The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X with 32 cores is extremely fast, but the CPU also has a TDP of 280 watts, which is 100 watts above the level of the first generation. But the test on the example shows: Even at 180 watts, the new processor outshines all others.
How much power cost -100 watts?
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X and 3960X (test) played everything the HEDT segment had to offer so far. However, the CPUs can also fall back on a record-breaking high TDP of 280 watts. Despite 24 or even 32 cores, they achieve high clock rates under load on all cores, but the energy efficiency in Zen 2 also drops rapidly in this area. Threadripper 3000 and the predecessor in comparison
So what happens if you give the current top model Ryzen Threadripper 3970X the 180-watt TDP corset of the 12- and 16-core models of the 1st and 2nd generation and thus still 70 watts under the 32-core threadripper 2nd generation lies? Bitcoinminershashrate has tested it in applications.
Set TDP with AMD Ryzen Master
The maximum consumption of the CPUs can be easily set using AMD’s Ryzen Master software. Measurements of the computer’s total energy consumption confirm that these values are also present in reality. For the first test, all other variables were left untouched, only the TDP was reduced from 280 to 180 watts.
Threadripper 3970X: 280 vs. 180 watt TPD
Depending on the perspective, the result was obvious, or it was surprising: the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X shows just ten percent power loss with a TDP reduced by 100 watts in the multi-core course. The single-core performance remains the same within the scope of the measurement inaccuracy. The CPU is still faster than the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X with 24 cores at 280 watts.
However, the efficiency gain is even clearer when switching from Zen + to Zen 2 when compared to the 2950X with 16 cores and 180 watts TDP: With the same TDP, the 3970X with twice as many cores manages 90 percent faster in the multi-core course his. And another comparison: The old 32-core is beaten by 40 percent at 70 watts less TDP.
- To edit
Test: performance rating for applications (multi-core)
- Threadripper 3970X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/3200)
- Threadripper 3960X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 2990WX (250/2933)
- Intel Core i9-10980XE
- Threadripper 2970WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2950X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2920X (180/2933)
- To edit
Test: Performance rating for applications (single core)
- Threadripper 3970X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3960X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/3200)
- Intel Core i9-10980XE
- Threadripper 2950X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2920X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2990WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2970WX (250/2933)
- Test: 7-Zip
- Threadripper 3970X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/3200)
- Threadripper 3960X (280/3200)
- Intel Core i9-10980XE
- Threadripper 2990WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2950X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2970WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2920X (180/2933)
- Test: Agisoft PhotoScan Pro
- Threadripper 3970X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/3200)
- Threadripper 3960X (280/3200)
- Intel Core i9-10980XE
- Threadripper 2990WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2970WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2950X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2920X (180/2933)
- Test: Blender benchmark
Unit: minutes, seconds
- Threadripper 3970X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/3200)
- Threadripper 3960X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 2990WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2970WX (250/2933)
- Intel Core i9-10980XE
- Threadripper 2950X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2920X (180/2933)
- Test: Cinebench R15 – Multi
Unit: points
- Threadripper 3970X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/3200)
- Threadripper 3960X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 2990WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2970WX (250/2933)
- Intel Core i9-10980XE
- Threadripper 2950X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2920X (180/2933)
- Test: Cinebench R20 – Multi
Unit: points
- Threadripper 3970X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/3200)
- Threadripper 3960X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 2990WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2970WX (250/2933)
- Intel Core i9-10980XE
- Threadripper 2950X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2920X (180/2933)
- Test: Corona 1.3 benchmark
- Threadripper 3970X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/3200)
- Threadripper 3960X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 2990WX (250/2933)
- Intel Core i9-10980XE
- Threadripper 2970WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2950X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2920X (180/2933)
- Test: DigiCortex simulation
- Threadripper 3970X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3960X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/3200)
- Threadripper 2990WX (250/2933)
- Intel Core i9-10980XE
- Threadripper 2970WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2950X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2920X (180/2933)
- Test: HandBrake
Unit: minutes, seconds
- Threadripper 3970X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/3200)
- Threadripper 3960X (280/3200)
- Intel Core i9-10980XE
- Threadripper 2950X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2990WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2970WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2920X (180/2933)
- Test: POV-Ray – Multi
Unit: points
- Threadripper 3970X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/3200)
- Threadripper 3960X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 2990WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2970WX (250/2933)
- Intel Core i9-10980XE
- Threadripper 2950X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2920X (180/2933)
- Test: Cinebench R15 – Single
Unit: points
- Intel Core i9-10980XE
- Threadripper 3960X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/3200)
- Threadripper 2950X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2920X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2990WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2970WX (250/2933)
- Test: Cinebench R20 – Single
Unit: points
- Threadripper 3970X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3960X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/3200)
- Intel Core i9-10980XE
- Threadripper 2950X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2920X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2990WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2970WX (250/2933)
- Test: POV-Ray – single
Unit: points
- Intel Core i9-10980XE
- Threadripper 3970X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3960X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/3200)
- Threadripper 2920X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2950X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2990WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2970WX (250/2933)
The background for the drop in performance is, of course, the falling clock: In the Blender benchmark (multi-core), the clock on average on all 32 cores drops by a good 400 MHz from 3,771 MHz to 3,376 MHz.
