AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X CPU (2019)

MSRP 1399 USD89% Neofiliac75% External
Keywords: amdcpudesktophigh-endoverclockablepcie-4ryzenthreadripper

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Product Overview

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X is the most affordable option of the enthusiast-oriented 3rd-gen high-core-count CPU based on AMD's Zen 2 architecture. The 3960X combines the I/O die with eight Core Complex Dies (CCDs) while retaining comparable clocks with Ryzen 9 processors.
True to a Threadripper, the 3960X offers 64 lanes of PCI Express support, making multi-GPU, multi-NVMe setup (think RAID) uncompromised in performance.
Like normal Ryzen processors based on the Zen 2 architecture, the 3960X comes with 64KB per core of L1 cache, 512KB per core of L2 cache, and 16MB per CCD of L3 cache. It is manufactured on TSMC's 7nm process and is designed for a TDP of 280W.
The two other Threadripper processors in this series are the 32-core 3970X and the range-topping 64-core 3990X.

Ratings

What we found**

Neofiliac score 89% (not directly comparable across industries)
Pros
  • 24 cores
  • Up to 4.5GHz boost clock
  • 140MB of total cache
  • 4-channel memory
  • Unlocked for overclocking
Cons

    What external reviewers found***

    External score 75% (not directly comparable across industries)
    Pros
    • Supports PCI Express 4.0
    • Competitive performance for a HEDT processor
    • Competitive pricing
    • Higher power efficiency than previous-gen Threadripper models
    Cons
    • Not backward compatible with X399 boards
    • Not as powerful as Intel Core i9-10980XE
    Read More

    Price Comparison

    Specifications

    Connectivity

    CPU Socket
    STRX4
    PCI Express
    64 lanes of PCIe 4.0

    Construction

    Form Factor
    Desktop microprocessor
    Lithography
    7nm CCD / 14nm IO
    Platform
    AMD Zen 2 Core Architecture

    Function

    Operating Temperature
    Max 95 °C
    Overclockable
    Yes
    Processor | Cores
    24 Cores
    Processor | Threads
    48 Threads

    Performance

    Cache
    L1: 768 KB data + 768 KB instructions | L2: 12 MB | L3: 128 MB
    Frequency
    Base Clock: 3.8 GHz | Max Boost Clock: 4.5 GHz
    Memory | Type
    Quad channel DDR4, up to 3200MHz
    Power Consumption
    280 W TDP

    Production

    Debut
    2019-11-25
    Model Name
    100-100000010WOF

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    Launch Comparison
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    3rd-Party Review Videos

    External Reviews

    pcmag[1]

    Reviewer score 75%
    Reviewers from pcmag have found the following***:
    If you're looking for an HEDT processor, flush with cores, that's a killer at its price point, the AMD Threadripper 3960X is it. It's $430 more expensive than the Intel Core i9-10980XE, but it also performs almost exactly $430 better. If you do a ton of 3D rendering or video conversion in a scenario where a few seconds or minutes shaved off a task, done over over and over, means hundreds of hours saved for you and your team, then the 3970X might be a more economical choice.
    Find the original article here.
    Pros
    • Competitive performance for a HEDT processor
    • Supports PCI Express 4.0
    Cons
    • Not as powerful as Intel Core i9-10980XE

    tomshardware[2]

    Reviewer score 75%
    Reviewers from tomshardware have found the following***:
    Threadripper 3000 comes packing AMD's Zen 2 microarchitecture that brings a notable IPC improvement. AMD spreads the design across four eight-core 'core chiplet die' (CCD), as opposed to two with the mainstream chips. AMD ties the compute chiplets together via the Infinity Fabric to a large central 12nm I/O die that houses two 32x PCIe Gen4 controllers and two dual-channel DDR4 memory controllers.
    Find the original article here.
    Pros
    • Higher power efficiency than previous-gen Threadripper models
    • Supports PCIe 4.0
    • Competitive pricing
    Cons
    • Not backward compatible with X399 boards

    User Reviews

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    References

    1. ^ AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X Review. [pcmag]. https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/amd-ryzen-threadripper-3960x. 2019-11-25. Retrieved 2021-04-11.
    2. ^ AMD Threadripper 3970X and 3960X Review: High-End Domination. [tomshardware]. https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/amd-threadripper-3970x-review. 2019-12-20. Retrieved 2021-04-11.

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    Scores are not directly comparable across industries.

    These key takeaways ("pros" and "cons") and summaries are identified from third-party reviews. They may differ from the original texts.

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