AMD 2nd Gen Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX and 2950X Preview

Ryzen Threadripper X Series – For Enthusiasts and Gamers 

With Ryzen 2nd Generation Threadripper, AMD has decided to split their lineup into two categories. Each of these categories is defined by core count, TDP and the number of active CPU dies under Threadripper’s IHS, with the X-series offering up to sixteen cores, a 180W TDP and two active CPU dies. 

In this regard, the X-series can be considered as a direct replacement for AMD’s Original Ryzen Threadripper series processors, offering the same maximum core counts and the same number of active CPU dies.    

This is where we can best compare Threadripper 2nd Gen products to its first generation counterparts. 

Even with Ryzen 2nd Generation’s design improvements, AMD has decided to offer their latest Threadripper series processors with lower prices than their 1st generation counterparts had at launch. AMD’s Ryzen Threadripper 1950X released for $999, whereas its Threadripper 2nd Generation counterpart, the 2950X will release for $899, a $100 decrease generation-to-generation. 

AMD’s Ryzen Threadripper 2950X also offers the highest boost clock speeds of AMD’s 2nd Generation Ryzen lineup, with cores that boost to speeds of up to 4.4GHz, showcasing Threadripper’s continued use of AMD’s highest performing Ryzen processors. 

  

While we cannot release our own performance figures for AMD’s Ryzen 2nd Generation CPUs, AMD has already compared their 2950X to Intel’s similarly price ($100 more expensive) i9-7900X processor, revealing similar gaming performance levels and a significant performance boost in productivity-based workloads.  

A 6% average drop in gaming performance is almost unnoticeable in most cases, especially when considering the fact that these games are being played at 1080p. This performance gap will shrink at higher resolutions like 1440p or 4K, making the difference between Intel X299 and AMD X399 seemingly negligible.