Test Methodology
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and 3970X Specifications |
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AMD Ryzen Processor Configurations |
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| CPU | ||||||||||||||||
| CPU Base Clock | 3.5GHz |
3.0GHz |
3.8GHz |
3.7GHz |
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| CPU Turbo Clock | 4.7GHz |
4.2GHz |
4.5GHz |
4.5GHz |
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| CPU L3 Cache | 64MB |
64MB |
128MB |
128MB |
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| CPU Cores / Threads | 16 / 32 |
32 / 64 |
24 / 48 |
32 / 64 |
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| CPU TDP | 105W |
250W |
280W |
280W |
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| Integrated Graphics | - |
- |
- |
- |
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| IGP Base Clock | - |
- |
- |
- |
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| IGP Turbo Clock | - |
- |
- |
- |
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| Socket | AM4 |
TR4 |
TRX40 |
TRX40 |
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| Lithography | 7nm |
12nm |
7nm |
7nm |
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| Motherboard | Asus X570 Crosshair VIII Hero WiFi |
MSI MEG X399 Creation |
MSI Creator TRX40 |
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| BIOS | 1105 |
7B92v13 |
7C59v11 |
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| Memory | Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB DDR4-3600 |
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| Memory Config | 64GB (4x16GB) |
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| Memory Timings | 14-14-14-34-1T |
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| Memory Speed | 3,200MHz |
2,933MHz |
3,200MHz |
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| Disk Drive | SK hynix Canvas SC300 (512GB) |
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| Power Supply | be quiet Dark Power Pro 11 (1,000W) |
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| Graphics Card | Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Founders Edition (441.20) |
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| CPU Cooler | Noctua NH-D15S |
Fractal Design Celsius S24 |
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| Operating System | Microsoft Windows 10 (64-bit) 1909 |
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Intel Core Processor Configurations |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | |||||||||||||
| CPU Base Clock | 4.0GHz |
2.6GHz |
3.0GHz |
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| CPU Turbo Clock | 5.0GHz |
4.4GHz |
4.8GHz |
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| CPU Cache | 16MB |
24.75MB |
24.75MB |
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| CPU Cores / Threads | 8 / 16 |
18 / 36 |
18 / 36 |
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| CPU TDP | 127W |
165W |
165W |
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| Integrated Graphics | UHD 630 |
- |
- |
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| IGP Base Clock | 350MHz |
- |
- |
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| IGP Turbo Clock | 1.20GHz |
- |
- |
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| Socket | LGA 1151 |
LGA 2066 |
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| Lithography | 14nm |
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| Motherboard | Asus ROG Strix Z390-I Gaming |
MSI Creator X299 |
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| BIOS | 2603 |
7B96v10 |
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| Memory | Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB DDR4-3600 |
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| Memory Config | 64GB (4x16GB) |
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| Memory Timings | 14-14-14-34-1T |
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| Memory Speed | 2,666MHz |
2,933MHz |
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| Disk Drive | SK hynix Canvas SC300 (512GB) |
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| Power Supply | be quiet Dark Power Pro 11 (1,000W) |
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| Graphics Card | Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Founders Edition (441.20) |
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| CPU Cooler | Noctua NH-D15S |
Fractal Design Celsius S24 |
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| Operating System | Microsoft Windows 10 (64-bit) 1909 |
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Benchmark Suite |
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CPU Benchmarks |
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| HEXUS PiFast | Our number-crunching benchmark stresses a single core by calculating Pi to 10m places | |||||||||||
| Cinebench R20 | Using Cinebench's multi-CPU render, this cross-platform benchmark stresses all cores | |||||||||||
| HandBrake 1.2.2 | Free-to-use video encoder that stresses all CPU cores (64-bit) | |||||||||||
| Blender 2.80 | Running the Gooseberry benchmark | |||||||||||
| Keyshot 9.0 | Running Camera.bip benchmark | |||||||||||
| V-Ray 4.10.03 | Running built-in raytracing benchmark | |||||||||||
| POV-Ray 3.70 | Running the benchmark.pov at 1,920x1,080 16:9 AA 0.3 | |||||||||||
| Corona 1.3 | Running the built-in benchmark | |||||||||||
| SPECwpc 3.0.2 | Running the CPU component of Energy, Life Sciences, Financial Services and General Operations benchmarks | |||||||||||
Memory Benchmarks |
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| AIDA64 | Benchmark that analyses memory bandwidth and latency | |||||||||||
| System Benchmarks | ||||||||||||
| 3DMark Time Spy | Graphics benchmark run using the Time Spy test | |||||||||||
| PCMark 10 | System test using the standard preset | |||||||||||
| Civilization VI: Gathering Storm AI Test | CPU test to determine turn speed | |||||||||||
| World of Tanks | Graphics benchmark run at FHD to determine CPU involvement | |||||||||||
Gaming Benchmarks - Discrete |
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| Civilization VI: Gathering Storm | 1,920x1,080 ultra settings | |||||||||||
| Far Cry 5 New Dawn | 1,920x1,080 ultra settings | |||||||||||
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 1,920x1,080 ultra settings | |||||||||||
| Total War: Three Kingdoms | 1,920x1,080 ultra settings | |||||||||||
Miscellaneous Benchmarks |
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| Power Consumption | To emulate real-world usage scenarios, we record system-wide mains power draw when idle, when rendering via KeyShot 9 and while playing SOTTR | |||||||||||
Notes
We have redone the benchmarks from scratch. Windows has been updated to v1909, we're using newer Nvidia drivers (441.20), system memory is pushed to 64GB (4x16GB) and most importantly, we have a greater number of CPU tests than in our regular processor suite. All chips are run with their correct Turbo frequencies and motherboards with the latest BIOSes.
In particular, Blender is updated to 2.80 and uses a different, more intense workload, KeyShot, V-Ray, POV-Ray, Corona, and SPECwpc all make an appearance, and we only look at gaming performance at 1080p. The purpose is to test these HEDT CPUs with the kinds of applications digital creators and workstation users may use.
A few comparisons ought to be interesting. How 3rd Gen Threadripper compares against the 2nd Gen 2990WX. How Threadripper compares against Intel's finest HEDT chip, the Core i9-10980XE, released today and reviewed over here, and how do the value and efficiency metrics play out in this space.