A look at the power consumption of the system proves that the TDP upper limit set in Ryzen Master is not an air number: it is at the socket at the level of the 180-watt models of the last generation, the remaining additional consumption is easy with the additional consumption of the new one Explain TRX40 platform. The power consumption also falls in partial load, but remains the same at idle.
- Test: Power consumption – maximum CPU power
- Intel Core i9-10980XE
- Threadripper 2920X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2950X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/3200)
- Threadripper 2990WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2970WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 3970X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3960X (280/3200)
- Test: power consumption – full load (Windows 10, complete system)
- Intel Core i9-10980XE
- Threadripper 2950X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2920X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/3200)
- Threadripper 2970WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2990WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 3960X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (280/3200)
- Test: power consumption – max. AVX load (Windows 10, complete system)
- Intel Core i9-10980XE
- Threadripper 3970X (180/3200)
- Threadripper 2950X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2920X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2970WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2990WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 3970X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3960X (280/3200)
- Test: power consumption – partial load 1 thread (Windows 10, complete system)
- Threadripper 2920X (180/2933)
- Intel Core i9-10980XE
- Threadripper 2950X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2970WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2990WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/3200)
- Threadripper 3960X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (280/3200)
- Test: power consumption – idle (Windows 10, complete system)
- Intel Core i9-10980XE
- Threadripper 2920X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2950X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2970WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2990WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 3960X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/3200)
More performance through slower RAM?
In search of the answer to the question of the performance of Threadripper 3000 with a lower TDP, the editorial team came across another interesting aspect of the new Zen 2 architecture by chance: the consumption of the memory controller in the I / O die.
Due to carelessness, the RAM clock was briefly reduced from DDR4-3200 to DDR4-2133 during the 180 watt tests (primary and secondary timings remained the same). In the Blender benchmark, which was run after the restart, the result was far too good – suddenly it was only nine and not fourteen percent behind the result at 280 watts TDP. In fact, the average clock rate of 3,532 MHz was a good 150 MHz higher. The change in the DRAM voltage had no influence on the result.
The reason for the higher clock at reduced memory clock rates is that the cores can use more of the 180 watts that are still available because the memory controller is significantly more energy efficient. For example, Ryzen Master and HWiNFO award the cores around 110 watts with DDR4-3200, while it is almost 130 watts with DDR4-2133 – a delta of 20 watts or 18 percent. The SoC power reported by Tools, however, drops from 26 to 13 watts when switching to the slower memory.
In total, the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X at 180 watts with DDR4-3200 and DDR4-2133 do nothing in the end. Depending on the application, the throttled processor can even benefit from operation with DDR4-2133 because the available electrical power can be used to a greater extent for the cores, which brings more than the bandwidth loss. Examples are Blender, Cinebench and Corona. However, memory benchmarks like 7-Zip are not enthusiastic about this step, the result is worse.
- To edit
Performance rating for applications (multi-core)
- Threadripper 3970X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/2133)
- Threadripper 3960X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 2990WX (250/2933)
- Intel Core i9-10980XE
- Threadripper 2970WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2950X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2920X (180/2933)
- To edit
Performance rating for applications (single core)
- Threadripper 3970X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3960X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/3200)
- Intel Core i9-10980XE
- Threadripper 2950X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2920X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2990WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2970WX (250/2933)
- 7-Zip
- Threadripper 3970X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/3200)
- Threadripper 3960X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/2133)
- Intel Core i9-10980XE
- Threadripper 2990WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2950X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2970WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2920X (180/2933)
- Agisoft PhotoScan Pro
- Threadripper 3970X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/3200)
- Threadripper 3960X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/2133)
- Intel Core i9-10980XE
- Threadripper 2990WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2970WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2950X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2920X (180/2933)
- Blender benchmark
Unit: minutes, seconds
- Threadripper 3970X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/2133)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/3200)
- Threadripper 3960X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 2990WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2970WX (250/2933)
- Intel Core i9-10980XE
- Threadripper 2950X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2920X (180/2933)
- Cinebench R15 – Multi
Unit: points
- Threadripper 3970X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/2133)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/3200)
- Threadripper 3960X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 2990WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2970WX (250/2933)
- Intel Core i9-10980XE
- Threadripper 2950X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2920X (180/2933)
- Cinebench R20 – Multi
Unit: points
- Threadripper 3970X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/2133)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/3200)
- Threadripper 3960X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 2990WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2970WX (250/2933)
- Intel Core i9-10980XE
- Threadripper 2950X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2920X (180/2933)
- Corona 1.3 benchmark
- Threadripper 3970X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/2133)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/3200)
- Threadripper 3960X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 2990WX (250/2933)
- Intel Core i9-10980XE
- Threadripper 2970WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2950X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2920X (180/2933)
- DigiCortex simulation
- Threadripper 3970X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3960X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/2133)
- Threadripper 2990WX (250/2933)
- Intel Core i9-10980XE
- Threadripper 2970WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2950X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2920X (180/2933)
- HandBrake
Unit: minutes, seconds
- Threadripper 3970X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/3200)
- Threadripper 3960X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/2133)
- Intel Core i9-10980XE
- Threadripper 2950X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2990WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2970WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2920X (180/2933)
- POV-Ray – Multi
Unit: points
- Threadripper 3970X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/2133)
- Threadripper 3960X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 2990WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2970WX (250/2933)
- Intel Core i9-10980XE
- Threadripper 2950X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2920X (180/2933)
- Cinebench R15 – single
Unit: points
- Intel Core i9-10980XE
- Threadripper 3960X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/2133)
- Threadripper 2950X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2920X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2990WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2970WX (250/2933)
- Cinebench R20 – single
Unit: points
- Threadripper 3970X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/2133)
- Threadripper 3960X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/3200)
- Intel Core i9-10980XE
- Threadripper 2950X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2920X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2990WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2970WX (250/2933)
- POV-Ray – single
Unit: points
- Intel Core i9-10980XE
- Threadripper 3970X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3960X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/2133)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/3200)
- Threadripper 2920X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2950X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2990WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2970WX (250/2933)
With identical TDPs of 180 watts, it is irrelevant for the power consumption under load how the power is divided between cores and memory controllers, it remains the same. On the other hand, under partial load, which does not use up the TDP budget, and when idling, the step backwards in terms of memory has a clear effect: the system draws 20 watts less from the socket than with DDR4-3200.
