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» Although it’s good to hear that AMD is looking at keeping sTRX4 around for the long haul, we don’t know exactly what the means in years. TR4 only lasted for two generations (Threadripper 1000, Threadripper 2000), so we’d hope that sTRX4 lasts as long, if not longer.
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A Quick Look at Seven Products
by Ian Cutress & Joe Shieldson September 15, 2017 9:00 AM EST
- Posted in
- Motherboards
- Gaming
- AMD
- MSI
- Gigabyte
- ASRock
- Asus
- ROG
- Taichi
- AORUS
- RGB
- PCIe
- ThreadRipper
- X399
- TR4
99 Comments
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99 Comments
The X399 ChipsetASRock X399 Gaming ProfessionalASRock X399 TaichiASUS ROG Zenith ExtremeASUS Prime X399-AASUS ROG Strix X399-E GamingGIGABYTE X399 AORUS Gaming 7GIGABYTE X399 Designare-EXMSI X399 Gaming Pro Carbon ACThe MSI X399 SLI PlusWrap Up: Covering the X399 Spectrum
With the release of AMD’s Threadripper CPUs into the HEDT market, board partners have released new motherboards based on the X399 chipset.
Consumers are going to see quad channel memory, native 4-Way SLI and Crossfire capabilities, more full-speed M.2 slots, added 10G network ports, and more on the new platform. We’re taking a quick look at each of the motherboards that the vendors are promoting in the market, as well as a few upcoming teasers.
Related Reading
- The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X and 1920X Review: CPUs on Steroids
- AMD Threadripper Unboxing
- AMD Threadripper 1920X and 1950X CPU Details: 12/16 Cores, 4 GHz Turbo, $799 and $999
- AMD CPU Updates: 16 Core Threadripper w/64 PCIe Lanes This Summer, Epyc Launching June 20th
A big takeaway from our AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X and 1950X review is the increase in CPU connected PCIe 3.0 lanes. A full 60 lanes are available to the PCIe slots and M.2 drives, while 4 lanes head off to the chipset where it’s muxed for USB, SATA, low-level I/O, and other features. The increase in CPU PCIe lanes is set up to allow for a lot more flexibility connecting devices using PCIe bandwidth.
The four major players, ASRock, ASUS, GIGABYTE, and MSI, have launched X399 motherboards for Threadripper. These boards equip the massive 4094-pin socket with eight DIMM slots to cover the four memory channels and then differentiate themselves in PCIe configuration, IO, styling and software support.
Unlike Ryzen, the base processor is not a true SoC as the term has evolved over the years. In order to get the compliment of SATA and USB ports, each Threadripper CPU needs to be paired with an X399 chipset. So aside from the CPU PCIe lanes, the ‘new’ X399 chipset also gets some IO to play with:
Unlike mainstream platforms that have several chipsets to choose from that vary in capability and cost, the AMD high-end platform only has a single chipset, similar to Intel’s X299. As we’ve learned over the last few months, some elements of the motherboard base cost, such as the socket, can cost a pretty penny to the board manufacturers, which in turn will be forwarded on to the user.
These motherboards appear to start somewhere around $249-$299, with the top board so far set at $549. Guess which one AMD sent us for our CPU review.
The Underlying Block Diagram
When PCIe is the game, it becomes time to play with controllers and ports to see what fits. It all starts with the underlying diagram for Threadripper and X399:
AMD’s marketing on the left is set out to explain that each product in the Threadripper and X399 line will be ‘fully enabled’ — none of the chips will be limited in PCIe lane counts or DRAM for the sake of segmentation. AMD is happy at this point to keep segmentation limited to cores, frequency, and L3 cache.
The diagram shows the two hubs for everything to connect to: the CPU and the chipset. The CPU has 60 PCIe lanes, provided in 3 or 4 PCIe root complexes at x16 each (the diagram above suggests x16/x8/x16/x8). These will often go towards the main PCIe slots to support add-in cards like GPUs, or they could be partitioned off for RAID controllers or fast ethernet if required.
