AMD Threadripper 9980X 64-Core CPU Review & Benchmarks Leave a comment
The fast model up entrance is that the development on the 7980X is anyplace from round 2% to that 58% quantity, however the overwhelming majority of exams are nearer to the vary of 5% to 18%. It actually closely relies on the workload with these CPUs, significantly AVX occupancy.
These are workstation CPUs meant for analysis, manufacturing work, or usually duties that both earn a living or advance science or one thing comparable. We’re nonetheless benchmarking gaming, however the focus will probably be totally on manufacturing workloads immediately with gaming solely there to make sure there are not any main damaged outcomes.
These CPUs are costly. That limits the viewers. For that motive, we added all the brand new exams as a chance to additionally re-run the whole lot else, so all of this information is model new. Even when you’re not available in the market for Threadripper, it will have attention-grabbing information from extra “normal” CPUs on the market.
Overview
Here’s the short recap of the CPU lineup.
AMD is launching two variations of the Threadripper 9000 CPUs. These embrace the non-Pro and Pro CPUs. The Pro CPUs had an earlier embargo; immediately, we’re masking the HEDT (or “high-end desktop”) non-Pro Threadripper CPUs.
The 9980X is a 64-core, 128-thread half that enhances as much as 5.4 GHz and has 256MB of L3 Cache. The CPU sockets into STR5 platforms and, like the opposite two trendy Threadripper elements launching with it, has a 350W TDP. It’s $5,000 for the 9980X.
The 9970X is a 32-core, 64-thread half. They all share the identical enhance of 5.4GHz, however the base clock is greater on the decrease core-count CPUs because of greater energy availability per core primarily based on energy funds. Cache is right down to 128MB L3 on the 9970X and 9960X, the latter of which is a 24-core, 48-thread half. Pricing is $2,500 for the 9970X and $1,500 for the 9960X.
Compared to final time, costs are acquainted: The 7980X was $5,000, the 7970X was $2,500, and the 7960X was $1,500. Threadripper 9000 costs are elevated from a number of generations again to the 3000 collection, however the identical because the 7000 collection.
The architectural enhancements are the identical as in Zen 5 with the 9000 collection launch. The greatest one you’ll see immediately is from the AVX adjustments. When we had been digging into the most important enchancment in our testing, AMD despatched this rationalization as a refresher on Zen 5:
“At first glance [the test] does appear to benefit from AVX-512 since the code has multiple references to ZMM. The main difference in 7K and 9K is the double vs single pump (256-bit native vs 512 native).”
“High level, it took two cycles to do a 512 bit operation on Zen4, but one cycle on Zen5 because we doubled the FP datapath width, and increased the bandwidth from the L2 to the core to be able to match that speedup. You can’t always take advantage of it, but theoretically there is a 2X improvement.”
That “theoretically” is vital, as a result of it doesn’t present up in most of our exams; nonetheless, in some, there’s a very giant uplift. This isn’t particular to Threadripper and is as a substitute particular to Zen 5 vs. Zen 4. We’ll spend a while on that in our evaluate.
As for the take a look at bench: Our chart subtitles apply to the desktop platforms, however the Threadripper CPUs are examined with completely different reminiscence and motherboards. It deviates from a number of the different benches.
Let’s get into the benchmarks. We’ll begin with manufacturing testing.
9980X Production Benchmarks
7-Zip Compression
7-Zip compression is up now.
This take a look at is measured in MIPS, or tens of millions of directions per second. Higher is best throughput. The 9980X is the brand new chart-topper right here, at 520K MIPS versus the 7980X’s 508K MIPS. The enchancment is simply 2.3% right here. This is without doubt one of the decrease enhancements.
There’s clear profit to greater core counts on this take a look at. The 7980X over the 7970X beforehand held a lead of 34%, or 67% over the 7960X.
Against the highest-end desktop half, the 9950X3D, the 9980X sees an enchancment of 151%. Notably, further cache appears to assist right here: Both the 7950X3D and 9950X3D are benefitted over the 9950X.
Threadripper is in a wholly completely different class from desktop elements, though the uplift during the last era’s 7980X is restricted and comparatively boring right here.
