Apparently, AMD is now using thermal paste between the heat spreader...?

Only in 2 out of many.

Of the Ryzen CPUs used in PCs and HTPCs, only 2 (the $170 Ryzen 5 2400G and $100 Ryzen 5 2200G) use thermal paste. Those two Ryzens are the ones with the GPU built into the chip.

All the other Ryzens used in PCs and HTPCs, both the 1000 series and upcoming (in April) 2000 series 4 core to 16 core, cheap to expensive use solder to maximize cooling for overclocking.

So, in summary, there will only be 2 Ryzens (ones with GPUs built in) with paste.

I just finished building a Ryzen 5 2400G HTPC. It overclocks easily. But, with standard cooling, it tends to overheat during a "stress test". I have my "thermal paste" Ryzen 5 2400G set to 4GHz all cores all the time.

Right now, I plan to buy one of the April 2000 series (probably a Ryzen 7 2800X) myself and overclock it.

This is merely a "leak" -- not confirmed information. So, I won't say more -- other than it was a combination of increased clocks and increased efficiency.

The new Ryzen 2000s are coming in April. I plan to buy one. I'm hoping for 5 or 10 percent increase in efficiency per clock. We'll see.

Disclaimer: No way will anyone "see" such a small CPU improvement while playing a game. Only a fanatic (like me) would buy a new CPU for such a small improvement.

Of course, they're talking about both Nvidia and AMD. I assume prices will be high until at least 2019. I hope I'm wrong.

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In general, higher memory speed (up to at least 2700MHz in my testing -- and maybe 3200MHz according to some reports) makes a measurable difference with Ryzen CPUs and APUs -- including the new Ryzen 5 2400G APU. That was NOT the case with the older FX series AMD CPUs.

So, with my two Ryzens (soon to be three), I shoot for 3200MHz (easy with 8GB or 16GB and harder with 32GB -- be sure to look up what memory your MB supports).

More of the same from the financial market analyzers.

Good for AMD and Nvidia bottom line. Not fun for many gamers. I notice the formerly roughly $550 list price custom RX Vega 64 is now $1200 at Newegg (but, hey, its on special sale -- sale ends Monday).

I'm an AMD fan because I've been following CPUs and GPUs since the mid 1970s (when I invented and built my first desktop from individual integrated circuits and wire and solder and etc.) -- and I've seen that the competition is "shady". I don't knowingly support "shady".

Dell (a really big name at the turn of the millennium) was making these types of statements a decade and a half ago, when AMD actually had the best CPUs. Later, it was proven that Intel was paying Dell "under the table" to only use Intel. One article back then noted that Dell's total profits for one year was equal to the amount Intel paid under the table that year. At that time Dell said nice words but never used an AMD CPU in a Dell product (to the detriment of their unknowing customers).

However, the lack of good AMD publicity from Dell and others, kept average-customers (who don't constantly read about and study the industry) thinking that Intel was best. Nope, it was only the most expensive.

Ultimately, there was an over $1 Billion settlement in AMD's favor. I'm not sure its been paid yet. That type of thing really set AMD back at the time. They never got the business they earned (by product quality). They had to sell their chip making facilities just to stay in business. This set their research back. Ultimately, Intel CPUs caught up and passed AMD technically (though AMD still had bang per buck). AMD trailed Intel technically -- until now -- now, they've caught up technically (and still have bang per buck).

But, Dell and Intel keep on "giving" -- to each other. And, I see by the above article the "press" sees it too.

Ryzen 7 2000 series CPUs next month. Higher clocks. Hopefully, higher instructions per clock also. I plan t get one (assuming they are not overpriced).

Bitcoin (cryptocurrency) has crushed the Gamer GPU market. So, if there is a slightly interesting Cryptocurrency story, it may show up here (abbreviated to the salient points).



The servers may be sold by the thieves to others willing to buy stolen goods, or perhaps used by the thieves themselves to mine bitcoins (articles speculate).

Original AP Article

Regarding Intel 8700K FPS being 7% faster than AMD's second best Ryzen 2700X -- honest of AMD to show that. I note that the performance is very similar in most games but Intel wins by a larger margin in some -- so the average is 7 (on the slide shown). Both Intel and AMD have plenty of FPS showing. I would expect the Ryzen 7 2800X to close part of that 7% gap -- when/if it is released. Also, many games/apps are optimized for Intel architecture -- I imagine that may have caused the somewhat larger gaps in some games.

Apparently, all this is based on leaked (presumably not Fake) AMD slides. You can see them all here:

Full Leak Article

Of course, we don't really know until the products are released and independently tested. So far, no Ryzen 7 2800X -- it figures -- I'm waiting for that one.

AMD Threadripper and Ryzen CPU Roadmap for next few years. Confirms that newer CPUs will still work on the older motherboards (though newer MB will have added MB features).



Also, development will follow Intel-like "tick tock" approach.

The attached indicate the general direction and the timings.

No Ryzen 7 2800X showing.

Apparently, Nvidia is "under the table" again. Since this affects the "Future and Current Status" of AMD in the marketplace, its noted here. However, this is not a "bash Nvidia" (or Intel) thread, so just linking the lengthy article.



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Unless the foregoing is proved in court, folks have no obligation to believe it or act on it.

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The new information is the confirmed April 19 launch.

Some sites have them listed for pre-order. The attached price/performance lists from today's articles duplicate/corroborate what's been posted here to date -- not new information.

Article With Lots of Performance Graphs

A review article was accidentally published (they say) and removed. However, Videocardz says they grabbed it before it disappeared.

Claiming 10+ percent improvement in benchmarks over the 1000 series (assuming its not fake news).

Since they are claiming "value" in an environment of rising prices, the selling price will be interesting. I'm expecting it to be high.

I notice we've had a couple double peaks in Bitcoin. Ethereum shows a similar trend.

The double peak at a recent historic high is sometimes a sign of a long-term "crash" in price -- for "traded" items like stocks and cryptocurrency.

Cryptocurrency prices falling to their true value would help drive down GPU prices (obviously). A hopeful sign, but nothing is assured.

"GeForce Partner Program" (GPP) news:



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Again, this is not the "bash Nvidia" thread. Rather, its about the "Future" of AMD and AMD branded products.

The foregoing impacts the "Future" of AMD and the naming that Gamer's will see when they go to buy. The lack of "high end" name-branding (e.g. AORUS) on AMD products will turn off some buyers who are unaware of the GPP.