In total, AMD has stated that the platform can support six GPUs maximum. The CPU also supports eight USB 3.1 (5 Gbps) Type-A ports, quad channel DDR4, and support for up to three PCIe 3.0 x4 storage drives for 3-way NVMe.
Threadripper CPUs reserve four PCIe lanes for the chipset, which similar to Intel acts like a PCIe switch for more IO — although AMD only offers a few lanes here compared to Intel’s 24 PCIe 3.0 x4 lanes.
From the chipset there are eight PCIe lanes, which AMD here has suggested reserving two for gigabit Ethernet, four for a PCIe x4 slot, one for a PCIe x1 slot, and one for a WiFi module. Alongside the PCIe lanes are eight SATA ports, six USB 2.0 ports, four USB 3.1 (5 Gbps) Type-A ports, one USB 3.1 (5 Gbps) Type-C port and two USB 3.1 (10 Gbps) ports with appropriate redrivers. In a change to what we normally see on Intel motherboards, AMD lists SPI and Audio features as coming from the CPU rather than the chipset.
AMD Suggests Variants
As part of the launch, AMD is wanting to promote the different ways in which an X399 motherboard could be arranged depending on the workload requirements.
| X399 Potential Configurations | |||
| Use | PCIe Lanes | Total | |
| Content Creator | 2 x Pro GPUs 2 x M.2 Cache Drives 10G Ethernet 1 x U.2 Storage 1 x M.2 OS/Apps 6 x SATA Local Backup |
x16/x16 from CPU x4 + x4 from CPU x4 from CPU x4 from CPU x4 from CPU From Chipset |
52 Lanes |
| Extreme PC | 2 x Gaming GPUs 1 x HDMI Capture Card 2 x M.2 for Games/Stream 10G Ethernet 1 x M.2 OS/Apps 6 x SATA Local Backup |
x16/x16 from CPU x8 from CPU x4 + x4 from CPU x4 from CPU x4 from CPU From Chipset |
56 Lanes |
| Streamer | 1 x Gaming GPU 1 x HDMI Capture Card 2 x M.2 Stream/Transcode 10G Ethernet 1 x U.2 Storage 1 x M.2 OS/Apps 6 x SATA Local Backup |
x16 from CPU x4 from CPU x4 + x4 from CPU x4 from CPU x4 from CPU x4 from CPU From Chipset |
40 Lanes |
| Render Farm | 4 x Vega FE Pro GPUs 2 x M.  2 Cache Drives1 x M.2 OS/Apps 6 x SATA Local Backup |
x16/x8/x8/x8 x4 + x4 from CPU x4 from CPU From Chipset |
52 Lanes |
Gallery: X399 Potential Configurations
Each of these potential configurations would run into several thousand dollars a piece for a full build — the M.2 drives were suggested at 512GB minimum, with the SATA drives in RAID configurations as well. AMD is making no joke; they want to be the premium platform.
New Controllers for X399
With each of these motherboard overviews, we like to cover a few of the newer controllers to hit the market that motherboard manufacturers might take advantage of. Given the recent X299 launch on the Intel side, not much has changed since. The big parts to enter the consumer space are Aquantia’s multi-gigabit ethernet controllers.
Aquantia launched two ethernet controllers: the AQC107 which supports 100MB, 1G, 2.
5G, 5G and 10G, and the AQC108 which supports 100MB, 1G, 2.5G and 5G, all through standard RJ45 connectors. Motherboard manufacturers can use these controllers directly on the boards, or bundle them in add-in cards like the AQN107 and AQN108 above. We’ve seen cards from ASUS and GIGABYTE already hit the market based on these controllers, while ASRock and MSI prefer to integrate them direct.
The second controller worth mentioning is the updated ASMedia ASM3142 controller, providing USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) functionality to motherboards that need more USB 3.1g2. Originally we saw the ASM1142 single lane controller, while the ASM2142 integrated a dual lane design such that all the ports had peak bandwidth when multiple ports are in use. ASM3142 is a low powered version of the ASM2142, but still supporting all the ports at peak bandwidth.