7-Zip Decompression
In decompression, the 9980X scaled as much as 926K MIPS, gaining 8% on the 7980X’s 857K MIPS. This is a greater displaying than what we noticed in compression and posts higher scaling. The remainder of the lineup is acquainted to the prior examples. Extra cache doesn’t assist as a lot on this take a look at as in comparison with the compression take a look at, because the 7950X3D is now beneath the 9950X. This would align with the pace profit offering extra of an uplift on Threadripper as properly.
SpecWS: OptionsPricing
SpecWorkstation 4.0 is subsequent. This runs plenty of simulations and mathematical fashions that we aren’t consultants in, however we will a minimum of run the benchmarks. We’ll depend on the Spec web site to elucidate what the exams are.
The first is Options Pricing. The web site says that this runs Monte Carlo probabilistic simulations for monetary uncertainty, Black-Scholes pricing fashions for theoretical worth, and binomial choices pricing. We aren’t consultants in how these are used, however these of you in our viewers who’re consultants have repeatedly expressed an appreciation for this take a look at.
The outcomes have the 9980X on the prime, with a 7.8 rating. That has it improved on the 7980X by a powerful 18%, aligning with the findings of the 9000 collection desktop elements towards the 7000 collection on this identical take a look at. You can see that within the 9800X3D towards the 7800X3D or the 9900X3D vs. 7900X3D. This is an architectural profit. It’s one of many uncommon break-outs for Zen 5 that we talked about after the preliminary spherical of critiques after we had validated it as a legit deviation.
The 9980X improves on the highest-end desktop 9950X3D by 200%, mainly being the distinction between being runnable and never. Threadripper actually makes an impression right here, and the generational acquire is actual however uncommon on this one take a look at.
SpecWS: OpenFOAM
OpenFOAM is subsequent. Per the Spec web site, OpenFOAM is a CFD take a look at that “performs 2D Reynolds averaged simulation for fluid dynamics analysis.” It additionally runs a solver take a look at.
The 9980X scores 23.3 right here, main the 7980X prior era by about 9%. Not as spectacular as Options Pricing, however higher than another exams we’ve immediately.
The lead over desktop elements just like the 9950X and X3D is sufficient that it’s actually not in the identical class, with multiples of uplift.
SpecWS: Convolution
Convolution testing is subsequent. Spec says that this take a look at applies “a convolution filter to an image, a critical operation in signal processing and image analysis” for edge detection and have extraction. This is closely multi-threaded.
In this take a look at, the 9980X scored 9.3 to the 7980X’s 5.9, an enormous uplift of 58%. This is totally out of alignment with every other exams. We contacted Wendell of Level1 Techs and AMD’s engineers to get each a first-party and a impartial third-party verify of those numbers. Wendell famous that that is anticipated conduct and had seen comparable leads to different exams, believing it to be associated to AVX enhancements along with being a take a look at that runs lengthy sufficient to learn from them. AMD famous that it has additionally seen outcomes round 60% for sure comparable exams.
Although we’ve our 9970X evaluate arising individually, we’ll be aware that it additionally noticed a 56% enchancment right here over the 7970X predecessor. The outcomes align. Looking finally gen, the 9950X improved on the 7950X by 50%, which is constant generationally. The outcomes seem like constant and are current throughout quite a few CPUs cross-generation, which suggests the one factor left to think about is whether or not this benchmark represents real-world eventualities. We’re undecided: This specific take a look at exits our experience, as we don’t do sign processing or picture evaluation work. We’d love to listen to from these in our viewers as as to whether the Spec Convolution take a look at aligns with real-world functions that you simply use in your work life.
Regardless, the result’s repeatable — it’s solely a query of whether or not it’s successfully a microbenchmark or is one thing that scales to real-world use.
SpecWS: LAMMPS
LAMMPS testing is subsequent. According to Spec, this take a look at is for large-scale atomic and molecular massively parallel simulation, which Spec says “utilizes MPI to scale to multiple cores to perform complex simulations.” This contains life science subtests, corresponding to for polymer chain calculations and protein calculations for, what we assume are, medical makes use of.
LAMMPS has the 9980X at a 5.5 rating in Spec, main the 7980X by 17%. This is near the Options Pricing outcomes. Although Spec has a number of exams the place there’s no actual impression, like Handbrake, it additionally has a better saturation of exams with bigger generational enhancements.
SpecWS: Data Science
The Spec Data Science take a look at is subsequent. Spec says that this take a look at “involves running a series of synthetic benchmarks that simulate real-world AI and ML workflows using the Python-based data science libraries Pandas, Scikit-learn, and XGBoost.”
