Socket TR4 socket: CPUs, chipsets and cooler fit
Socket TR4, also known as Socket SP3r2, is AMD land grid array socket for Ryzen Threadripper 1000 and 2000 processors. It has 4094 contacts in a 58.5 by 75.4 mm package with a carrier frame. The socket launched on 10 August 2017 with Whitehaven and carried Colfax in 2018 with up to 32 cores.
Quick facts
| Maker | AMD |
|---|---|
| Package type | LGA |
| Contacts | 4,094 |
| Package size | 58.5 × 75.4 mm |
| Introduced | August 2017 |
| Status | Legacy |
| Memory | DDR4-2933 ECC, four channels |
| PCIe from the CPU | 64 PCIe 3.0 lanes from the CPU, plus chipset lanes for extra I/O |
| Cooler mounting holes | Board specific (TR4 heatsink) |
| Replaces | None |
| Replaced by | None |
Overview
Boards pair TR4 with DDR4 ECC memory up to 2933 MT per s in four channels. The X399 chipset adds SATA and USB beside 64 Gen3 CPU lanes for GPUs and NVMe. Quad channel bandwidth feeds rendering and compilation threads across many cores.
Like every large LGA socket, TR4 trades mainstream simplicity for expansion. Chips swap within the board support list, cooling is part of the HEDT chassis with large air or liquid, and buyers choose core count with GPU and memory as one system. When designs need more than 32 cores, sTRX4 Threadripper 3000 takes over on a new socket instead.
Processor generations
| Codename | Marketing name | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whitehaven | Threadripper 1000 series | 2017 to 2018 | First generation Threadripper with up to 16 cores, launched in August 2017 on Socket TR4 with X399. |
| Colfax | Threadripper 2000 series | 2018 | Second generation Threadripper with up to 32 cores and 12 nm Zen+, launched in August 2018 with 2950X and 2990WX and extended in October 2018 with 2920X and 2970WX on Socket TR4. |
Chipsets for Socket TR4
X399 HEDT
The HEDT chipset for Socket TR4. Boards accept Whitehaven and Colfax parts with a BIOS that lists the part.
| Chipset | Segment | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| X399 | HEDT | HEDT chipset for Threadripper 1000 and 2000 with quad channel DDR4 and 64 CPU PCIe lanes. |
A large LGA HEDT socket
Socket TR4 follows the HEDT rule: the processor sits in a large LGA socket with flat pads against spring contacts, held by a carrier frame with three screws. Unlike soldered BGA packages, the chip can be swapped for another Threadripper where the board BIOS lists it. The 58.5 by 75.4 mm package needs careful handling with the carrier during installation.
The socket choice shapes the workstation more than buyers expect. TR4 needs an X399 board with quad channel DDR4 layout and power delivery rated for 180 W to 250 W parts. Colfax WX parts with 24 and 32 cores ask for the strongest power stages. Compatibility depends on firmware that lists the exact SKU.
Memory, expansion and cooling
Memory on TR4 is DDR4 ECC in four channel layouts up to 2933 MT per s. Matched sets across eight slots give full bandwidth for rendering. Capacity planning should precede board orders, since large RDIMM kits dominate many builds.
Expansion comes from 64 CPU Gen3 lanes plus X399 chipset lanes. Quad GPU and multi NVMe arrays split lanes per board design for content creation. Boards that need more than the CPU offers use chipset lanes for SATA and USB.
Cooling has no single retail answer at 180 W to 250 W. Large air with full coverage cold plates or custom liquid loops suit different chassis. Even mounting pressure through the carrier frame matters more here than on small desktop sockets.
Where TR4 designs are used
Socket TR4 covers HEDT workstations from 2017 through 2018: 3D rendering, video editing, software compilation and virtualization labs with single socket simplicity. The Colfax stack scales from 12 core 2920X parts to 32 core 2990WX flagships in one socket. Vendors qualify memory kits per board for quad channel speed.
Mainstream desktops use AM4 with fewer lanes and channels. TR4 stays the HEDT home of Whitehaven and Colfax with X399. The Socket vs chipset: what decides whether a CPU works guide covers why HEDT compatibility lives in board vendor lists.
CPUs on Socket TR4
7 processor pages in the database, newest first.
| Processor | Cores / threads | Base / boost | TDP | Launched |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2920X | 12 / 24 | 3.5 / 4.3 GHz | 180 W | Oct 2018 |
| AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX | 24 / 48 | 3.0 / 4.2 GHz | 250 W | Oct 2018 |
| AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X | 16 / 32 | 3.5 / 4.4 GHz | 180 W | Aug 2018 |
| AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX | 32 / 64 | 3.0 / 4.2 GHz | 250 W | Aug 2018 |
| AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1900X | 8 / 16 | 3.8 / 4.0 GHz | 180 W | Aug 2017 |
| AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920X | 12 / 24 | 3.5 / 4.0 GHz | 180 W | Aug 2017 |
| AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X | 16 / 32 | 3.4 / 4.0 GHz | 180 W | Aug 2017 |
Frequently asked questions
Which processors fit Socket TR4?
Threadripper 1000 Whitehaven and Threadripper 2000 Colfax, including 2920X, 2950X, 2970WX and 2990WX. TR4 is also known as SP3r2 but is electrically incompatible with server SP3 and with sTRX4.
Is TR4 the same as SP3 or sTRX4?
No. TR4 is physically identical to server SP3 and successor sTRX4 but electrically incompatible. Notches and pinouts prevent cross use.
What memory does TR4 use?
DDR4 ECC UDIMMs and RDIMMs up to 2933 MT per s in four channels. ECC is supported for workstation reliability.
How many PCIe lanes does TR4 provide?
64 PCIe 3.0 lanes from the CPU for GPUs and NVMe, plus chipset lanes for extra I/O. Boards split lanes between multiple graphics slots and M.2 arrays.
Sources and verification
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .