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AMD Ryzen Zen 3 Threadripper 5000 Genesis Peak series may see a reintroduction of 16-core parts

AMD Ryzen Zen 3 Threadripper 5000 series may start with the 16-core TR 5955X. (Image Source: AMD)
AMD Ryzen Zen 3 Threadripper 5000 series may start with the 16-core TR 5955X. (Image Source: AMD)
AMD may possibly bring back 16-core SKUs to the HEDT Threadripper lineup with the upcoming Threadripper 5000 series as indicated by a cryptic tweet from developer 1usmus. The 16-core Threadripper SKU, which may be called the TR 5955X, is likely to be similar to the mainstream Ryzen 9 5950X but with support for quad-channel RAM and additional PCIe lanes.

With mainstream desktops and upcoming mobile variants having moved on to the Zen 3 architecture, it is but natural that the high-end desktop (HEDT) segment would soon follow suit. The current generation of AMD Zen 2 Threadripper processors codenamed Castle Peak come in 24, 32, and 64-core variants. However, the upcoming Zen 3 Genesis Peak family may start from 16 cores.

This information comes via the developer of Clock Tuner for Ryzen (CTR) Yuri Bubliy popularly known as 1usmus. Yuri tweeted a riddle HEX code, which reads "47454e4553495320313620434f524553". This translates into ASCII as "Genesis 16 Cores". Genesis Peak is the codename for the upcoming Zen 3 Threadripper family.

There are rumors that Genesis Peak refers to the platform while Chagall would be the actual processors themselves but those are still unconfirmed as of now. That being said, if Genesis Peak indeed refers to a platform, it is possible we might see a 16-core EPYC SKU as well. Videocardz, however, seems to have confirmed with Yuri that this particular leak pertains to Threadripper and not EPYC.

Though Threadrippers such as the 1950X and the 2950X did offer 16 cores, AMD chose to integrate 16-core parts in mainstream desktop Zen 2 with the likes of the Ryzen 9 3950X, which continues in Zen 3 as the Ryzen 9 5950X leaving HEDT to start from 24 cores.

If AMD indeed brings back a 16-core Threadripper, it would possibly be a good alternative to those who wouldn't need multitudinous core counts but would rather make use of quad-channel RAM and additional PCIe lanes. What remains to be seen is how would AMD choose to name such an SKU to prevent any confusion with the current Ryzen 9 5950X (a TR 5955X seems probable). We also do not know if the new Threadrippers would be compatible with current TRX40 motherboards.

AMD is expected to talk about Zen 3 Threadripper during CES 2021, so stay tuned for more.

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2021 01 > AMD Ryzen Zen 3 Threadripper 5000 Genesis Peak series may see a reintroduction of 16-core parts
Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 2021-01- 2 (Update: 2021-01- 2)