Deal or no Deal Threadripper WX?

[A Computer Guy]

So I've been poking around looking for threadripper deals and came across an interesting offer for only $3000 although I'm not to sure about the motherboard and whether or not I'll need wind tunnel level cooling because SuperMicro known for making servers and those heat sinks are pretty small.

Threadripper Pro 5995wx CPU
- SuperMicro M12SWA-TF motherboard
- 128GB DDR4 3200 RAM
- Noctua cooler

At this price level I missed a prior deal below contemplating "choices" and in retrospect this would have been insanely better at the same price
- Threadripper 7960x CPU
- Asrock TRX50 WS
- 256GB DDR5 5600 ECC
- included cooler

Before getting pinged on the offer at the top I was contemplating the choice below because I have an ample supply of DDR4 ECC on hand although I'm a bit weary regarding NewEgg open box since they state no returns or refunds for open box items.
- Asrock WRX80 Creator 2.0 open box special $530
- Threadripper Pro 5965wx CPU $1300

Thoughts?

​

 

[AleXXX666]

DDR5 ftw.
Though, SM mb is way better than ASRock.
Also, I find all these "creator" stuff OVERPRICED BS, same as "ASUS ROG", but for different "showcase".

 

[A Computer Guy]

DDR5 ftw.
Though, SM mb is way better than ASRock.
Also, I find all these "creator" stuff OVERPRICED BS, same as "ASUS ROG", but for different "showcase".

I do think the "creators" are overpriced although on paper I really like the Asrock boards for TRX50 and WRX80 and they are a bit more compact than other brands so they will still fit somewhat nicely in my 011D already setup for watercooling. When looking at AM5 and the prospect of $400+ motherboards I think I might as well start looking for a "real" workstation motherboard at that price range. I guess I'm still a bit miffed everyday about AM5 having such good price/performance prospects but at the same time poor expansion slot possibilities.

 

[Assimilator]

At this price level I missed a prior deal below contemplating "choices" and in retrospect this would have been insanely better at the same price
- Threadripper 7960x CPU
- Asrock TRX50 WS
- 256GB DDR5 5600 ECC
- included cooler

Yeah you done f**ked up by missing out on those components for that price. Not pissing on you, just commiserating, because I made the same mistake when buying my TR system... it's really difficult to justify laying out so much cash for so little (all I, and I guess you, want are the extra PCIe slots god damnit).

Thoughts?

Not sure what your use-case is but that SM board has decent rear IO for a "server" model - not to the same level as the Asrock WRX80 Creator 2.0, but the SM has actually got a single rear USB-C and one for the front of the case via a header. OTOH, that tiny fan on the WRX80 chipset is almost certainly going to be a high-speed model and run at high RPM all the time, so unless you can find a passive replacement or are gonna be using headphones, that's likely going to be annoying.

If I were you, I'd shell out for the combo and grab the WRX80 Creator 2.0 on top of it; Newegg gives a DOA warranty, so if it's borked you can get a refund. If it's not, you can then flog the M12SWA-TF on Ebay.

 

[_roman_]

When you need it. And it's in the purchase range buy it.

I was also insane to buy 2x32Gib DRAM although I knew 24GiB are plenty. My previous box had 24Gib, the other box 32GiB.

 

[ir_cow]

Yummy old Zen3 for "only" $3,000.

Unless you need that many cores, I can't see it being worth it as a hobbyist.

 

[ShrimpBrime]

Yummy old Zen3 for "only" $3,000.

Unless you need that many cores, I can't see it being worth it as a hobbyist.

Yep, was thinking the same.

But you know the hobbyist must scratch those itches!!

@A Computer Guy We don't know if this is a want or need?

 

[ir_cow]

But you know the hobbyist must scratch those itches!!

Yeah I buy a lot of stupid things too.

 

[lambda]

Is this the UK or the US retailer?

Microcenter has the 7960x for 1299 USD [https://www.microcenter.com/product...re-str5-boxed-processor-heatsink-not-included]

Go for the newer platform when you're spending that much.

If you're only after the PCIe lanes then maybe you can also consider the Xeons although they are not that performant. The Quad mem channel Xeons start at about 500 USD.

 

[A Computer Guy]

Yep, was thinking the same.

But you know the hobbyist must scratch those itches!!

@A Computer Guy We don't know if this is a want or need?

