AMD Threadripper 2950X and 2990WX Review

Test Setup

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
ASUS ROG Zenith X399 Extreme
Corsair LPX 2666MHz
Corsair LPX 3200MHz
Corsair MP500 M.2
nVidia GTX 980
Corsair HX1000i
Corsair ML Fans
Cooling : Coolermaster Threadripper Air Cooler
Coolermaster ML360 RGB TR4 AIO Cooler

 
 
As well as the air cooler you saw on the previous page we’re using the Coolermaster MasterLiquid ML360R RGB TR4 for our overclocking tests as there is no chance of keeping these monsters under control when overclocked using an air cooler. If you want to see more information about this particular cooler then click these words right here and all will be revealed.

We’re using the same excellent ASUS ROG Zenith X399 Extreme we utilised for our first Threadripper 1950X review, part of the big benefit from AMD sticking with the same socket for a generation or two, and if you want to catch up on what makes that so attractive then you will find that under these words.

All caught up? Excellent. Let’s crack on.

Overclocking

Threadripper 2950X

The first Threadripper 1950X managed to overclock to 3.8 GHz at 1.4v. The efforts AMD have put into refining the voltage demands and balancing the overclocking capabilities better mean that the updated 2nd Generation hits a whopping 4.375 GHz across 16 cores. If that isn’t enough performance to keep you entertained then we’re not sure what will. Other than the…

  

Threadripper 2990WX

This CPU is much more in keeping with the old Xeon methodology wherein a massive amount of cores on the die leads to a lesser clock speed. However, that doesn’t mean that, like the Xeon, it isn’t capable of an overclock, as we managed to obtain 4 GHz across all 32 cores. Obviously you’ll need a very specific set of requirements to need this much performance, and a serious set of hardware to maximise the potential, but it’s wonderful to know what is possible should you have a bank balance that matches your requirements.