AMD Unveils New Line-up of Workstation/HEDT CPUs, Including Powerful Ryzen Threadripper Pro 7995WX
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) has made a major announcement, introducing not just one, but seven new workstation/HEDT (High End Desktop) CPUs. The highlight of the lineup is the highly anticipated Zen 4-based Ryzen Threadripper Pro 7995WX, which boasts an impressive 96 cores and 384 MB L3 cache.
Joining the Ryzen Threadripper Pro (TRP) family are three other processors: one with 24 cores, another with 32 cores, and the last with 64 cores. Each processor offers varying amounts of L3 cache and a decreasing base speed, with the 96-core champion clocking in at 2.5GHz.
Surprisingly, AMD has also included a trio of Threadripper processors that are not part of the Pro lineup. These processors, which were absent in the previous generation, cater to HEDT applications and focus on gaming performance.
The non-Pro processors, with 24 cores, 32 cores, and 64 cores respectively, will be available for purchase starting November 21. Prices for these processors range from $1499 to $4999. The Pro variants, which offer additional PCIe 5.0 lanes (150% more) and memory channels (2x), are expected to be prioritized for OEMs and partners such as HP, Lenovo, and Dell.
Interestingly, both the Threadripper and Threadripper Pro processors will be direct competitors to three Intel CPUs: the Xeon w7-3455 (24 cores), w9-3475 (36 cores), and w9-3495 (56 cores). While the Intel CPUs offer more memory channels and PCIe lanes compared to the standard Threadripper processors, they fall short in comparison to the Pro variants.
Compared to the previous Zen-3 series, the new 7000 WX series demonstrates higher single thread performance, 50% more threads, improved bandwidth and memory efficiency, and up to 60% more cache per node (since these are single-socket systems). The series has a higher TDP (350W compared to 280W) due to significantly higher base and turbo frequencies. When paired with a WRX90 motherboard, the Threadripper Pro can support up to 2TB of system memory, while the TRX50 motherboard limits the system memory to 1TB.
Independent performance reviews are not yet available, but it was expected that the Threadripper Pro would outperform Intel’s best Xeon processor in productivity benchmarks. In multi-threaded tasks like Chaos V-Ray, the 7995WX is reported to be up to 123% faster than the w9-3495X CPU.
Apart from the Threadripper lineup, AMD also offers a range of traditional Ryzen CPUs, with up to 16 cores, high base clocks, ample cache, and a relatively low TDP. On the other end of the spectrum are the Epyc processors, which boast 96 cores or more and significant amounts of cache, albeit at higher price points.
Competitors in the workstation market, such as Puget Systems and Titan Computers, have been utilizing both consumer-grade Ryzen processors (known for their per-core performance) and Epyc processors (designed for flexibility, performance, and security). Epyc processors support dual sockets, enabling configurations with up to 256 cores, 4TB of memory, and the ability to accommodate eight high-end GPUs. These workstations power some of the best workstation PCs available and may pose a significant challenge to AMD’s fastest Threadripper Pro processor.
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