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AMD sTRX4 TRX40, TRX80 HEDT Motherboard Selection Guide for Video Editors
  • This is very short and on point guide for selecting ATX board for your Threadripper build.

    TRX40 chipset diagram

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    AMD moved to PCIe 4.0, almost ell else is downgrade from x399, for example it removes 4 PCIe lines going directly from CPU to SSD and reroute them to chipset.

    It is ZERO reason to put 8 PCIe lines (and they are v4.0!) to such bad chipset and with CPU having so much PCIe lines by itself.

    If you look at this you will see how mighty is CPU, but how shitty is AMD TRX40 chipset.

    In reality it is even less features and more restrictions than consumer X570 one. But this allows AMD to get huge profits,

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  • Processors we are looking for

    Both 1st and 2nd gen Threadripper CPUs are not compatible to new chipset, it is made intentionally to reduce Threadripper sales, as AMD is not interested to sell you CPU at all - they better sell EPYC.

    Prices are also extremely high for very low manufacturing cost.

    Ryzen Threadripper, 3rd gen

    • 3960X model, MSRP $1399 real price now $1399 at ...
      • 24 cores/ 48 threads
      • 128MB Cache
      • Base Frequency - 3.8 Ghz
      • Boost Frequency - 4.5 Ghz via XFR
      • 280 Watt TDP, real TDP on heavy load around 350-380W (requires good water cooling!)
    • 3970X model, MSRP $1999 real price now $1999 at ...
      • 32 cores/ 64 threads
      • 128MB Cache
      • Base Frequency - 3.7 Ghz
      • Boost Frequency - 4.5 Ghz via XFR
      • 280 Watt TDP ,real TDP on heavy load around 380-400W (requires good water cooling!)
    • 3980X model, MSRP $2999 real price now $2999 at ...
      • 48 cores/ 96 threads
      • 256MB Cache ?
      • Base Frequency - 3.2 Ghz
      • Boost Frequency - 4.2 Ghz via XFR
      • 350 Watt TDP ,real TDP on heavy load >450W (requires very good water cooling!)
    • 3990X model, MSRP $3999 real price now $3999 at ...
      • 64 cores/ 96 threads
      • 256MB Cache ?
      • Base Frequency - 3.0 Ghz
      • Boost Frequency - 4.0 Ghz via XFR
      • 350 Watt TDP ,real TDP on heavy load >450W (requires very good water cooling!)

    All CPU models above have:

    • Quad-channel DDR4 memory controller with support of ECC
    • 64 PCIe 4.0 lanes. x8 go to chipset, x48 lanes for multiple GPUs, x8 for I/O, see diagram above.
    • Support for all enchanted instruction sets up to AVX2
  • DDR4 DRAM

    Will add selecting guide soon.

  • Temperatures

    Lot of TRX40 boards run extremely hot if you use overclocking, especially for 48/64 core CPUs.

    Main reason for this is fewer and simpler and cheaper VRM and also bad heatsinks being just slab of aluminium made be designer without any fine fins.

    Heatsink designs

    In present day it is frequently designers who make heatsinks even for HEDT motherboards.
    They are made for looks, and not to be efficient in their real function.

    More coming soon.

  • Storage and GPU capabilities:

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  • List of all TRX40, TRX80 ATX sized motherboards

    Red - something not good or missing feature.
    Blue means - ok or average.
    Teal - above average.
    Green - really good for us.