Third is the updated Realtek ALC1150 audio codec, known as the ALC1220. The ALC1220 improves peak SNR while adding new functionality. ASUS run a customized version known as the ALC1220A, which removes some of the excess function for a stripped down version unique to them but configured in a partnership with Realtek.
The Motherboards
The seven motherboards we have to discuss are:
- The ASRock X399 Taichi
- The ASRock X399 Professional Gaming
- The ASUS X399 ROG Zenith Extreme
- The ASUS Prime X399-A
- The ASUS Strix X399-E Gaming
- The GIGABYTE X399-Gaming 7
- The MSI X399 Gaming Pro Carbon
- The MSI X399 SLI Plus
Added on 9/19: The GIGABYTE X399 Designare EX
Added on 10/10: The MSI X399 SLI Plus
ASRock X399 Gaming Professional
The X399 ChipsetASRock X399 Gaming ProfessionalASRock X399 TaichiASUS ROG Zenith ExtremeASUS Prime X399-AASUS ROG Strix X399-E GamingGIGABYTE X399 AORUS Gaming 7GIGABYTE X399 Designare-EXMSI X399 Gaming Pro Carbon ACThe MSI X399 SLI PlusWrap Up: Covering the X399 Spectrum
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Average rating Processor AMD Ryzen Threadripper — 4.69 Processor Looking for positive and negative reviews about AMD Ryzen Threadripper Processor? We collected 13 negative, negative and positive reviews from 11 sources. We will show you all the pros and cons of the AMD Ryzen Threadripper Processor found by users. We hide nothing and post all positive and negative honest customer reviews about the AMD Ryzen Threadripper Processor, as well as offer alternative analogues. Best deals on AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9 Processor0113
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write a feedback Vyacheslav K., 06/19/2020 Pros: Price-power. Took for rendering on corona renderer. The test benchmark shows 1.12 at stock frequencies with 3466 RAM. Quite cold even on air, 55-60 degrees with the noctua NH-U14S cooler. Power consumption after bios flashing shows 120W, and this is much less than what is indicated in the TX. I have i7 4930k ate no less. Disadvantages: It’s hard to find cooling for it, and amd didn’t bother with this issue — the boxed delivery is beautiful, but without a cooler. Comment: I took it to the computer universe, in total I paid 60k. Now for this price it can be found in Russia. Intel simply has NO competitors for this money. 12 core 7920x goes on average from 75, and is inferior to the threadripper in work tasks. Vladislav, 05/30/2020 Pros: temperature. Number of Cores. Overclocking Computing power. Disadvantages: not identified yet. Comment: gorgeous power under a huge cover) AIDA64 6.20.5300 shows overheated temperatures. Empirically determined — AMD Ryzen Master and MSI Afterburner show the correct temperatures. for half an hour of the test, the temperature did not exceed 58 degrees. there was no throttling. Vyacheslav Ilyinsky, 30.04.2020 Advantages: Performance, price, overclocking Disadvantages: Small overclocking Comment: I did an assembly on this stone for a client, I am attaching a photo. Before that, the person had an i7-6700, renderings took 8+ hours, the client spent a week to hand over the pictures to the client. On Fred Drannik, the projects are like nuts, 40 minutes and you’re done. That is, in a day a person began to hand over a whole project — the savings and payback are obvious. In the second week, the client has almost paid back the invested money, At 9times the increase in speed, when compared with 1800, then 2 times. On small tasks, there is no noticeable difference at all, but on serious projects in 3d max on crown and vire, the gap is catastrophic. For those who are interested, I am attaching my test table, according to which you can evaluate whether it is profitable to take Ryzen 16 or maybe 8 will be enough. The percent is pleasantly chasing, the memory is gone by 3600 even, but I gave it to the client for 3200, because the computer went to another city, a safety net. Also, for those who are sitting on max 2014, you need to change to a new one, because the engine has improved a lot and this can be seen from my table, otherwise there will be little sense from 16 cores. For 3d max it makes no sense to take m2 of a plate, it will not add speed. What’s on the 6700, what’s on the 8700K, what’s on the 1950X — everything is the same, so if the budget is not rubber, you can take the EVO from the Samsung regular sat, the Hard current is great for libraries and into battle. The performance is impressive, the rendering goes on, you sit in the autocad, you draw, the browser works and there are no lags. For this to happen on Intel, you need to take at least 7940X, which costs 40,000 more, do you need it? and even fewer cores. The packaging is simply brilliant, you experience an orgasm while unpacking. If you want a beautiful computer — contact me, I’ll collect it +) Name hidden, 04/10/2020 Pros: Speed. Price compared to Intel Panteleimon K., 03.12.2019