Generationally, the 9980X improves on the 7980X by 10%, going from 2.0 to 2.2 within the scoring. For reference, the 9950X improved on the 7950X by 13% at 1.7 from 1.5.
SpecWS: NAMD
NAMD is subsequent, one other take a look at our viewers favored earlier than. This is a molecular dynamics simulator for modeling “behavior of biomolecular systems,” with Spec saying that it’s “used for research in biochemistry, pharmacology, and molecular biology.”
The 9980X scored 6.0, with the 7980X at 5.1. This is an enchancment of just about 18%, which aligns once more with LAMMPS and choices pricing benchmarks.
SpecWS: RodiniaCFD
We have much more Spec outcomes, however we’ll shut on one which’s much less attention-grabbing to carry it again right down to earth and steadiness the upper outcomes. This is for RodiniaCFD, which the positioning explains has a pre-euler subtest that “executes an unstructured grid finite volume CFD solver for 3D euler equations for compressible flow.”
The 9980X scored 3.7 right here, with the 7980X at 3.5. This is one the place the development is much less thrilling, again right down to a couple of 5-6% enchancment generationally.
Chromium
Up subsequent is Chromium code compile. There are a whole lot of forms of code compile, similar to there are a whole lot of forms of video encoding or photograph modifying or 3D rendering workloads, so we’re simply representing one right here as we do with every other manufacturing take a look at.
The 9980X completes the compile the quickest, at 48 minutes whole. The compile time is 7.5% decreased from the 7980X. Elsewhere, with the newer model of this take a look at, we’re seeing low-impact in comparison with prior take a look at iterations. The 7980X and 7970X are comparatively shut to one another, with the 9950X3D and 9950X additionally close to one another. Some of those CPUs are operating with decreased reminiscence pace as they required greater reminiscence capability and had extra bother holding our common settings, so these are famous the place true.
The 14900K is Intel’s finest performer, requiring 100 minutes to finish the compile. The 9950X outperforms this.
Blender
Blender tile-based rendering is up subsequent.
For this course of, the 9980X is the brand new chart-topper at 2.1 minutes to finish a render of a single body from the GN intro animation emblem. The subsequent quickest is the 7980X at 2.5 minutes, which is smart: This take a look at is closely thread-dependent, so threads will outrank frequency the place giant variations emerge.
Intel’s newer era does OK on this take a look at, with the 285K between the 9950X and 7950X. It’s additionally one of many exams the place Intel doesn’t see regressive efficiency, although we nonetheless wouldn’t advocate the 285K. That whole platform is lifeless, anyway.
Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop is subsequent, examined with the Puget Suite. This makes use of an combination rating of filters, resizes, and different capabilities inside Photoshop.
The finest performer right here is the 9950X, adopted by different desktop CPUs. The Threadripper elements fall additional down the chart, with the 9980X specifically underperforming. We’ve seen this previously, corresponding to with the 7980X: They simply have too many threads for their very own good and Photoshop isn’t capable of make the most of them. The 7980X is outperformed by the 7970X and 7960X, so the 9980X touchdown within the center isn’t a shock. Its important enchancment comes from the frequency.
It does OK right here if this is only one of many functions you utilize, but when Photoshop is the one factor you do, there are higher and cheaper CPUs for the job.
Premiere
Adobe Premiere is subsequent, our greatest frenemy that we see each day.
In this one, the 9980X improves upon the efficiency from the 7980X and 7970X, however solely barely. It’s undoubtedly not value a single generational improve, although we usually don’t advocate that anyway.
The enchancment is nearly 5% from the 7980X to the 9980X within the prolonged rating for Premiere. Intel’s 285K trails most Threadripper CPUs within the chart and roughly ties the 7960X. It additionally technically outperforms the 9950X. Intel’s greatest benefit stays in its QuickSync resolution with the IGP, which might present up disproportionately in additional focused exams slightly than the complete sweep finished right here.
Threadripper does properly total right here and is a minimum of higher than its Photoshop displaying, however with out different functions leaning on threads, a desktop CPU would get a lot of the identical efficiency. The finest use for Threadripper right here could be assigning its extra threads to different duties, like separate audio compositing, whereas operating Premiere duties.
DaVinci Resolve
DaVinci Resolve is subsequent. We haven’t examined this in years, so that is an experimental chart.