I don't really need so many cores but there is no point for me to side grade to 16 core threadripper just for the PCIe expandability which is what I'm really after. Already I dislike the idea of downgrading to Zen3 cores but since I have ECC DDR4 on hand that I can utilize it becomes more plateable as an expense and is a bit cheaper buy in to reuse that RAM. If I also want to say bye to nostalgia I could swap out the ram with the ECC I have and use that non-ECC ram in selling off my two 5950x systems with a bit more value to offset the new system cost.

To even make this move any value I would want to get more cores and more ram with the I/O and PCIe otherwise I wouldn't even consider it.

 

[ShrimpBrime]

I don't really need so many cores but there is no point for me to side grade to 16 core threadripper just for the PCIe expandability which is what I'm really after. Already I dislike the idea of downgrading to Zen3 cores but since I have ECC DDR4 on hand that I can utilize it becomes more plateable as an expense and is a bit cheaper buy in to reuse that RAM. If I also want to say bye to nostalgia I could swap out the ram with the ECC I have and use that non-ECC ram in selling off my two 5950x systems with a bit more value to offset the new system cost.

To even make this move any value I would want to get more cores and more ram with the I/O and PCIe otherwise I wouldn't even consider it.

OK, see I have no clue the total system specs of the current rig. Help readers today!

If you have the option to expand, if you are running a single socket board, keep the same cpu, but add more sockets. Add all the ram you want. It'll be a monster.

You can buy a quad socket board, and add processors later. you don't need to populate sockets to run 1 cpu in a quad socket board. So this might be a viable idea>?

 

[oxrufiioxo]

At this point just wait till threadripper 7000 is in your price range again honestly would be my best advice. Just don't hesitate next time lol if you want to be on a hedt platform in the meantime just save up.

That's just me though I hate investing into old platforms and last I checked Threadripper 5000 was pretty buggy.

 

[Assimilator]

Yummy old Zen3 for "only" $3,000.

Unless you need that many cores, I can't see it being worth it as a hobbyist.

It's not about the cores, it's about having more than one full-length x16 slot. Unfortunately because AMD and Intel are a**holes, the only way to get that is via buying server-class CPUs.

 

[ShrimpBrime]

I need to correct myself, there are no quad socket TR boards lol. Pardon my dumbness today

 

[A Computer Guy]

I found another potential offer $2500. Theoretically if I match additional cost for the memory to 128GB and $100 for cooler it's back to the relative cost of $3000 like the first option I saw but with more cores. Tax of course will throw me off the edge so I will see if I can edge them down a bit.

- Threadripper 7970x CPU
- Asrock TRX50 WS
- 64GB DDR5 4800 ECC

OK, see I have no clue the total system specs of the current rig. Help readers today!

It's in my side bar!

If you have the option to expand, if you are running a single socket board, keep the same cpu, but add more sockets. Add all the ram you want. It'll be a monster.

You can buy a quad socket board, and add processors later. you don't need to populate sockets to run 1 cpu in a quad socket board. So this might be a viable idea>?

Threadrippers don't do multi-socket as far as I know as that is for EPYC.

 

[ShrimpBrime]

I found another potential offer $2500. Theoretically if I match additional cost for the memory to 128GB and $100 for cooler it's back to the relative cost of $3000 like the first option I saw but with more cores. Tax of course will throw me off the edge so I will see if I can edge them down a bit.

- Threadripper 7970x CPU
- Asrock TRX50 WS
- 64GB DDR5 4800 ECC


It's in my side bar!


Threadrippers don't do multi-socket as far as I know as that is for EPYC.

No your side bar says 7950X the information isn't even correct!!! (kidding lol, but really they differ)
(Also, on mobile sys spec doesn't view unless I turn the phone ftw.}
OK, so what is the EPYC stand point for your needs? ... what? what what? you said what first!

 

[A Computer Guy]

At this point just wait till threadripper 7000 is in your price range again honestly would be my best advice. Just don't hesitate next time lol if you want to be on a hedt platform in the meantime just save up.

Yep. Also considering just waiting it out for AM6 too but I'm ROFL if they reduce the board options down to 1 PCIe 6.0 x16 slot and 20 NVMe slots.

That's just me though I hate investing into old platforms and last I checked Threadripper 5000 was pretty buggy.

Ohhh, I didn't know that about the buggyness. I'll have to consider that. This is one reason I decided to post here first. The more you know before you buy.

