Consider the options: 3950x, 3960x, 10980xe, or the upcoming 4th generation Threadripper.
Consider the options: 3950x, 3960x, 10980xe, or the upcoming 4th generation Threadripper.
I'm setting up a gaming PC for VR and other uses, plus music production and light video editing. The 10940x is still in stock, but I didn’t know the 10980xe was out. Should I choose the 14-core model with 4.6 boost over the 3950x? It matches the performance of the 3950x from AMD and costs around $800. Would you suggest this path? Should I hold off for the new platform instead? I’m also thinking about waiting, especially since I’ve been holding out for the 3080ti to launch.
You won’t see any change in gameplay or music creation. CPU cores have the biggest impact on video processing, which supports higher-end options like the 3960X or 10980XE. If you’re looking to cut a few minutes from rendering time, investing in faster memory such as Optane 905p and B-Die is more worthwhile than upgrading your CPU. You’ll need at least a year before Intel releases the next generation. If your setup feels outdated, consider moving to the X299. All ten series processors are similar except for very demanding tasks like rendering. I wouldn’t upgrade the 3960X unless it was dedicated to video work.
I’ll evaluate my choices. Thank you for your support with this. It seems I’m considering the 10900x, 10940x, and 10980xe models. When might they become available again?
The 10900X is currently in stock at Central Computers. I moved from the 9900X to this model. Last year, 44 PCIe lanes cost around $1000 on the 9900X, making it clear I needed that upgrade. The 9980XE at $2000 seemed out of place since I thought the Extreme Edition chips were a poor investment, offering only minor gains like rendering. Just because Intel lowered the price to $1000 to match AMD doesn’t justify it. They aren’t truly competing because those parts aren’t available anywhere, and anyone seeking many cores is opting for AMD. Cooling high-core processors will be challenging, and running all-core at 4.6 GHz without special overclocking and advanced cooling is unlikely. Fewer cores mean you can approach 5 GHz all-core performance for gaming more easily.
I’m preparing a complete custom hardline setup for this machine, including the distribution platform and everything else. This gives me the chance to push serious overclocking on any chip I acquire. I’m considering waiting until the 10940x is back in stock—it has a solid number of cores. I’d allocate eight for gaming, four for streaming, and two for other tasks. The only scenario needing all 18 cores would be music production, which thrives on high thread counts. Since I’m not under time pressure, I’m thinking it might be worth the extra $200 for the additional four cores on the 10980xe compared to the 10940x, or even the extra four cores on the 10940x versus the 10900x. I’m open to waiting a few months and believe it could be a good value if I can get the 10940x for $800.
Unless you really need Intel, such as me, I recommend choosing Threadripper. At first glance, the 10940X already generates a lot of heat. I haven’t seen anything like 35°C idle on custom water loops before. My 7800X stayed at 25°C under the same conditions. When it comes to performance, it reaches 85°C at 4.6GHz across all 14 cores. That was around 65°C at most on my 7800X. Besides the heat, the cost-to-performance ratio doesn’t make sense with Cascade Lake X. However, if you plan to run OS-X or need a program that demands Intel, I still think Intel remains more reliable overall. (That doesn’t mean AMD crashes—I just notice Intel has better software compatibility right now.) TL;DR: Go for AMD unless your software needs Intel.
10980XE offers superior value compared to the 3960X. Its price per core and performance per core are more competitive. A high-quality TRX40 board such as the Aorus Xtreme adds premium worth. This only makes sense if you require many cores in one system. Critics are enthusiastic about the Threadripper 3000 since it serves creators who need reliable performance, like YouTube producers. It’s the first model without major bottlenecks and driver issues, though it remains somewhat raw. I’d hold off on the 4000 unless AMD delivers it this year.
Sounds like I’ve found what I’m going to do. I’m going to see if I can get a 10940x for 800$ when Intel comes back in stock, if there is a an imminent release, I’ll wait, if not I’ll go ahead and go 10940x. If there is an upcoming release, I’ll likely review new options and figure it out from there. I do believe a dual 360 rad loop should be able to dissipate the heat effectively enough on the 10940x and it sits right on my budget for a cpu, $800. It’s got great gaming and workstation performance and it should last me a long time. I appreciate everyone’s help so much in making the right decision, and if there’s anything I’m missing, I’m still totally open to any other recommendations. Thanks!