AMD trumps Intel with 32-core second-gen Threadripper

Day after Intel trails 28-core Core i9, AMD launches 32-core, 64-thread Threadripper

AMD has used the Computex trade show in Taipei, Taiwan to unveil a 32-core, 64-thread Zen+ Threadripper 2 - trumping Intel, which had hinted at a 28-core Core i9 CPU just yesterday.

The 32-core monster was unveiled alongside a slightly less monstrous 24-core, 48-thread second-generation Threadripper. Both are slated for availability in the third-quarter, which means they could be turning up from the beginning of next month.

The two new parts will be sold alongside the first generation Threadripper 1920X and Threadripper 1950X.

Based on the Zen+ microarchitecture that AMD debuted with its more mainstream Ryzen 2 CPUs earlier this year, the Threadrippers will be manufactured to Globalfoundries' 12nm FinFET process.

The new Threadrippers will be compatible with the socket TR4 X399 motherboards AMD released last year, so enthusiasts can rip out their old Threadrippers and slot-in a new one, if they wish.

However, TDP for Threadripper 2, according to AMD, will be a hefty 250 watts for the new parts, as against 180 watts for the first generation Threadrippers (and 65-95W for Ryzen and Ryzen 2 CPUs). Hence, upgraders will need to check their motherboard specs closely before putting down their cash.

The new parts will clock at a base frequency of 3GHz, with a turbo frequency of 3.4GHz.

According to Anandtech, AMD is increasing the core count by activating two of four cores on its Zeppelin dies.

"AMD's Zeppelin silicon has eight cores, and the first generation Threadripper uses two of them to get to the top-SKU of 16-cores. Inside the CPU however, there are four pieces of silicon: two active and two inactive.

"For this second generation of Threadripper, called Threadripper 2 or the Threadripper 2000-series, AMD is going to make these inactive dies into active ones, and substantially increase the core count," it explains.

AMD's Threadripper line-up, therefore, will now feature four parts - the existing Threadripper 1920X and Threadripper 1950X, and two new Zen+ Threadripper 2 parts: one featuring 24 cores and the other, the 32-core monster.