Re:AMD Demonstrates Stacked 3D V-Cache Technology: 192 MB at...
by jrockway on Wednesday June 02, 2021 @12:24PM
(#27370599)
I wouldn't focus too much on the Pro SKU. It has a slower base frequency and boost frequency, with the upside that it has 8 memory channels and supports 2TB of RAM. If you need 2TB of RAM and 8 channels, it's what you need, but quad channel memory is still very good. Most desktop-class machines are still 2 channel.
There is something to be said for the prebuilt workstations from reputable vendors. It shows up in a box, and starts working. I have strongly considered that angle; being a system integrator is tough. If something doesn't work, it's a week cycle time where you find a new part, organize the RMA of the faulty part, etc. and there is a potentially unbounded amount of time spent tweaking. Meanwhile, HP or Lenovo just ships you a computer; they tested it and it works. You pay several thousand dollars for the privilege, but it might be worth it. (And if you want a TR Pro, you have no choice. AMD doesn't sell them to consumers.)
I realized I was looking at several custom-made TR Pro workstations and they of course have a hefty markup on top -- custom cases, custom cooling, pre-added several PCIe NVMe riser cards, plus style price tag I suppose, etc. Should have looked in PC Part Picker indeed.
And yeah, last-gen tech very rarely gets discounted even by normal people who just post ads in local Craigslist-like websites (like OLX). Stuff that's 2 or more generations ago is discounted, but not last gen. Puzzling indeed, especially having in mind that this last gen tech is very soon going to be "two gens ago". Oh well.
As for ECC RAM, I hear you. I was unable to find such anywhere officially but lucked out that one guy in the local OLX was having loads of it but just didn't post the ads due to being very busy (we communicated because of other ads) and then I just bought 64GB ECC DDR3 RAM from him for a home NAS that I am gradually expanding.
I'm definitely very interested in having a TR Pro workstation; started getting sick of Macs and their artificial slowness. I got the iMac Pro and granted, I have it connected to my TV where it plays Twitch streams all day but hell, a lot of stuff on the terminal (that's not Python) just works slower than it does on a meager i3 Linux machine that I have lying around.
So I do want a TR Pro machine but I am very curious about TR 5000. A release is expected in August which isn't that far away. On the other hand, the TR Pro 5000 might take several more months on top. Hmmm. Decisions, decisions. :)