- Power consumption – partial load 1 thread (Windows 10, complete system)
- Threadripper 2920X (180/2933)
- Intel Core i9-10980XE
- Threadripper 2950X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2970WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2990WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/2133)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/3200)
- Threadripper 3960X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (280/3200)
- Power consumption – idle (Windows 10, complete system)
- Intel Core i9-10980XE
- Threadripper 2920X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2950X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2970WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2990WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/2133)
- Threadripper 3960X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/3200)
- Power consumption – maximum CPU power
- Intel Core i9-10980XE
- Threadripper 2920X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2950X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/2133)
- Threadripper 2990WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2970WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 3970X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3960X (280/3200)
- Power consumption – full load (Windows 10, complete system)
- Intel Core i9-10980XE
- Threadripper 2950X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2920X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/2133)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/3200)
- Threadripper 2970WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2990WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 3960X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (280/3200)
- Power consumption – max. AVX load (Windows 10, complete system)
- Intel Core i9-10980XE
- Threadripper 3970X (180/3200)
- Threadripper 3970X (180/2133)
- Threadripper 2950X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2920X (180/2933)
- Threadripper 2970WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 2990WX (250/2933)
- Threadripper 3970X (280/3200)
- Threadripper 3960X (280/3200)
AMD confirms the behavior on demand and even points out that some X570 boards in RAM-OC tests above DDR4-3200 set the voltage for the memory controller disproportionately high, which ultimately costs performance because the CPU part takes less part in TDP budget is due. Not surprisingly, the behavior shown by the editorial team also exists with Ryzen 3000 with I / O-Die.
In the test with the Ryzen 9 3950X, however, the effect is small: when changing from DDR4-3200 to DDR4-2133 in the standard TDP corset of 105 watts, which Ryzen may also exceed in contrast to Ryzen Threadripper, the average clock in the Blender benchmark increases from 3,952 to 3,972 MHz, the CPU core power reported by HWiNFO increases from 108 to 110 watts. The SoC power drops when using DDR4-2133 instead of DDR4-3200 from 18 to 13 watts, a clear difference in percentage terms, but ultimately only five watts.
Conclusion
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3000 with 280 watts TDP can absorb 30 watts more than its predecessors ex works, in order to beat them clearly in the benchmark, this premium is not needed at all. Even with 180 watts TDP, 70 watts below its predecessor with 32 cores and at the level of the old 16 cores, the 3970X still outperforms all other models – even the 3960X with 24 cores has no chance at 280 watts TDP.
In this case, too, the background is that the last megahertz can only be achieved by a disproportionately high consumption. Because the CPUs in the large package can still be cooled even at 280 watts, AMD was not afraid to take the drastically reduced marginal benefit with Threadripper 3000 for the big bang. The manufacturer explains on request: “We felt that the additional budget would help us achieve higher average clock speeds in multi-core scenarios. Because the requirements for the cooling system have not changed significantly compared to the 2970WX and 2990WX, this adjustment was worthwhile in our eyes.“
Conversely, CPU holders can potentially save a lot of power by cutting the TDP without losing significant performance. And even with an extremely hard cut to 180 watts, there is no danger of a CPU of the last generation. At the same time, the temperatures drop significantly despite reduced demands on the cooling system.
If you know that your application does not respond to memory bandwidth, or only slightly, you can even increase performance in the narrower TDP corset by reducing the memory clock. At the same time, idle consumption drops significantly.
Finally, it should be noted: Of course, Threadripper 3000 is a CPU that is used in many places where it should do what it can do. If you set other priorities (at short notice), you can set them without banishing the processor from its top position.
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