Amd ryzen threadripper 2920x vs threadripper 2970wx

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2920X vs Threadripper 2970WX: features

The best way to start is to compare the most important characteristics of the new processors with each other and with their younger siblings. The following table summarizes the most important features of all AMD Ryzen Threadripper processors that have been released so far.

	Price	Cores / Threads	Base frequency and turbo	L2 cache (MB)	L3 cache (MB) (MB)	TDP
Threadripper 2990WX	$ 1720	32/64	3.0 / 4.2	16	64	250 W
Threadripper 2970WX	$ 1299	24/48	12	64
Threadripper 2950X	$ 900	16/32	3.5 / 4.4	8	32	180 W
Threadripper 1950X	$ 680	16/32	3.4 / 4.2	8	32
Threadripper 2920X	$ 649	12/24	3.5 / 4.3	6	32
Threadripper 1920X	$ 390	12/24	3.5 / 4.2	6	32

With this we have two models in the WX series, where "W" means that it is a series of workstations. The 2990WX and 2970WX workstation models are configured very differently than the 2950X and 2920X processors. While the 12-core and 16-core processors include two Zeppelin arrays, the 24- and 32-core models feature four of these arrays.

We recommend reading our article on AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX Review in Spanish

Typically, such a configuration would have 4 dual-channel memory controllers for 8 channels, however this is not possible on the X399 platform, limiting these chips to four-channel memory. Although there are two more Zeppelin matrices, the additional matrices are computational, in AMD's words. This means that they do not have local access to PCIe or DRAM, so they must travel through Infinity Fabric to the IO complex. Since the number of matrices is double, the bandwidth of Infinity Fabric is also cut in half, so now the throughput between the matrices is 25 Gbps, assuming DDR4-3200 memory is used.

Due to this design, which sees two of the arrays without direct DRAM access, it means that, unlike the 2920X and 2950X, the 2970WX and 2990WX use NUMA exclusively. AMD claimed that this quad-NUMA configuration allowed them to create the world's first 32-core consumer processor, while maintaining compatibility with existing TR4 products. This change in the way the CPU operates internally caused some compatibility issues, Windows 10 programmer has been shown to be very inefficient in managing these CPUs.

The latest version of Ryzen Master software features a Dynamic Local Mode to solve this problem. In AMD's words, Dynamic Local Mode automatically migrates the system's most demanding application threads to Threadripper 2990WX and 2970WX CPU cores with access to local memory. In other words: Apps and games that prefer local DRAM access will automatically receive it, but apps that scale to many cores will still be free to do so.

Performance, consumption and temperature tests

After this introduction, it is time to analyze the performance of the two new AMD processors, as well as their power consumption. For this we have used Techspot tests, which is always a very reliable means in these situations. The energy consumption of both processors has also been analyzed, as well as their operating temperature.

PERFORMANCE TESTS
	Sandra 2016	Cinebench R15	Crown 1.3	Blender	7-zip	Excel 2016	PC MARK 10	Handbrake	Premiere CUDA	Shadow of the Tomb Raider DX 12 (min / Max)
Ryzen Thredripper 2970WX	67.3 GB / s	4346/178	53 s	9.5 s	42712 MB / s	1.75 s	20577	47.6 FPS	335 s	83/42 FPS
Ryzen Thredripper 2920X	63.2 GB / s	2516/171	88 s	16 s	61397 MB / s	1.83 s	19817	46.9 FPS	408 s	90/60 FPS

As expected, the Threadripper 2920X roughly matches the Threadripper 1920X and 2950X when it comes to sustained memory bandwidth performance. However, the 2970WX surprised with a performance of 67 GB / s, which is a few Gigabytes per second faster than the 2990WX and 6% more memory bandwidth.

Of course, it 's multi-threaded performance that is most important to these CPUs, and here we see the 2970WX's superiority over its younger sibling. A score of approximately 4300 points on Cinebench made it faster than the 16-core 2920X. The rest of the tests show a similar trend. We hit games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider and see the limitations of the NUMA memory architecture, with a Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX being inferior to its younger brother despite having more cores.

The next step is to analyze the energy consumption and the operating temperature.

CONSUMPTION AND TEMPERATURE
	Handbrake	Blender	Enermax Liqtech 360 TR4	Wraith Ripper
Ryzen Thredripper 2970WX	275W	310W	45ºC	61ºC
Ryzen Thredripper 2920X	262W	264W	40ºC	61ºC

Blender is an excellent test to show the maximum consumption of the system. Here Threadripper 2970WX consumed 310W compared to 270W from Threadripper 2920X. In regards to temperatures, both CPUs performed extremely cool with the Enermax Liqtech 360 TR4 heatsink, maximum temperatures of 40-45 degrees are observed after a one hour Blender stress test.

With the Wraith Ripper heatsink, the 2920X peaked at 61 degrees after an hour, an excellent temperature. Incredibly, the 2970WX ran just 2 degrees hotter, reaching 63 degrees. With this we have that these processors are very fresh, something that could already be expected from Zen architecture.

Final words and conclusion about Ryzen Threadripper 2920X vs Threadripper 2970WX

AMD has been able to create two large processors, with a very high performance, a power consumption adjusted for what they offer, and a very cool operation both in air and with water. This is a testament to how incredibly efficient Zen architecture can be, and it will be even more so next year with the move to a 7nm manufacturing process.

The Threadripper 2970WX is a very powerful processor, but weighed down by its memory architecture, which leaves two Zeppelin without direct access to RAM. This makes it a processor only suitable for a very specific audience, such as users who need high power for high-resolution video editing, or 3D rendering. For the rest of the mortals, the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X is a better option.

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Ryzen Threadripper 2920X is on sale for a price of 650 euros, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX goes for around 1, 300 euros.