Chipmaker AMD has slashed the prices of its Ryzen 7 chips before the Threadripper launches this summer.
For the uninitiated, the Threadripper chip series is a forthcoming set of Zen-based desktop processors that will be built on an "all-new HEDT platform," sporting up to 16 cores and 32 threads. It was announced during AMD's 2017 Financial Analyst day, around the same time as the Computex conference in Taiwan.
AMD Ryzen 7 Chip Price Cuts
With the recent price cuts, the Ryzen 7 1800X now only costs $450, as opposed to its original $500 price tag; the Ryzen 7 1700X, on the other hand, now only costs $350 instead of $400; and finally, Ryzen 7 1700 now only costs $315 rather than $330. Generally, these aren't steep discounts, sure, but probably steep enough for those on the fence about purchasing one.
The company's Ryzen 7 lineup has only spent three months in the market, yet AMD has already announced price cuts. No surprise there, of course, as AMD has done similar moves in the past — but it's still a punch to the gut for those who have just recently upgraded. Still, the move is a feat of strategic timing to clear the way for the Threadripper lineup this summer.
That said, given how the Ryzen 7 chips represent a compelling performance bargain when compared with Intel Core processors, the price cuts couldn't be better news for those on the prowl for new chips. For those deciding between Intel's Kaby Lake chips and AMD's Ryzen 7 chips, the price cuts will definitely factor in your decision-making now, with the outcome possibly leaning toward AMD's favor.
AMD Ryzen 9 Threadripper
Again, the price cuts seem to be in the favor of the Ryzen 9 Threadripper chips, which should be hitting shelves soon enough. Details about the chips remains slim, but the entry-level Ryzen 9 1955 will reportedly pack 10 cores with a base clock speed of 3.1 GHz, which can be boosted to 3.7 GHz.
The flagship Ryzen 9 1998X chip, on the other hand, will reportedly boast 16 cores and packs a base clock of 3.5 GHz, which can be boosted to 3.8 GHz.
With the launch the Threadripper chips, AMD is also launching the X399 platform, which features 64 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, quad-channel memory, and up to eight memory slots. The Threadripper lineup could also be called simply "Threadripper" instead of "Ryzen 9" to avoid confusion.
The Threadripper lineup is being tipped as chips for the hardcore gaming market, which suggests that AMD hasn't forgotten about that segment yet. AMD has yet to release any information pertaining to the pricing of Threadripper chips, although expect them to be quite expensive given their reported specs. While AMD has only announced a 16-core chip, the company may likely launch more 10, 12, or 14-core variants going forward.
As always, expect due coverage as we learn more details.
Thoughts about the Ryzen 7 price cuts? Would you consider buying a Ryzen 7 Chip now? Any predictions as to the price of Threadripper chips? Feel free to sound off in the comments section below!