  • ASRock

    TRX40Creator

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    • $214 at https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16813157861
    • 6x phases CPU VCC, ISL69147 PWM controller, ISL99227 60A integrated Smart Power Stage for each phase
    • 2x phases SOC VCC, ISL69144 PWM controller, ISL99227 60A integrated Smart Power Stage for each phase
    • Two parts designer made alu heatsink with heatpipe.
    • 3 PCIe 3.0 x16
    • 3 slots PCIe modes - x16/x16+x16/16+x16+x16
    • 1 M.2 (PCIe 3.0 x4 & SATA3), located right below first hot GPU slot
    • 1 M.2 (PCIe 3.0 x4 & SATA3 ), located lower on the board
    • 1 M.2 (PCIe 3.0 x4 & SATA3 ), located lower on the right side of the board
    • 8 x DDR4 DIMM Slots
    • Realtek ALC1220 Audio+ NE5532 Amplifier
    • Intel I211AT Gigabit LAN
    • Dragon RTL8125AG 2.5 Gigabit LAN
    • Two USB 3.1 Gen2 ports, A and C type, using x399 chipset
    • No USB 3.1 Gen2 front panel connector
    • 8x SATA ports
    • 128Mb BIOS Chip

    TRX40 Taichi

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    • ? at https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16813157785
    • 8x phases CPU VCC, IR35201 PWM controller, IR3555M 60A integrated PowIRstage for each phase
    • 3x phases SOC VCC, IR35201 PWM controller, IR3555M 60A integrated PowIRstage for each phase
    • Two parts designer made alu heatsink with heatpipe.
    • 4 PCIe 3.0 x16, 1 PCIe 2.0 x1
    • 4 slots PCIe modes - x16/x16+x16/16+x8+x16/x16+x8+x16+x8
    • 1 M.2 (PCIe 3.0 x4 & SATA3), located right below second hot GPU slot
    • 1 M.2 (PCIe 3.0 x4 & SATA3 ), located lower on the board
    • 1 M.2 (PCIe 3.0 x4 & SATA3 ), located lower on the right side of the board
    • 8 x DDR4 DIMM Slots
    • Realtek ALC1220 Audio+ NE5532 Amplifier
    • Intel I211AT Gigabit LAN
    • Intel I211AT Gigabit LAN
    • Two USB 3.1 Gen2 ports, A and C type, using x399 chipset
    • No USB 3.1 Gen2 front panel connector
    • 8x SATA ports
    • 128Mb BIOS Chip
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  • ASUS

    ROG Zenith II Extreme

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    • $? at https://www.newegg.com/
    • 16x phases for CPU VCC, IR35201 PWM controller, Infineon TDA21472 Power Stage for each phase
    • 3x phases SOC VCC, IR35204 PWM controller, IR3578 integrated PowIRstage for each phase
    • Two parts proper heatsink with heatpipe and lot of fins. Two fans for active cooling on second part.
    • 4 PCIe 3.0 x16, 1 PCIe 2.0 x1
    • 4 slots PCIe modes - x16/x16+x16/16+x8+x16/x16+x8+x16+x8
    • 1 M.2 (PCIe 3.0 x4 & SATA3 ), located in hot area under first GPU slot.
    • 1 M.2 (PCIe 3.0 x4 & SATA3 ), located in hot area under second GPU slot
    • 1 M.2 (PCIe 3.0 x4 & SATA3 ), located lower on the board
    • 8 x DDR4 DIMM Slots
    • Realtek S1220 Audio+ ESS9018Q2C DAC
    • AQUANTIA AQC107 10 Gigabit LAN
    • Intel I211AT Gigabit LAN
    • Two USB 3.1 Gen2 ports, A and C type, using ASMedia controller
    • Has USB 3.1 Gen2 Type C port front panel connector via x399 chipset
    • 8x SATA ports (4 of them via ASMEdia controller)
    • 2x128Mb BIOS Chips

    ROG Strix TRX40-E

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    Prime TRX40-Pro

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  • Added photos and product links for all released boards.

    Full marked specs will be added soon.

    Notice how PCEe x16 slots are located for all except few boards - it is done to prevent competition with higher end boards coming (do not allow installation of 4 GPUs or larger cards).

  • ASUS ROG Zenith II Extreme Alpha

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    16-phase CPU VRM with Infineon TDA21490 power-stages (90A), instead of TDA21472 (70A) power-stages on the original ROG Zenith II Extreme.

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