AMD Introduces Ryzen Threadripper Pro 9995WX with 96 Cores, Yet I Favor Its More Affordable Counterpart
AMD's Zen 5-based Ryzen Threadripper Pro 9000 WX-series has made its debut, led by the flagship 9995WX - a 96-core, 192-thread processor. This powerful chip, built upon the updated "Shamida Peak" architecture, promises to outperform its predecessor and deliver a 2.2x advantage over Intel's top Xeon W chip in rendering tasks.
The 9995WX stands out with features including 384MB of L3 cache, AVX-512 support, 128 PCIe 5.0 lanes, and DDR5-6400 memory compatibility, making it an appealing choice for professionals in content creation, simulation, and AI. AMD claims impressive internal benchmarks showcasing up to 245% better performance compared to Intel's Xeon W9-3595X in demanding tasks like LLM inference and 3D design. However, buyers should exercise caution when evaluating such vendor-supplied figures.
The new Threadripper 9000 series retains several aspects from the 7995WX Pro, making for a relatively straightforward upgrade path. While clock speeds have seen a slight increase, the thermal design power remains steady at 350W. The new chips still utilize the sTR5 socket and work on existing WR90 and TRX50 platforms after a BIOS update. Furthermore, previous Threadripper coolers are compatible, easing the transition for users seeking to upgrade without significant disruption.
Comparing the 9995WX to the more budget-friendly EPYC 9655P—also based on the Zen 5 architecture—illuminates a more intricate picture. The EPYC chip, while sharing numerous architectural traits, features 192 cores and 384 threads and is priced significantly lower, making it a more cost-effective option for users requiring datacenter-focused firmware rather than workstation-specific features.
The Threadripper Pro 9995WX's market impact remains to be seen, with its success hinging on factors such as pricing, ecosystem support, and compatibility with existing infrastructure. Prospective buyers will be closely watching these factors to determine the chip's viability in their professional workflows.
Sources:[1] AMD Press Release, 2023[2] Tom's Hardware, May 2023
- The new Threadripper series, including the 9995WX, showcases impressive gadgets featuring advanced computing technology, offering an allure for professionals in content creation, simulation, and AI.
- In contrast to the flagship 9995WX, the EPYC 9655P, also based on Zen 5 architecture, provides a more budget-friendly alternative with a similar core count but less costly, targeting datacenter-focused users.
- Upgrading from the 7995WX Pro to the Threadripper 9000 series provides a smoother transition, as the new chips maintain compatibility with previous coolers and existing platforms, making it easier for users to adopt the latest technology.
