AMD is preparing a 96-core Ryzen processor with Zen 4 architecture

A new line of Ryzen Threadripper desktop processors will offer up to 96 Zen 4 cores
(photo: AMD)

AMD will meet the challenge of Intel, which launched high-performance processors Xeon W-2400 and Xeon W-3400 (Sapphire Rapids) for workstations, with 96-core chips Ryzen Threadripper 7000 и new Socket TR5 platform.

The company is expected to launch its new desktop processors in the second half of this year, according to Asus product manager Tony Yu, cited by a TechPowerUp post.

Although the current Ryzen Threadripper Pro 5000WX models offer a competitive level of performance against the latest Intel Xeon W processors, the latter support the PCIe 5.0 interface as well as DDR5 RAM, which AMD’s chips lack.

The upcoming Ryzen Threadripper 7000 models, codenamed Storm Peak, step on the Zen 4 architecture and will not only offer more cores compared to the Zen 3-based Ryzen Threadripper Pro 5000WX, but will also support new interfaces and RAMs.

It is not yet confirmed exactly how many cores the new Ryzen Threadripper will have, but considering that these chips are similar to the EPYC Genoa server with Zen 4 architecture, it can be assumed that the number of cores will reach 96.

Apparently, AMD is still slow with the Ryzen Threadripper 7000 processors, as it decided to first focus on the EPYC Genoa servers, which bring in more revenue, and also refine them, given the arrival of the Xeon W Sapphire Rapids.

Intel has divided the new Xeon family into two classes: the W-2400 models with up to 24 cores, four memory channel support and 64 PCIe lanes are aimed at the more mainstream consumer market, while the W-3400 with up to 56 cores, eight channel memory support and 112 PCIe lanes are intended for professional workstations.

It is very likely that AMD will take a similar approach with its new Socket TR5 platform and release several sub-classes of the Ryzen Threadripper 7000 processor line later this year.