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The Workstation of the Future is HERE! - Threadripper 2nd Gen

Linus Tech Tips@LinusTechTips2.3M viewsAug 13, 20189:36
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Get the Massdrop x HiFiMAN HE-350 Headphones today for a limited time at dro.ps Get iFixit's NEW Mahi Driver Kit today for only $29.99 USD at ifixit.com Threadripper 2 is NOT the future… It’s here TODAY. AMD has brought high core counts into the mainstream, and there isn’t an end in sight. Have we entered a new golden age of computing? Buy an AMD Threadripper 2990WX: On Amazon: geni.us On Newegg: geni.us Buy an ASUS ROG Zenith Extreme: On Amazon: geni.us On Newegg: geni.us Discuss on the forum: linustechtips.com Our Affiliates, Referral Programs, and Sponsors: linustechtips.com Linus Tech Tips merchandise at designbyhumans.com Linus Tech Tips posters at crowdmade.com Our Test Benches on Amazon: amazon.com Our production gear: geni.us Twitter - twitter.com Facebook - @LinusTech Instagram - @linustech Twitch - twitch.tv Intro Screen Music Credit: Title: Laszlo - Supernova Video Link: youtube.com iTunes Download Link: itunes.apple.com Artist Link: soundcloud.com Outro Screen Music Credit: Approaching Nirvana - Sugar High youtube.com Sound effects provided by freesfx.co.uk

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The video opens with Linus introducing AMD's Threadripper 2nd Gen, framing it as a milestone for mainstream high core count CPUs and a potential new era in computing. The host highlights the Threadripper 2990WX as a 32-core, 64-thread part and explains how this platform targets professionals who need heavy virtualization, 3D rendering, and other multi-threaded workloads, rather than pure gaming. Viewers are walked through compatibility notes, including BIOS updates for existing Zen/Zen+ motherboards and the importance of robust cooling when overclocking. The host then benchmarks the new Threadripper 2 on a range of tasks, noting that while some gaming outcomes may not fully exploit the CPU’s advanced capabilities, the chip delivers remarkable multi-thread performance and a broad upgrade path for content creators and power users. The discussion delves into AMD’s memory mode options UMA and NUMA, clarifying that the WX series operates in NUMA mode to preserve cross-generation compatibility, which influences memory access patterns and performance in heavier workloads. Throughout, the video emphasizes that the technology is impressive but situational in usefulness, with the 2990WX representing a high-end workstation king for specialized tasks and demanding renders more than a consumer gaming processor. The segment closes by contrasting the practical value of the platform with its premium price, suggesting that many buyers may prefer a mid-range alternative if their workloads don’t fully leverage all 32 cores. The presenter also teases future content, including potential overclocking demonstrations and further exploration of Threadripper 2’s capabilities, while keeping a candid tone about when the platform makes sense for real-world use cases.

Topics · technology · hardware · pc-build · cpu-review

Questions answered

What workload scenarios most benefit from the Threadripper 2990WX, according to the video?
He explains that heavy virtualization, 3D rendering, and other multi-threaded workloads benefit most, while pure gaming may not fully utilize all cores.
What memory mode options exist for Threadripper WX, and how do they affect performance?
UMA generally improves multi-threaded workloads with consistent bandwidth, while NUMA can offer latency advantages in lighter tasks; WX runs in NUMA mode to maintain compatibility.