No your side bar says 7950X the information isn't even correct!!! (kidding lol, but really they differ)
(Also, on mobile sys spec doesn't view unless I turn the phone ftw.}
OK, so what is the EPYC stand point for your needs? ... what? what what? you said what first!

I run a bunch of VM's for work so more slots for my Optane storage would be great, my Asus Quad NVMe card, and I could consolidate systems so anther slot for my RAID6 card, 8 port SATA, and GPU for encoding. If this was just for a server that I don't have to sit in front of I might just get a Zen2 based threadripper for a lot cheaper even with umpteen cores but it has to feel snappy for my daily.

I don't know if the free ESXi 7 key will still work prior to Broadcom acquiring VMWare but that might be sweet to try and use.

 

[lambda]

I found another potential offer $2500. Theoretically if I match additional cost for the memory to 128GB and $100 for cooler it's back to the relative cost of $3000 like the first option I saw but with more cores. Tax of course will throw me off the edge so I will see if I can edge them down a bit.

- Threadripper 7970x CPU
- Asrock TRX50 WS
- 64GB DDR5 4800 ECC


It's in my side bar!


Threadrippers don't do multi-socket as far as I know as that is for EPYC.

That seems ok unless you really need the extra memory. Do note that the Pro platform has octa channel memory vs quad channel on the usual TR platform.

 

[ShrimpBrime]

I run a bunch of VM's for work so more slots for my Optane storage would be great, my Asus Quad NVMe card, and I could consolidate systems so anther slot for my RAID6 card, 8 port SATA, and GPU for encoding.

Well if it's for work, it's a write off.

I say Do It!, at this point in our humble conversation!

 

[A Computer Guy]

That seems ok unless you really need the extra memory. Do note that the Pro platform has octa channel memory vs quad channel on the usual TR platform.

Up that was a consideration too. 8 channel 5600+ is appealing vs dual channel 3600 if I were to choose to go 128GB on my current system.

Well if it's for work, it's a write off.

LOL, tell that to my wife!

 

[lambda]

Up that was a consideration too. 8 channel 5600+ is appealing vs dual channel 3600 if I were to choose to go 128GB on my current system.

Then consider the Threadripper Pros, it's not like you build a system like this quite often.

If you don't need the extra cores then downgrade to a lower core count TR Pro processor [https://www.amd.com/en/products/processors/workstations/ryzen-threadripper.html#specifications]

With that said, do you even need the extra memory channels? Is your workload memory bandwidth sensitive and scale enough to justify the additional expense of a TR Pro?

Edit: some benchmarks - https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/a...threadripper-pro-7000wx-for-content-creation/

 

[A Computer Guy]

Then consider the Threadripper Pros, it's not like you build a system like this quite often.

If you don't need the extra cores then downgrade to a lower core count TR Pro processor [https://www.amd.com/en/products/processors/workstations/ryzen-threadripper.html#specifications]

I have to balance the cost to make it worthwhile but I understand what you are saying. If I have to buy into the minimum to what I have now then it's not worth it. I'll just skate on by and work with what I've got if that's the case.

With that said, do you even need the extra memory channels? Is your workload memory bandwidth sensitive and scale enough to justify the additional expense of a TR Pro?

WX only came into the picture because 5000 series apparently lacks non-WX cpu's as far as I know and they are cheaper than the 7000 in general.

One issue I don't like is the vendor locking CPU's. ebay vendors might not know if the CPU is vendor locked in reality which already bit me once with 5000g Ryzen but I was able to return that CPU despite it was listed as not being vendor locked. If I get a package deal then I have to worry less about being able to test if parts are working some longer period after purchase that might make returns more difficult.

 

[oxrufiioxo]

LOL, tell that to my wife!

The more you buy the more you save....

 

[lambda]

One issue I don't like is the vendor locking CPU's. ebay vendors might not know if the CPU is vendor locked in reality which already bit me once with 5000g Ryzen but I was able to return that CPU despite it was listed as not being vendor locked. If I get a package deal then I have to worry less about being able to test if parts are working some longer period after purchase that might make returns more difficult.

I've seen that with Ebay vendors and avoided it for that reason.

It seems you'd be better off with the 7970X system honestly, less headache in general and probably a bit cheaper too. Either (TR or the TR Pro) would be a major upgrade from the desktop AM5 anyway.

 

[freeagent]

The more you buy the more you save....

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