Featured leaker @g01d3nm4ng0 AMD claims they could release not just one, but two motherboard platforms supporting the next-gen Storm Peak Threadripper CPUs, with a workstation platform and an enthusiast HEDT (High-End Desktop) platform. Both platforms have been upgraded to PCIe Gen 5 connectivity, with the HEDT platform reportedly supporting 64 lanes and the workstation platform supporting 128 lanes. As with any leak, take this information with a grain of salt.
The news of AMD’s return to the HEDT market is surprising as they recently discontinued their own HEDT platform with the introduction of the Ryzen Threadripper Pro 5000WX CPUs and moved the entire platform to the ‘Pro’ brand dedicated to the workstation market. We don’t know AMD’s motivation for making this decision, but we suspect that low consumer demand is partly to blame.
It’s no secret that the whole HEDT market is having a good time. When AMD resumed the core count wars in his 2017 (with 1st gen Ryzen), mainstream consumer platforms saw core counts match and even surpass his HEDT CPUs from the previous generation. Beyond that, we saw an unprecedented leap in computing power. This led to mainstream platforms eating up much of his HEDT market. In fact, Intel also pulled out of the market after his Cascade Lake-X.
However, this is not to say that AMD has no reason to re-enter the market. Ironically, AMD would be wise to put their HEDT strategy on the back burner in case they face competition. Months of leaks and rumors suggest that Intel is finally creating his new HEDT platform to succeed his Cascade Lake-X. If Intel implements this plan, it will include reconfiguring Sapphire Rapids/Sapphire Rapids-WS to target the HEDT user base.
AMD Storm Peak September 2023 HEDT: 4 channels, 64 pcie gen5 lanes, 8 pcie gen3 lanes, OCWS support: 8 channels, 128 pcie gen5 lanes, 8 pcie gen3 lanes, no OC for CPU and MEMDecember 19, 2022
The leaker suggests that there are many similarities between AMD’s new HEDT platform and the old HEDT platform. For example, the CPU PCIe capacity is limited to 64 lanes and the platform is limited to quad-channel memory support much like his X399. However, the new platform is purported to include some big upgrades such as PCIe Gen 5 support on all CPU lanes and Gen 3 support for the chipset.
Naturally, the workstation variant will perform similarly to AMD’s current Ryzen Threadripper 5000WX capable motherboards and feature the same 8-channel memory configuration. However, newer platforms upgrade the CPU lanes to PCIe Gen 5.
These two platforms will run AMD’s next-generation Ryzen Threadripper CPUs, reportedly codenamed Storm Peak. We don’t know much about the new chips, but AMD has confirmed that the next-generation Threadripper will be powered by the Zen 4 architecture and will launch in late 2023 or early 2024.
