AMD’s new Ryzen Zen 3 Threadripper 5000 processor could disappoint some people

All about the cores

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AMDappears to be working on a new Threadripper 5000 series processor, but a new rumor suggests that the company could be moving back to 16 cores.

Usually, a 16-core CPU would be considered extremely powerful and high-end, but recently AMD has been shipping Threadripper processors with 24, 32 and even 64 cores.

Meanwhile, more mainstream processors, such as theAMD Ryzen 9 5950X, now come with 16 cores, so this news – if true – may disappoint people who are hoping for a new Threadripper announcement boasting evenmorecores.

The new rumor comes courtesy of a cryptic tweet by Yuri ‘1USMUS’ Bubliy, who developed the Clock Tuner for Ryzen tool, which you can see below:

I think some of you will want to solve this riddle.47454e4553495320313620434f524553January 1, 2021

What does it mean?

The riddle is a HEX code, which when translated to plain English, says “Genesis 16 Cores”. Genesis Peak is the codename of the Zen 3 Threadripper series, which will be powered using the same architecture to AMD’sZen 3-based Ryzen 5000 seriesof processors.

So, it seems Bubliy is referring to a 16-core Zen 3 Threadripper processor. While the original Threadripper came with 16 cores, with the Zen 2 generation, AMD skipped 16 cores.

Threadripper processors are high-end desktop (HEDT) components that are aimed at serious enthusiasts and content creators, so the idea that a new Threadripper will come with the same core count as a mainstream CPU could dilute the ‘premium’ image of the product line. However, it appears that the new Threadripper, which could be called the Threadripper 5950X, according to rumors, will still have a performance advantage over the 16-core Ryzen 9 5950X, thanks to rumored quad-channel RAM and extra PCIe lanes.

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AMD returning to 16-core Threadrippers isn’t bad news either. Just because the new rumor suggests a 16-core CPU, it doesn’t mean AMD isn’t also working on Threadrippers with more cores. By offering a 16-core version, it would mean there’s a more affordable model for people who don’t need the extreme core count higher-end models offer.

Finally, this is all rumor and speculation at the moment, so this should all be taken with a grain of salt. WithCES 2021starting in a matter of days, if AMDisplanning on revealing its new lineup of Threadripper CPUs, we may not have long to wait.

ViaVideocardz

Matt is TechRadar’s Managing Editor for Core Tech, looking after computing and mobile technology. Having written for a number of publications such as PC Plus, PC Format, T3 and Linux Format, there’s no aspect of technology that Matt isn’t passionate about, especially computing and PC gaming. He’s personally reviewed and used most of the laptops in our best laptops guide - and since joining TechRadar in 2014, he’s reviewed over 250 laptops and computing accessories personally.

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