Question Recommended 4U CPU Heatsink For Threadripper Pro 3995WX or 5995WX (64 Core/280 W)

[TryingToVirtualizeStuff]

Hello,

My company is building a 64 core Threadripper Pro (3995WX (or 5995WX if our system builder can get the CPU on launch day)), and I was curious what air CPU heatsink you would all recommend?

The case for the system will be the following Supermicro chassis : https://www.supermicro.com/en/products/chassis/4U/747/SC747BTQ-R2K04B

...which includes optional rack rails, and will be oriented horizontally (in a rackmount configuration + plus I'll be adding an additional Supermicro rear fan kit (https://store.supermicro.com/mcp-320-00046-0n-kit.html) for additional air cooling).

Unfortunately, the system will be running 24/7 and in a lab for many years with extremely expensive hardware, so a water cooling setup is not allowed, as a leak would result in $100,000 to $200,000 of damage (plus we all work remotely - and no one wants to be responsible for having to drain a custom loop).

I've seen some system builders (like Puget Systems):

https://www.pugetsystems.com/parts/...64AP4-4U-Heatsink-for-AMD-TR-Pro-14058#advice

...recommend the Supermicro SNK-P0064AP4 (which lists a supported TDP of 280W):

https://store.supermicro.com/4u-active-amd-epyc-snk-p0064ap4.html

...which is perfect (given that it fits in a 4U case, and was qualified by Supermicro to work), but when I actually asked Supermicro themselves, they recommended the following heatsink:

https://store.supermicro.com/4u-threadripper-amd-heat-sink-snk-p0066ap4.html

...which lists a supported TDP of 80W (plus the picture is of a CoolerMaster CPU heatsink).

Note: After speaking to a Supermicro representative, they stated that the SNK-P0066AP4 is indeed the CoolerMaster Wraith Ripper (which I’m certain won’t be able to handle a 64 core 280W CPU running 24x7 very well). Also, they stated that the listed socket and TDP were wrong on their site (which is pretty concerning coming from Supermicro).

For now I think the 280W SNK-P0064AP4 is my best option (as a larger Noctua won't fit in the 4U case), but just wanted to check with someone else if they had a recommendation.

I also recently found the following 300W SP3 cooler Freezer 4U SP3:

https://www.arctic.de/us/Freezer-4U-SP3/ACFRE00081A

…which might fight in a 4U chassis (as some 4U chassis have a motherboard tray that causes the Freezer 4U SP3 not to fit - I personally don’t know if the Supermicro chassis has a motherboard tray, so I’m not certain if it will fit).
Furthermore, there’s nothing as far as real review data of the Freezer 4U SP3 (other than a single youtube video - where the presenter was unable to fit the Freezer 4U SP3 in his 4U chassis (with a motherboard tray)).

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Nelson

 

[Lutfij]

Given how you need reliability and that the product is certified from the brand you're going to be sourcing parts from, due to the nature of your build, I'd side with the one cooler that check all the boxes, being the one by Supermicro. Getting any other cooler would mean trail and error which might very well mean down time.

 

[TryingToVirtualizeStuff]

Given how you need reliability and that the product is certified from the brand you're going to be sourcing parts from, due to the nature of your build, I'd side with the one cooler that check all the boxes, being the one by Supermicro. Getting any other cooler would mean trail and error which might very well mean down time.

Hello Lutfij,

Do you mean the original Supermicro cooler (that Puget Systems is using) or the secondary cooler they recommended (the Cooler Master Wraith Ripper)?

I agree that the Supermicro cooler used by Puget Systems (SNK-P0064AP4 ) is what I'm leaning towards, but with the Wraith Ripper, we have multiple reviewer data points pointing to the Cooler Master not being able to handle the 32 to 64 core Threadripper CPU's.

In that particular case, I don't think it would be prudent to go with Supermicro's recommendation, because I'm not certain whether they tested the Wraith Ripper with 64 core or 16 core Threadrippers (as there's a big difference between the heat generated by both).

Furthermore, were they using the old gen Threadrippers (with a more centralized die layout), or newer gen Threadrippers (with a more wider/more separated die layout), as there's also a big difference between the heat distribution between the two (which results in coolers not designed for the newer Threadrippers, doing quite a bit worse)?

Thanks again,
Nelson