AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X can run Crysis without a GPU
It’s not really playable, but it is a huge milestone for CPUs.
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What you need to know
Anyone who was into PC gaming in the late 2000’s will tell you the importance of being able to run Crysis. It was the benchmark for PC graphics even years after it came out, sporting the most detailed visuals and impressive physics modeling for its time. Now in 2020, a new reason to revive the old mantra has arisen: can CPUs run Crysis? That benchmark has finally been met with the advent of the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X, the first CPU that can play Crysis without a dedicated GPU.
TheLinus Tech Tipschannel on YouTube took the new Threadripper for a spin in a series of tests and, to see just how advanced AMD’s insane new 64-core CPU is, loaded up Crysis in software mode to see how well it performed. The results weren’t just surprising, they were record-setting. While Crysis won’t run anywhere near as smooth on the Threadripper as it will on any modern GPU, it’s important to note that CPUs simply aren’t built for this kind of gaming. That’s what makes it so impressive that the Threadripper 3990X can run Crysis so well.
While there’s a bit of hitching, stuttering, and periods of generally unplayable framerate, dedicated gamerscouldactually play through significant parts of the game just to prove a point. That’s good becausethe Threadripperwill cost you a pretty penny at $3,990 and leave little room for an expensive GPU, as well.
You’ll also need a more expensiveWindows license, as only Windows 10 Pro for Workstations or Windows 10 Enterprise has the ability to fully utilize all 128 threads on that processor. It’s pretty clear that if you want the very best the market has to offer, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X is the processor to get.
This processor packs 64 cores, 128 threads, and has a max base clock of 4.3GHz. It also supports NVMe RAID so you can combine up to six NVMe disks.
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Nick started with DOS and NES and uses those fond memories of floppy disks and cartridges to fuel his opinions on modern tech. Whether it’s VR, smart home gadgets, or something else that beeps and boops, he’s been writing about it since 2011. Reach him on Twitter or Instagram @Gwanatu
