Looking at the AMD Threadripper units - General questions

[liberty610]

Hey guys,

I am currently running a fairly new system (built it last November). I have the Intel 6800k CPU with a Corsair Corsair Hydro Series H115i cooler. Here is my current entire setup via PC Parts Picker:

https://pcpartpicker.com/user/liberty610/saved/#view=G48RsY

I have started reading up on the AMD Threadripper, and I am VERY interested in the AMD RYZEN Threadripper 1950X 1(6-Core / 32 Threads). I have a beautiful board picked out for it as well.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113447&cm_re=AMD_Ryzen-_-19-113-447-_-Product

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813145030&cm_re=x399-Gaming_7-_-13-145-030-_-Product

My question is, what is the cooler ordeal for these bigger Threadripper CPUs? I just bought that Corasir luquid cooler, and I really don't wanna shelf out for another cooler. But I know the threadripper CPUs are way bigger. Not sure if Corsair is releasing an upgrade for this cooler for it or not....

Any thoughts?

 

[feelinfroggy777]

Figured I would stop by and update you guys on my Threadripper planning.

I had the budget and wiggle room to get a Threadripper setup, so I went ahead and pre-ordered the 1950x and the Gigabyte Aorus X399 Gaming 7 board. After watching New Egg's live video with Asus, I would have loved to have gotten the Zeinith board from them, but I parted ways with Gigabyte one time recently and it bit me in the bum with 2 motherboards needing replace. Granted, the board was from MSI, and in my experience, thier boards are not the best. I know Asus has a solid rep, and their Zenith board looks really awesome, but the Gigabyte board is right behind it in features for $200 less.

Amazon.com was the option i took for the pre-order, and they dropped the ball. I woke up yesterday morning to see a 'temporarily out of stock' message on both my board, and the 1950x. Luckily, Newegg was in stock and the board and CPU should be here today.

I watched some YouTube videos and read some articles on Threadripper since they where able to release their benchmark tests, and I am excited to say the least. I just hope my cooler/thermal paste install goes smoothly on that massive chip.

Does anyone have any suggestions on a program to use to 'burn in' the cpu? Heat it up when it boots to get the paste to spread well? I usually just use the stress tester in CPU-Z for about 15 to 20 mins and keep an eye on temps....

Use Prime 95 to stress your CPU. Its like cross-fit for CPUs. Nothing will push it harder.

 

[feelinfroggy777]

You may want to lighten up on wccftech, just a bit. They were spot on with their speculation in this case. The 7980XE will in fact have a base clock of only 2.6Ghz. I can't imagine people will be lining up to buy that thing for $2k when it seems unlikely to have much of an advantage on the competition's flagship HEDT chip that costs half as much. At any rate it's going to be an interesting next few months in the peecee industry.


https://newsroom.intel.com/news/intel-unveils-full-intel-core-x-series-processor-family-specs-14-18-core-processors-available-starting-september/

It would also appear that I was spot on with Threadripper's overclocking and performance. Threadripper wont go over 4.1ghz and single threaded performance will lag behind intel. But you don't buy Threadripper for single core performance. Threadripper is an amazing CPU and an amazing value even if it cost 1k.

As for the 2k intel chip, I agree with you as well that I doubt that it does very well, I would buy Threadripper in a heartbeat over the intel 7980xe.

I don't need to "lighten up" on wccftech. My opinion on the site is exactly what it is, my opinion.

 

[liberty610]

Well, I won't be able to test Threadripper until Monday. Got the cpu installed, then the board in my case, and the cooler doesn't mount to it. AMD had it as compatible, but it's not going to work until corsair makes a bracket for it, as the included of I Threadripper doesn't work with the h115i.

I have to wait until Monday now for my new cooler (the NZXT Kraken X62) to arrive 🙁

 

[liberty610]

Update:

I feel really freaking stupid....

http://www.corsair.com/en-us/blog/2017/august/threadripper-installation

 

[Solarion]

Well, I won't be able to test Threadripper until Monday. Got the cpu installed, then the board in my case, and the cooler doesn't mount to it. AMD had it as compatible, but it's not going to work until corsair makes a bracket for it, as the included of I Threadripper doesn't work with the h115i.

