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It's awesome that TR2 will be a drop in replacement on existing motherboards! Props to AMD for delivering real value to consumers.

kmfrk 8y ago
AMD's forward compatibility is one of the most amazing things to me, so much so that I still can't believe AM4 is going to remain viable for future CPUs for a while hence despite its age. It's also a big reason I'm not going with Intel, since I know I can upgrade to something significantly better without having to get a new motherboard.
- dTal 8y ago
  Worth noting that with AMD sockets, physical compatibility is no guarantee that it'll work without a software update. If you're unlucky/incautious during a system build, you can end up in a catch 22 with a motherboard that requires a BIOS update for your new CPU to work, and no way to boot it to update the BIOS because your CPU doesn't work. AMD will loan you an older CPU if you jump through enough hoops, but it's probably less hassle just to buy the cheapest last-gen CPU you can find on Amazon. Still a better scenario than changing the socket all the time, but it can catch you out if you're used to Intel's "socket = generation" philosophy. Source: happened to me a few weeks back.
  - kmfrk 8y ago
    Oh yeah, I've read the 2200G/2400G horror stories and taken precautions, thanks. :)
havemylife 8y ago
I recall reading that the thread ripper 2 is supposed to use more power so early motherboards with that socket my not be able to handle it. Just something to keep in mind. Regardless damn good on AMD.
- loeg 8y ago
  Most/all early TR boards were "gaming" branded/targetted, and those typically have power headroom for overclocking. It's certainly possible some of the early boards won't be able to support TR2 at full spec speeds, but I would anticipate most being able to.
- 42656e 8y ago
  2nd Gen TR will draw ~250W. X399 boards have at least 1x 4-Pin and 1x 8-Pin ATX-12V connector, so at least 225W. The rest is supplied by the ATX 24 pin connection. Some X399 boards use 2x 8-Pin ATX-12V connectors, that works out to 300W, which should be more than enough for Threadripper 2.
  - havemylife 8y ago
    I'm just relaying what I read when they announced the TR2. Which seems to be copy-pasted to amongst the tech news sites. Unfortunately they just state "... some first-generation X399 motherboards may not be able to deliver enough power..." And not specifically which. https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/06/amd-unveils-threadripper-2-up-to-32-cores-64-threads-for-an-enthusiast-chip/ https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/06/amd-unveils-threadri... If their statement is false then that's on them.
- sigkrieger 8y ago
  That’s only the 32core And perhaps 24core TR. the 8-16 will probably be lower than current due to node shrink.
nikanj 8y ago
Meanwhile the new Intel chips use the same LG1151 socket, but still need a new motherboard because, erm, well they do.
letsgetphysITal 8y ago
It was always going to be that way. Threadripper 2 is just Threadripper with the two blank spacers in the IHS replaced with two more Zen dies, and a fab process change from 14nm to 12nm (but not architectural changes). It's very much what would be a "tick" in Intel CPU terminology. Edit: Plus, the TR4 socket is guaranteed to be supported for 4 years, per AMD's roadmap at https://community.amd.com/thread/226363 https://community.amd.com/thread/226363

kmfrk 8y ago

AMD's forward compatibility is one of the most amazing things to me, so much so that I still can't believe AM4 is going to remain viable for future CPUs for a while hence despite its age. It's also a big reason I'm not going with Intel, since I know I can upgrade to something significantly better without having to get a new motherboard.

dTal 8y ago
Worth noting that with AMD sockets, physical compatibility is no guarantee that it'll work without a software update. If you're unlucky/incautious during a system build, you can end up in a catch 22 with a motherboard that requires a BIOS update for your new CPU to work, and no way to boot it to update the BIOS because your CPU doesn't work. AMD will loan you an older CPU if you jump through enough hoops, but it's probably less hassle just to buy the cheapest last-gen CPU you can find on Amazon. Still a better scenario than changing the socket all the time, but it can catch you out if you're used to Intel's "socket = generation" philosophy. Source: happened to me a few weeks back.
- kmfrk 8y ago
  Oh yeah, I've read the 2200G/2400G horror stories and taken precautions, thanks. :)

havemylife 8y ago

I recall reading that the thread ripper 2 is supposed to use more power so early motherboards with that socket my not be able to handle it. Just something to keep in mind. Regardless damn good on AMD.

loeg 8y ago
Most/all early TR boards were "gaming" branded/targetted, and those typically have power headroom for overclocking. It's certainly possible some of the early boards won't be able to support TR2 at full spec speeds, but I would anticipate most being able to.
42656e 8y ago
2nd Gen TR will draw ~250W. X399 boards have at least 1x 4-Pin and 1x 8-Pin ATX-12V connector, so at least 225W. The rest is supplied by the ATX 24 pin connection. Some X399 boards use 2x 8-Pin ATX-12V connectors, that works out to 300W, which should be more than enough for Threadripper 2.
- havemylife 8y ago
  I'm just relaying what I read when they announced the TR2. Which seems to be copy-pasted to amongst the tech news sites. Unfortunately they just state "... some first-generation X399 motherboards may not be able to deliver enough power..." And not specifically which. https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/06/amd-unveils-threadripper-2-up-to-32-cores-64-threads-for-an-enthusiast-chip/ https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/06/amd-unveils-threadri... If their statement is false then that's on them.
sigkrieger 8y ago
That’s only the 32core And perhaps 24core TR. the 8-16 will probably be lower than current due to node shrink.

nikanj 8y ago

Meanwhile the new Intel chips use the same LG1151 socket, but still need a new motherboard because, erm, well they do.

letsgetphysITal 8y ago

It was always going to be that way. Threadripper 2 is just Threadripper with the two blank spacers in the IHS replaced with two more Zen dies, and a fab process change from 14nm to 12nm (but not architectural changes). It's very much what would be a "tick" in Intel CPU terminology. Edit: Plus, the TR4 socket is guaranteed to be supported for 4 years, per AMD's roadmap at https://community.amd.com/thread/226363 https://community.amd.com/thread/226363