In this take a look at, the 9980X’s frequency enhance permits it to achieve on prior Threadripper CPUs. The earlier lineup had the 7960X and 7980X tied, with the 7970X marginally forward. We noticed this with the 7000-series Threadripper critiques the place 64-core elements typically precipitated slight losses in comparison with 32-core counterparts.
The 285K falls behind the 9950X on this one, although not by lots, with the 14900K roughly inside re-run distance of the 285K.
Threadripper is a minimum of the very best performer right here as properly, regardless of not offering clear worth over desktop elements. It’s simply not constructed for these sorts of workloads, however nonetheless being the very best is vital.
Gaming Benchmarks
We’ll maintain gaming brief. The solely objective of gaming exams on Threadripper, usually, is to verify there isn’t some main downside, however cheaper desktop elements are going to be higher for pure gaming builds. Threadripper is definitely detrimental if all you do is gaming.
You’re going to note that the Threadripper chips do not all the time comply with a strictly logical order, particularly after they’re inside a couple of frames per second of one another. That’s due to the elevated run-to-run variance inflicting much less significant averaged outcomes.
Stellaris Simulation Time
Stellaris simulation time is first. The 9800X3D is the present chief at 37.1 seconds on common for simulation time. The 9700X follows this at 43.2 seconds, benefitting from Zen 5 architectural enhancements over the prior era. The 285K isn’t what we’d name “good” right here, however a minimum of matches its predecessor.
Threadripper is approach on the backside, with the 9980X a minimum of bettering on the 7980X notably, nevertheless it’s nonetheless far worse than every other trendy gaming CPU. The 5700X is sort of on the stage of the 9980X. It’s simply detrimental to have this CPU configuration for this sport, which isn’t actually information to anybody. It can a minimum of play video games, however the distinction in simulation time between the 9800X3D and the 9980X could be noticeable in actual sport play.
FFXIV: Dawntrail – 1080p
Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail is subsequent. The 9980X and 7980X excessive core-count CPUs had some main inconsistency points on this sport, so there’s an asterisk subsequent to their entries.
We’re nonetheless displaying the averages of 4 runs, it’s simply that the runs are extra variable than sometimes. The 9980X, as an illustration, had a variety from 274 to 248 FPS AVG, which is a big swing. Our typical customary deviation on this sport is a pair frames per second for the common. The sport was playable, however far and wide for the common framerate. Lows had been worse total as properly, however once more, technically playable.
This is why we nonetheless take a look at video games with Threadripper, although.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 – 1080p
In Dragon’s Dogma 2 at 1080p, the Threadripper CPUs find yourself within the decrease half of the chart. The 9980X is worse than the 7950X right here and about the identical because the 7970X. The 7980X was beneath the 7960X and 7970X, indicating that these extraordinarily excessive core counts are detrimental to gaming efficiency. The greater frequency issues greater than the additional cores, so the trade-offs are dangerous to gaming efficiency right here. This has been true endlessly with Threadripper, so none of that is information.
What issues extra is that they’re nonetheless playable. Threadripper does endure from worse lows, significantly 0.1%, however not so unhealthy that they render the sport stuttery. You might nonetheless play video games on a Threadripper system, however once more, gaming-only customers should purchase one thing else.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty – 1080p
Cyberpunk is subsequent. In this one, the 9980X outperforms the 7980X on a technicality, however each are nearer to the R7 2700 than they’re to the 9800X3D. The run-to-run consistency was positive, with the 9980X solely exhibiting a 1.9 AVG FPS customary deviation, so it’s not like what we noticed in Final Fantasy — it’s simply not significantly good. This remains to be a satisfactory framerate, so within the context of a pc constructed for particular work duties that may nonetheless play video games when wanted, it passes that want.
Baldur’s Gate 3 – 1080p
In Baldur’s Gate 3, the 9980X finally ends up across the stage of the 265K — which is absolutely simply extra embarrassing for Intel than the rest. We already know Threadripper isn’t significantly good at gaming, regardless of being OK at it, however the 265K must be doing higher right here. This can be a sport the place the 285K was massively regressive, although, at 109 FPS AVG towards the 14700K’s 117 FPS AVG and 14900K’s 123 FPS AVG.
We did take a look at different video games, however they’re simply not related past proving the purpose we have already got: Threadripper is satisfactory if gaming isn’t your major want. It’s simply not the only option for it.
