Current state of Intel's CPU technology.
Current state of Intel's CPU technology.
I have an Intel i7 extreme x990 and its fantastic. I have had this for around maybe 6 years and I built the system. Perf is incredible and adding SSD's on RAID0 recently made it even better. I have had ZERO issues, Really, ZERO issues. Time has now come for me to think about upgrading/building a new system. Problem is, have been waiting something from Intel for a while that is still an extreme proc but obviously faster. What is out there in the market that support large memory with lots of cores on the intel extreme range? Anything I should (continue to) wait for? I know Intel continuously have delayed new CPU's but anything lately? Also looking for something that does not require a fancy shamancy water cooling thing. Air cooling is fine (any portable A/C fans available?! It's about time!).
AMD offers powerful options with their threadripper 3990X, boasting 64 cores for top performance. For a more budget-friendly choice, the Ryzen 9 3950X delivers around 16 cores, matching nearly every current Intel processor in capability.
Intel's top-tier offerings lately have fallen short compared to competitors, especially AMD. The 6950X is their last standout in the extreme segment, but it's not performing well now because OC support was removed for an exploit patch. AMD is closing the gap with higher-end chips like the 7980XE (14nm, 18 cores) and the 1950X (TSMC 14nm, 16 cores). They then surpassed the 10980XE (14nm +18 cores) in both performance and value. Before the 10980XE, the W-3175X (14nm, 28 cores) aimed to challenge the 2990WX (12nm, 32 cores), winning due to better memory stability—though it still lags behind newer models like the 3970X (7nm, 32 cores) and even the more advanced 3990X (7nm, 64 cores). In short, Intel's extreme offerings are struggling today. Air cooling remains a challenge, especially with their 14nm designs losing efficiency after switching paste to solder.
I possess two Xeon workstations... each with 20 cores and 40 threads, 64GB of RAM—truly impressive (this model is quite old, newer ones are even better).
2020 isn't the same as 2011, so don't cling to that old broken device. In 2011, BlackBerry was dominant, but now Intel hasn't pushed any new ideas in the past four years. AMD has stepped up and taken the lead. Spend some time reading CPU articles and reviews. The current top choice is called Threadripper — a powerful 64-core processor with eight quad-channel memory slots, up to 256GB RAM, and PCI-E 4.0 support.
The scenario is about choosing a processor based on specific needs. Unless it's gaming, Threadripper stands out now due to performance and pricing. 24/32nm chips can be stabilized with strong cooling solutions like an air cooler or AIO. A custom loop is recommended for overclocking, though Zen’s headroom is limited compared to Intel. For applications benefiting from lower core-to-core and RAM delays—like gaming—Intel’s HEDT is ideal. If you’re aiming for a custom build, consider the workload and your personal preference. Some enjoy manual OC, while others prefer benchmarks like 3DMark or Cinebench. The best choice depends on your goals and what excites you about the experience.
Sure, I get it. You're a senior software developer managing multiple VMs and handling intensive tasks. You occasionally play games but don't go all out. You juggle many projects at once and also handle video editing and encoding.