Question 1

Is this more powerful than the 3990x? If so, by how much exactly?

Accepted Answer

Yes, significantly. This CPU has 64 cores and 128 threads, in multicore processes it should get up to more than double the performance. It is not the best for gaming though, mostly because games are often locked to a single core or to another certain amount. Minecraft is a perfect example of this, it only uses a single core and that is why so many computers struggle greatly with it. If you plan on using this for heavy workloads, then buy it, it is simply the best CPU for workloads currently on the market. If you want to game with it, well... good luck my friend, it will struggle to run most games at a decent FPS with it's 2.7GHz clock speeds.

Question 2

what is the max memory available for this cpu?

Accepted Answer

2TB theoretically, 1 TB practically

Question 3

what is this for?

Accepted Answer

As a power user, I'd say a system based around ghis CPU is made for general purpose, highly parallel, modest speed processing with high memory requirements.  Maybe video editing, special effects, 3D rendering of architect or scientific models, CAD for drafting or highly detailed mechanical drawings, static image editing of massively high resolution, GIS or astronomical or other automated processing of large numbers of large images, surveillance systems with real-time AI processing and filtering, CS research into efficiency of various algorithms, build and test server for a code farm, database intensive applications, content generators, video and audio encoding, large program builds like OS, C/C++-libraries, browsers, maybe running a small server farm (though less energy efficient and less compact although probably still an option).  Maybe some games can take advantage of parralel programming design, but probably not.  It's not like a mechanical engine where more cylinders generally means more power or more speed.  More cores means more tasks can be done at the same time so there is less time waiting on blocking processes to complete.  More responsive apps if they take advantage of asychronous programming and multi-threaded design or parallelization or concurrency techniques.

Question 4

What's a good cooler for this CPU?

Accepted Answer

My personal bias, though not an endorsement: I prefer air cooled if possible and I like Noctua as a brand.  I have not tested, but Noctua does appear to have a few HSF kits marked as compatible, with many requiring a free mounting kit by contacting support.  Otherwise, find a liquid cooling solution.

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