AMD's new super CPU can run Crysis - no graphics card required
Last week saw the launch of AMD's latest big daddy CPU: the 64-core Threadripper 3990X. This thing is so beefy, it can run Crysis - no GPU required.
Before we even get into the weeds of this story, it's worth pointing out that the Threadripper 3900X is some serious, hardcore kit. It's not designed for video games. In truth, this is the sort of CPU that will be used for huge, difficult processing tasks in business and enterprise. The reviews, as gathered by PCWorld, generally indicate that it's great for those tasks. It has an almost $4000 price tag to match.
That doesn't mean it isn't fun to see what it can do in the world of video games, though, and that's exactly what tech YouTuber Linus Tech Tips has done, giving it the classic PC benchmark task: running Crysis.
The fact that this CPU can run Crysis at all is pretty shocking. This isn't some integrated GPU (iGPU) work - this is Crysis running entirely in software on the Threadripper 3990X. The CPU cores are doing the same calculations and work that a GPU might typically do. Even on a GPU this expensive and powerful, it's impressive - even though the game is running with caveats galore, chugging as it loads in new geometry.
We won't be reviewing the Threadripper 3990X as it's way outside of our remit and we don't reckon any of you are nuts enough to spend $4000 on a CPU not designed for gaming - but if you want to know what CPUs and GPUs we do recommend for PC gaming, check out the VG247 Gear List.