Rumor: Next AMD Threadripper generation will get 16-core CPU

AMD is rumored to be launching a new Threadripper CPU with 16 cores. This is reported by the developer of the DRAM Calculator and ClockTuner tool on Twitter. It is not yet clear when AMD will introduce its upcoming Threadripper chips.

The information comes from developer Yuri Bubliy, also known as 1usmus. Bubliy puts the rumor in hexadecimal on Twitter. The tweet translates to “Genesis 16 cores.” The upcoming Threadripper platform would be codenamed Genesis Peak. The developer tells VideoCardz that it is specifically a Threadripper CPU, which again uses an sTRX socket. The chip is said to be based on the Zen 3 architecture.

The company released its first Zen 3 desktop processors in the Ryzen 5000 series last year. Between those CPUs is already a model with sixteen cores. The biggest difference between the 16-core Ryzen and Threadripper variants would be the amount of PCIe lanes and memory channels.

The tweet that translates to “Genesis 16 cores.” Image via 1usmus on Twitter

The first two Threadripper generations also featured models with sixteen cores, that is, the Threadripper 1950X and 2950X. However, with the release of the Ryzen and Threadripper 3000 series, AMD discontinued these skus; the Ryzen 9 3950X on the consumer AM4 platform got 16 cores, while the lowest-ranking Threadripper 3960X CPU had 24 cores. The company would thus reintroduce the 16-core sku with the next generation. It’s not yet clear what the model name of Threadripper’s upcoming 16-core CPU would be, as the company is already making a 16-core 5950X in its current Ryzen lineup.

AMD hasn’t revealed any details about its upcoming Theadripper CPUs yet. CEO Lisa Su will hold a CES 2021 keynote on January 12, 2021, where it would introduce its Ryzen 5000 laptop processors, among other things. The company may also show its new hedt CPUs, although that has not been confirmed.