting each chipset for a different market. The TRX40 and TRX80 chipsets can be very different with the former featuring lower PCIe lanes and possibly less I/O at hand. It is also being said that AMD could offer 8 channel motherboards with next-gen Ryzen Threadripper CPUs. As EPYC 2nd Gen already supports Octal-Channel memory, this feature could be coming to HEDT platforms too. The WRX80 chipset could be a tailor-made design exclusively for the workstation-grade WX series processors, offering Octal-Channel memory support, higher PCIe lanes and more I/O than the TRX based designs. This move can be a good decision to counter the C621 chipset-based products from Intel that offer 6-channel memory support and may potentially get an update later this year. More of that in another post.
Another thing that this would solve is the branding wars between Intel and AMD that started since the arrival of Ryzen in the market. After Intel introduced their HEDT X299 platform, AMD launched its X399 platform for Ryzen Threadripper which meant that Intel had to jump 2 generations ahead (X499) for their branding. AMD, on the other hand, had to do the same and we saw several rumors of an X599 chipset floating around a few months ago.
We can't say if that will end up true but since we are getting more details on Ryzen Threadripper 3000 series this year, we will know soon for sure. In addition to the listing at USB-IF, Videocardz managed to reveal two new TRX40 chipset based motherboards from ASUS, further confirming that these chipsets are indeed real and products based on them are coming to the market soon. The ASUS TRX40 motherboards include:
- ASUS PRIME TRX40-PRO
- ASUS ROG STRIX TRX40-E GAMING
The motherboards would feature the same TR4 socket support since EPYC 2nd Gen is socket-compatible with existing platforms but the new features and power management on the new Ryzen Threadripper processors may require a platform upgrade.
AMD CPU Roadmap (2017-2022)
| Year | 2024 | 2023 | 2021-2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Zen (4) / Zen (5) | Zen (4) / Zen (4C) | Zen (4) / Zen 3 (+) | Zen (3) / Zen 3 (+) | Zen (3) / Zen 2 | Zen (2) / Zen+ | Zen (1) / Zen+ | Zen (1) |
| Process Node | 5nm / 3nm? | 5nm | 5nm / 6nm | 7nm | 7nm | 7nm | 14nm / 12nm | 14nm |
| Server | EPYC Turin | EPYC Bergamo | EPYC 'Genoa' | EPYC 'Milan' | EPYC 'Rome' | EPYC 'Rome' | EPYC 'Naples' | EPYC 'Naples' |
| Max Server Cores / Threads | 256/512 | 128/256 | 96/192 | 64/128 | 64/128 | 64/128 | 32/64 | 32/64 |
| High End Desktop | Ryzen Threadripper 8000 Series | Ryzen Threadripper 7000 Series | Ryzen Threadripper 6000 Series (TBD) | Ryzen Threadripper 5000 Series (Chagall) | Ryzen Threadripper 3000 Series (Castle Peak) | Ryzen Threadripper 3000 Series (Castle Peak) | Ryzen Threadripper 2000 Series (Coflax) | Ryzen Threadripper 1000 Series (White Haven) |
| Ryzen Family | Ryzen 8000 Series | Ryzen 7000 Series | Ryzen 6000 Series | Ryzen 5000 Series | Ryzen 4000/5000 Series | Ryzen 3000 Series | Ryzen 2000 Series | Ryzen 1000 Series |
| Max HEDT Cores / Threads | TBD | TBD | TBD | 64/128 | 64/128 | 64/128 | 32/64 | 16/32 |
| Mainstream Desktop | Ryzen 8000 Series (Granite Ridge) | TBD | Ryzen 7000 Series (Raphael) | Ryzen 5000 Series (Vermeer-X) | Ryzen 5000 Series (Vermeer) | Ryzen 3000 Series (Matisse) | Ryzen 2000 Series (Pinnacle Ridge) | Ryzen 1000 Series (Summit Ridge) |
| Max Mainstream Cores / Threads | TBD | TBD | 16/32 | 16/32 | 16/32 | 16/32 | 8/16 | 8/16 |
| Budget APU | Ryzen 8000 (Strix Point Zen 5) | Ryzen 7000 Series (Phoenix Zen 4) | Ryzen 6000 Series (Rembrandt Zen 3+) | Ryzen 5000 Series (Cezanne Zen 3) | Ryzen 4000 Series (Renoir Zen 2) | Ryzen 3000 Series (Picasso Zen+) | Ryzen 2000 Series (Raven Ridge) | N/A |
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3000 Series CPUs - Here's What To Expect In Terms of Price, Specs, and Performance
The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3000 series family is expected to debut in the second half of 2019. This family will be internally known as “Castle Peak” and is stated to bring dominant leadership in the HEDT market. The family will prove to be a new watermark in performance and overall efficiency while new platform features will be introduced on the TR4 socketed motherboards to take them to the next level. We will also be looking at PCIe Gen 4.0 support on these motherboards which is already confirmed for the X570 chipset based AM4 motherboards for Ryzen 3000 series CPUs.
Considering that AMD would want to remain in a dominant position with the Threadripper 3000 series, we will be looking at some spectacular amounts of multi-threaded performance numbers which will only get better with the added clock speeds thanks to the 7nm process node. The CPUs will also be getting major core bumps, but AMD would like to keep prices close to current levels.
AMD CEO Dr. Lisa Su:
“You know. it’s very interesting, some of the things that circulate on the Internet—I don’t think we ever said that Threadripper was not going to continue—it somehow took on a life of its own on the Internet,” Su said, speaking to a small group of reporters following her keynote. “You will see more [Threadripper] from us; you will definitely see more.
If mainstream is moving up, then Threadripper will have to move up, up—and that’s what we’re working on.”
AMD's CEO, Lisa Su, also confirmed within a tweet that we can expect more information on the next-gen Ryzen Threadripper CPUs later this year so expect to hear something soon. Following is the tweet:
Good to see you in the crowd @IanCutress ? and yes we promise more on next-gen Threadripper later this year!
— Lisa Su (@LisaSu) August 20, 2019
If we look at the trend with AMD's jump from Ryzen Threadripper 1000 to Ryzen Threadripper 2000, we saw that the new processors with core parity of the previous generation were priced around the same with a $200-$300 shaved off from their previous price tag. The 1950X became 2950X and cost $200 US less. The higher core count parts were at a different market tier entirely, costing north of $1200 US but at the same time, much cheaper than their Core-X competitors.
In terms of raw performance output, the new die layout remains to be tested, but since it is more refined over the previous two generations with a stronger interconnect between them, the cache and latency performance may end up giving a bigger boost to total system responsiveness. Once again, expect more details in the coming months.