I have to wait until Monday now for my new cooler (the NZXT Kraken X62) to arrive 🙁

Bummer, but definitely let us know how it goes. I'm still stacking parts for my build while soaking up new info. Did you end up going with the g.skill memory kit you linked to in the OP? Seems memory selection doesn't matter nearly as much for TR as it did Ryzen 7 at launch as most of the kinks seem to be worked out, but I'm still trying to figure out what works best and what is to be avoided. Also curious to see how that AIO does to tame the heat. I'm going with an open loop myself and just got in a monster 420mm radiator that looks like I'll need a hammer to pound it into the Enthoo case. ;p

You may want to lighten up on wccftech, just a bit. They were spot on with their speculation in this case. The 7980XE will in fact have a base clock of only 2.6Ghz. I can't imagine people will be lining up to buy that thing for $2k when it seems unlikely to have much of an advantage on the competition's flagship HEDT chip that costs half as much. At any rate it's going to be an interesting next few months in the peecee industry.

It would also appear that I was spot on with Threadripper's overclocking and performance. Threadripper wont go over 4.1ghz and single threaded performance will lag behind intel. But you don't buy Threadripper for single core performance. Threadripper is an amazing CPU and an amazing value even if it cost 1k.

We'll definitely see them over 4.1Ghz all core. In fact one of the reviews had a 1920x close to 4.2Ghz already and it seems likely 1900x's will reach up that high and maybe a bit higher when you consider fewer cores are easier to overclock. Plus water blocks that actually cover the thing are going to be widely available within a couple weeks. Peace.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Amd/comments/6spjt7/ek_confirm_42ghz_easily_attainable_on_threadripper/

 

[liberty610]

Well, I won't be able to test Threadripper until Monday. Got the cpu installed, then the board in my case, and the cooler doesn't mount to it. AMD had it as compatible, but it's not going to work until corsair makes a bracket for it, as the included of I Threadripper doesn't work with the h115i.

I have to wait until Monday now for my new cooler (the NZXT Kraken X62) to arrive 🙁

Bummer, but definitely let us know how it goes. I'm still stacking parts for my build while soaking up new info. Did you end up going with the g.skill memory kit you linked to in the OP? Seems memory selection doesn't matter nearly as much for TR as it did Ryzen 7 at launch as most of the kinks seem to be worked out, but I'm still trying to figure out what works best and what is to be avoided. Also curious to see how that AIO does to tame the heat. I'm going with an open loop myself and just got in a monster 420mm radiator that looks like I'll need a hammer to pound it into the Enthoo case. ;p

You may want to lighten up on wccftech, just a bit. They were spot on with their speculation in this case. The 7980XE will in fact have a base clock of only 2.6Ghz. I can't imagine people will be lining up to buy that thing for $2k when it seems unlikely to have much of an advantage on the competition's flagship HEDT chip that costs half as much. At any rate it's going to be an interesting next few months in the peecee industry.

It would also appear that I was spot on with Threadripper's overclocking and performance. Threadripper wont go over 4.1ghz and single threaded performance will lag behind intel. But you don't buy Threadripper for single core performance. Threadripper is an amazing CPU and an amazing value even if it cost 1k.

We'll definitely see them over 4.1Ghz all core. In fact one of the reviews had a 1920x close to 4.2Ghz already and it seems likely 1900x's will reach up that high and maybe a bit higher when you consider fewer cores are easier to overclock. Plus water blocks that actually cover the thing are going to be widely available within a couple weeks. Peace.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Amd/comments/6spjt7/ek_confirm_42ghz_easily_attainable_on_threadripper/

I did go with the G. Skill ram. And I also found out my h115i WAS able to be used. No one at Corsair told me the bracket that was on it was removable. So now, I have to wait until Monday when the NZXT cooler gets here, because I already sent back the Corsair cooler. Between the ordering issues I have had with Amazon this week, and now this.... I am ready to unplug for a while.

 

[Solarion]

Update:

I feel really freaking stupid....

http://www.corsair.com/en-us/blog/2017/august/threadripper-installation

LOL

Well...don't. 😛

AMD Ryzen Threadripper: CPU and Cooler Installation
By Chris Stolze, on August 10, 2017 02:18 AM

Frankly, cooling options was one of the things that wasn't at all clear leading up to launch. I know, I was trying to figure out the best thing to do myself. I settled on a completely inadequate 120mm AIO solution(cheap) to get it up and running and to test parts as they come in while I wait out the inbound onslaught of water blocks, get everything set up and tested.