Power Consumption
9980X Power Consumption – Blender
This subsequent chart exhibits the facility consumption as measured on the EPS12V cables with an influence interposer between the motherboard and energy provide. Tested with an all-core workload in Blender, we noticed secure and constant energy draw throughout each the 7980X and 9980X CPUs, with the 9980X measuring at 371W from 354W on the last-gen Threadripper flagship. That’s a whole lot of energy to chill.
This doesn’t present transients.
9980X Thermals
Thermals – Blender
This chart exhibits the thermal conduct of the 9980X. We’re utilizing a SilverStone 360mm liquid cooler with a Threadripper-sized coldplate for this, so the outcomes aren’t corresponding to our 7980X evaluate thermal outcomes from its launch. Also, as common, thermal testing could be finest finished with a whole lot of coolers in contrast and noise-normalized, however that is saved easy for the evaluate and to assist get an thought (as that’d be a cooler evaluate).
The 9980X underneath an all-core workload ran at round 58 levels Celsius when operating the comparatively loud 100% fan speeds on the 360mm liquid cooler.
Thermals – Equilibrium
This chart exhibits thermals at regular state throughout the assorted CCDs. The CCD-to-CCD delta right here is 6.7 levels Celsius, at 49.7 to 56.1 levels in an ambient of 21 levels Celsius, +/- 1C. Generally talking, this may be cooled at decrease noise ranges with 360mm coolers with out main points if assuming a well-ventilated case. The floor space is so big on this CPU that the facility is distributed throughout a big space, making it simpler to chill than a 200W warmth load could be on a standard desktop-sized Ryzen CPU with 2 CCDs.
9980X Frequency
Frequency – Blender All-Core
With all cores working, the CPU sometimes ran at round 3950 MHz, with occasional spikes to 4200 MHz whereas some threads had been bringing in information for brand spanking new tiles to render. The base clock is 3.2 GHz, so it’s not dropping that low throughout this specific workload, nevertheless it’s additionally distant from 5.4 GHz. This is typical conduct for all-core workloads.
Frequency – Blender vs 7980X
This chart exhibits the 7980X for a similar take a look at. The frequency bottoms-out at round 3.7 GHz, however is far and wide throughout this workload. The 9980X has improved upon the frequency in all-core eventualities total.
Frequency – CB Single-Thread
In a single-threaded take a look at with Cinebench, the 9980X ran at 5425 MHz, exceeding the spec itemizing of 5.4 GHz for enhance. This can be anticipated conduct, with the extra restricted load boosting greater. The 7980X in the identical take a look at ran at about 5340 MHz, so the single-thread frequency has improved generationally — however not a lot, and that’s why some benchmarks solely present a pair proportion factors of change.
9980X Conclusion
On the gaming facet, there are typically points with consistency. This means, run-to-run, you don’t get the identical expertise. There’s way more deviation right here in common body charge and the frametime consistency is worse than conventional desktop elements. This is very true with 64-core Threadripper CPUs. This isn’t actually surprising. These excessive core depend CPUs typically simply have so many cores that it begins inflicting scheduling issues. Sometimes you’ll additionally find yourself in conditions the place, as a result of the clocks aren’t boosting as excessive (due to the upper core depend), you’re dropping that frequency benefit. Again, this isn’t surprising. The excellent news is that the video games we examined on the 9980X weren’t damaged. They had been capable of run and weren’t terrible experiences, which wasn’t the case with the earliest Threadripper CPUs.
Compared to the 32-core Threadripper, the 64-core half technically runs cooler. That’s since you’re taking the identical energy and distributing it throughout extra silicon. This means you’re going to get decrease temperatures per die per sizzling spot. That stays true right here the place the 64-core CPU might be cooler than the 32-core processor.
With its costs, these Threadripper CPUs aren’t one thing you’re shopping for for “value.” The goal demographic for these processors might be making a living with their computer systems.
Threadripper additionally has the advantage of PCIe lane availability for machines with a number of accelerators or a whole lot of I/O, that are extra restricted with conventional desktop CPUs.
64 cores don’t all the time scale properly. Sometimes a 32-core CPU generally is a higher match. Make positive to do analysis on-line to your wants. For instance, we discovered {that a} 32-core CPU would work higher for us whereas utilizing Adobe Premiere for video manufacturing. So it’s finest to analysis these CPUs together with your wants.