Pros: Productive, in normal mode it heats up very weakly. At idle 42.43 degrees. Disadvantages: on an ATX motherboard, the top PCI-E slot will probably be blocked, I was looking for an EATX mother and a case for it, and this is a plus for the price. Comment: I took it for work, not for games. The performance is just crazy. Vlad V., 11/23/2019 Advantages: I took the stone for 3D visualization: the figures are 1:10 in the Crown benchmark, the scenes in the virtual on the last PC were rendered half the night, now they are calculated in 20 minutes. The performance / price ratio is ideal, an analog from Intel costs twice as much. Disadvantages: none Comment: Excellent professional solution for high performance tasks. Slightly overclocked to 3.6 temperature in load tests no more than 60 degrees. Vladimir Ya., 08/30/2019
Pros: 1920 Disadvantages: Requires careful study when choosing and installing RAM Comment: I know why I need it. I’m racing, though I haven’t loaded more than 20% yet SuperChiLavec, 06/03/2019 Pluses: Normul for 3d rendering. Disadvantages: Low speed in games, and in all low-threaded programs. Comment: Does anyone else buy it? Already the 4th generation of the threadripper is coming soon Anna Sh., 04/28/2019
Advantages: I really liked this percentage, multithreading is something, it doesn’t hang for a second while the browser, program installers, Photoshop, Excel, Word, remote control, Zbrush and file copying are running in parallel. Comment: I chose according to the parameters, looked at the technical characteristics, read the reviews, I never regretted that I decided to pay a little extra and take it. At first I thought about taking Intel, then I compared it with AMD for a long time, and multithreading won. Vladislav K., 04/04/2019 Pros: Performance. Comment: Carries Davinci, Fusion, AE very well. Working comfort at height. Valentin G., 03/18/2019 Pros: Power, 32 threads is very cool. The packaging is generally cool) Disadvantages: A rare socket at the moment, and a small selection of motherboards for it. Large size (although xs is it a disadvantage)). A lot of heat dissipation, but the noctua NH-U14S cooler copes with a bang. Well, maybe the price in Russia is too high, but analogues from Intel are even more expensive. Comment: I am very pleased with the purchase, it is very necessary professionally, and copes with all tasks remarkably. Sergey K., 03/12/2019 Advantages: for virtualization: the best, in my opinion, desktop solution. Disadvantages: I took the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X stone, the mother of PRIME X399-A, there was no stable BIOS for a long time, only January (2018) allowed to work stably with compatible (!) 3000MHz memory. Comment: I took AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X exclusively for virtualization: the requirement to deploy up to 10 virtual streets at the same time. Copes perfectly — the feeling that virtual machines are spinning somewhere on the server. Cooling set Corsair Hydro Series h215i Extreme, not for overclocking: I saw in the article that it is compatible with the socket.
Viktor M. |
Is it worth it to buy — the decision is only yours! 
9 for a long time. I’m sitting on the drain, the power is still enough. 
frequency 4000MHz CPU voltage 1.2V. I don’t want to overclock more during the warranty period. But a boost of 20% (500MHz) for 12 cores is also very good.
Well done AMD, they wiped Intel’s nose well, the percentage is very, very serious. 
But do not take Intel with chewing gum 2 times more expensive. 
I do not recommend for games — a waste of money.
Accelerates without any problems up to 4.0 MHz, and the temperature does not exceed 55-60 degrees