Good call on the g.skill, seems to be the go to choice for most. I was going to do the same until I found some super cheap Corsair on amazon and pounced. Then they dinked around for three days without shipping it, lowered the price, I cancelled and re-ordered at the lower price, then they shipped it. lulz

 

[liberty610]

So, another question/issue has came up. I noticed that my original G, Skill ram set was actually NOT on Gigabyte's official memory support list. I mis-read it. So I went ahead and ordered a new kit that, as of the time I placed the order, was ON that list. I went right to Gigabyte's site, downloaded the support list, and then copied a different G. Skill model number and did a google search.

This is the kit I picked up, which just got delivered to me today:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MSBS0UT/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This kit is faster then my current kit, and has the RGB theme the rest of my stuff has. Great! However, I noticed the other day that the memory support list was no longer listed on Gigabyte's website. It was gone. I didn't think much of it at first, but when I went back today to look, it was there. So I decided to take a look at it, and now, the kit that I knoq 100% for certain was on that support list, is no longer there.

So, I am probably being paranoid here, but how important is it for the ram to be on the support list? Does it make a big difference? Because I always try to buy ram that's on the list. I have in the past bought kits not on the list, but they where for older setups ages ago. If it is not a huge deal, I will more then likely keep this new kit, as it is faster then my original.

Thoughts?

Sorry for all the questions guys. I am just having a terrible streak of luck with this build ha.

 

[Solarion]

I think it's less important that it appears on the QVL for threadripper than for Ryzen, as hitting 3200Mhz hasn't seemed to be a problem.

The new kit is most likely SK Hynix chips with those timings. If that's the case then we're both in the same boat, as the Corsair I have for my own threadripper build has the same speed and timings.

 

[liberty610]

So I should be okay then? I see XMP is an option in my bios for the Threadripper build. Does that work the same as it does for the Intel processors were you just clicking on and you're good to go?

Thanks for the replies man! I really do appreciate all the feedback and help!

 

[Solarion]

Yep, works the same as long as your memory and motherboard support it.

If you dig around on the internetz a little bit you'll find out which chips those dimms use, and probably in short order. Like I said, the timings don't look like Samsung, so you're probably Hynix or Micron. Armed with that information you can look at other memory that uses the same chips for your chosen board. If they work then you're probably fine, but like I said, most of the Zen memory kinks have already been worked out for us threadripper owners by the Ryzen 7 trailblazer that came before. Bless their hearts. lol

 

[liberty610]

Yep, works the same as long as your memory and motherboard support it.

If you dig around on the internetz a little bit you'll find out which chips those dimms use, and probably in short order. Like I said, the timings don't look like Samsung, so you're probably Hynix or Micron. Armed with that information you can look at other memory that uses the same chips for your chosen board. If they work then you're probably fine, but like I said, most of the Zen memory kinks have already been worked out for us threadripper owners by the Ryzen 7 trailblazer that came before. Bless their hearts. lol

Haha, wasn't that nice of them to work out most the bugs for us? Haha

I'll do some digging around and see what i find on those Ram dimms. Thanks for the info .I keeping learning a lot here, and I find it all fascinating ha.

With Threadripper being new, how often should I consider BIOS updates? I see my board's current BIOS version on Gigabyte's website has changed several times the past week already. When i first looked, it was version F2f. Now, it's up to to F2j. I read a lot that if your system is stable as it is, not to gamble on BIOS updates, but I have also heard that you should always run the latest updates?

I am assuming with Threadripper being so new, it will be a trial and error thing and I will want the latest because of performance improvements with the architecture?

 

[Solarion]

Most of the BIOS updates are probably still related to improved RAM compatibility. I'd say if you get your ram running at rated speed or more then probably take your time flashing new updates as they come along. Sometimes you just end up breaking what wasn't broken to begin with.

I noticed Gigabyte added the 4x8GB 3466Mhz version of the same Corsair sticks I have going into my build. That gives me at least some hope I'll be able to hit 3466Mhz with them, but time will tell. They did run out of gas exactly at 3466 when I tested them in an MSI Z270 board. I suspect we're probably using the same memory chips for our builds.

Edit: Google says we're both on SK Hynix A-Die dimms.

https://www.google.com/search?q=F4-3200C16Q-32GTZR+hynix&oq=F4-3200C16Q-32GTZR+hynix&gs_l=psy-ab.3...10976.13206.0.13477.8.8.0.0.0.0.328.653.3-2.2.0.foo%2Cersl%3D1%2Cfett%3D1%2Cewh%3D0%2Cnso-enksa%3D0%2Cnso-enfk%3D0.3..0...1.1.64.psy-ab..6.1.320...0.-dsta7LqR1w

Almost surely the same Hynix chips used in this g.skill kit:

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231930&cm_re=F4-3200C16Q-32GTZB-_-20-231-930-_-Product

That kit also appears on Asrock's QVL for the x399 Taichi:

http://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/X399%20Taichi/index.asp#Memory

They appear to be double sided sticks, so you'll probably not be able to reach 3600, but 3400/3466 may be do-able with some tinkering.

 

[liberty610]

Nice.

Are you using the gigabyte aorus gaming 7 X399 board? If so, I have a couple of tidbits for you.

That particular board is the one that I went with. And tonight I finally got my build started to where it's booted up into test mode. If you are going to install Windows 10 Pro on this board, for the time being you need to make sure that you are not connected to the Internet when you install windows. If you are connected to the Internet, windows will install generic drivers for the internal Wi-Fi card and land card. This will cause a system crash every single time you go to boot up into Windows. I have my windows account locked down with a password. Every single time that I put in the password to boot into Windows it would either crash instantly or it would crash shortly after it booted onto the desktop. Error code netwtw04.sys

I was able to get it to boot up into safe mode without any issues. So I called gigabyte tech support, and they told me To download the LAN and Wi-Fi drivers off of their website and install them within safe mode. The issue went away afterwards.

However, just before I shut down for the night I started to get another crash that after looking it up on the Internet appears to be related to gigabytes utility software app to install their apps such as RGB fusion. It appears that every single time I try to turn on the RGB fusion app, I crash. That error code is gdrv.sys

I looked up the code on the Internet and it is apparently tied to the gigabyte software and some way shape or form. I will be making another call to gigabyte tomorrow to see if they can shed some light onto it for me.

 

[Solarion]

Nope, I went with the MSI Carbon board, cuz in stock & cheap. Sounds like you got a whole lot of fuss over some not quite ready software.

Now get that ram clocked up to 3200Mhz and stability testing. Memory test loops are probably all my rig will be doing for the first 24hrs of life.

 

[liberty610]

For your sake, I really hope you don't have any issues with your MSI board. When I first got my 6800k, I got the x99 gaming pro carbon. The first board had a USB issue I battled with for 3 days and had to send it back. Second board stated dying shortly after I got it, to where my second and 3rd PCI slots wouldn't work with my capture cards. MSI had be believing it was driver issues, but it was the board.

I RMAed that board, and had my Gigabyte board overnighted, not one issue after that. MSI Took over a month to process the RMA. When they returned it to me, I just tossed it up on eBay.

I am going to turn on the xmp profile today after work. I ran prime 95 for a little bit last night to get the temps up a little and get the thermal paste spread as best as possible. I didn't take the temps into consideration yet, as it wasn't in the case, nor did I have the nzxt software installed to control the pump/fans. But running them on normal with the cpu at full load with prime 95, the temps peaked at around 68c after a good half hour.

What do you suggest I run to test ram and what not? I wanna make sure she is a stable as possible, so I'd like to run some tests on it for sure. I have never really overcooked anything but a gpu before. Ram I just used xmp. So what could I do to push the team to see how it runs?

 

[Solarion]

Thanks for the headsup. I've had several MSI boards over the years, mostly positive experiences, but quality does seem to have gone downhill a bit vs the competition of late. Hoping the x399 isn't a lemon, but we'll see. If I hate it for whatever reason it won't be around long, this system will see a whole lot of 100% load time. I do like that the MSI is the only ATX form factor x399 board to offer 8+8 EPS power connectors, plus the VRM heatsink looks nothing like the silly toy MSI foolishly chose to stick on the x299 Carbon. The VRM sink on the x399 is a beast that's probably tall enough to mess with giant air coolers(Noctua). That sink will end up less than a centimeter from the business end of a 140mm Fractal Venturi HP fan when I get everything setup.

https://i.imgur.com/8HuNjAG.jpg

Windoze memory diagnostic for starters, but I like to torture new sticks with memtest for at least a few hours. ...I'm mean that way.

https://www.memtest86.com/download.htm

Also a good idea to give your mem config a good dose of memtest when you think you've got a stable overclock. It can still make it through memtest and crash the second you launch an app, but it's a good starting point to validate a given memory config.

 

[liberty610]

Thanks for your response. I have Memtest86, but I am sure it is an older version. I never really tested my PCs with things like that before. But with threadripper, I really think I need to just because of the new chip sets and Ryzen still being new.

My motherboard has ANOTHER Bios update for version f2 update. Last night I installed F2j, Today they have F2k. Should I be updating to these because of Ryzen being so new? I guess the latest update has something to do with AGESA 1.0.0.3 Patch which I read has something to do with Ryzen CPUs and how it runs the processes? The updated BIOS also says it has "Improve memory compatibility".

 

[RobCrezz]

Yeah new platform, so keep ontop of bios updates. Made a huge difference when Ryzen 7 was first released.

Also, burn in for thermal pastes isnt needed. Modern pastes (except AS-5 which should be avoided), dont require any curing.

 

[liberty610]

I'll keep on the bios updates then. Thanks for the tip.

Artic 5 is what I have currently. Not on my cool right now, I just used the pre-applied paste on the NZXT cooler. Why should it be avoided? I thought it was one of the better ones?

 

[RobCrezz]

Its just an old formula. Theres much better ones these days that require no curing, and perform better while being just as cheap (like MX-4 for example).

 

[liberty610]

Awesome. Thanks for the info. I read here on Tom's in an article that for AIO coolers there is one that performs the best, and I can't remember what it is called now. I'll have to go back through my threads and find it. Grizzly something or other? Idk. I can't remember.

Did you happen to read a couple replies up about my Threadripper build issues last night? I got the first one figured out, but the latest after I installed some of my software was a BSOD with error code gdrv.sys

I looked it up online, and it has something to do with Gigabyte software somewhere. Not sure which one, but it kind of makes sense because I remember getting the crash when i was trying to launch the Gigabyte RGB Fusion app from Gigabyte's Utility software. In order for me to do anything with the LED lights on my board, including turn them off, I have to install the Gigabyte Utility app and then the RBG Fusion app.

The utility app by itself doesn't seem to cause any issues. But when I Launch RGBFusion, it says 'one moment please' and then BSOD with that error code comes up. From what I remember, that is how the crash happened twice last night. I have been booted up and installing apps, posting on here, ect for the last 45 minuets without any issues. Thinking about launching the RBGFusion and seeing it it crashes again....

 

[Solarion]

New sticks should always be put through the ringer imo. Dud sticks can hide out for quite awhile causing seemingly random crashes here and there, meanwhile your window to easily return/exchange them for non-dud memory sticks closes little by little. Better to find out about a lemon straight away.

Probably we'll be seeing "AMD Generic Encapsulated System Architecture"(AGESA) updates for awhile yet, mostly to improve memory compatibility with the wide variety of kits out in the wild. Updating every time a new one shows up is up to you. For myself it will depend on whether or no my memory does at least rated speed/timings out of the box and whether or no there are other problems that can be addressed via BIOS update. If everything is working right, then I'd probably be hesitant to mess things up without a compelling reason.

 

[liberty610]

Right on. Well, I solved the RGB Fusion crashing issue. That's taken care of.

When you do Memtest, do you test all the dimms at the same time?Or do you do them one at a time?

 

[Solarion]

Good deal, glad you're getting it all worked out. I'm dreading RGB and LED issues with my own gear. I set out to avoid all that junk, but still ended up with a board that has "mystic lighting" whatever that is, and DIMMs that have red LEDs on them. Though truth told, I did think the RAM was rather kewl looking. I had fears that the LEDs would be brutally bright, but they're rather...dare I say it...understated?

When spanking new, I do one standard pass each with each stick and then load them all up for sustained torture. This way you get an idea of how well their heat spreaders function and whether available airflow through your case will suffice. Good sticks of RAM can survive to see numerous builds if you treat them right. The vast majority of the hundreds of GBs I've bought over the years ended up in a desk drawer or in a give away computer, due to obsolescence, but they still worked fine 10+ years after purchase.