Chinese YouTube channel Geekerwan put the nearly $12,000 AMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro 9995WX workstation processor through its paces with an impressive DIY liquid cooling system. It features a CNC-machined integrated heat spreader (IHS), automotive-grade cooling components, an industrial chiller, and a 140-liter water reservoir.
IHS modifications are nothing new in the world of computer hardware. We've previously seen similar transformations on processors such as Core i9-14900KSHowever, the Ryzen Threadripper Pro 9995WX is a completely different beast in every sense of the word. This flagship Zen 5 workstation processor is not only significantly larger than a typical consumer chip, it also features a more complex chiplet design and requires additional engineering effort for cooling.
Behind every successful project are countless hours of preparation. In Geekerwan's case, it took numerous trials and errors, as well as thermal modeling, to develop the perfect heat spreader (IHS) design for the Ryzen Threadripper Pro 9995WX processor.
Rather than risk removing the cover of a $12 processor, Geekerwan approached Tony Yu, CEO of Asus China, to loan out an IHS for research. The team acquired several old Ryzen Threadripper 1900X processors and used them to test various microchannel designs to determine the most efficient design.
The first challenge was determining the optimal microchannel depth. Since the Ryzen Threadripper Pro 9995WX's IHS is 0,6 mm thicker than that of the Ryzen Threadripper 1900X, the microchannels needed to be slightly deeper. Geekerwan used a precision 0,3 mm CNC mill to cut ultra-thin cooling fins measuring 0,15 mm thick and spaced 0,3 mm apart. The result is a high-density design that maximizes thermal transfer.
The team tested 1,5mm, 2,0mm, and 2,5mm deep slots on the Ryzen Threadripper 1900X processor's heat spreader, achieving temperatures of 82,1, 81,2, and 80,4 degrees Celsius, respectively. The logic behind this was that deeper slots improve cooling efficiency, but excessively deep slots could compromise the heat spreader's structural integrity and increase the risk of it deforming under water pressure. Therefore, Geekerwan settled on a 2,0mm depth to maintain at least 2,1mm of heat-dissipating surface area for a safety margin.
The next challenge was choosing a microchannel design. Straight microchannels are the industry standard, but Geekerwan's computer simulations revealed a more successful design. Since the designer planned to use industrial components for the cooling system, the fluid velocity and pressure logically had to exceed those of conventional liquid coolers. Using wave-shaped S-shaped microchannels significantly increases the heat dissipation area—up to 20%.
Testing of the Ryzen Threadripper 1900X processor showed a temperature improvement of up to 1,2 degrees Celsius using wave-shaped microchannels compared to straight ones. The design development from concept to implementation was grueling. It took 19 hours of work on a Taikan T-700S CNC machine and the destruction of 14 delicate 0,3 mm-thick milling cutters to prepare the Ryzen Threadripper Pro 9995WX for production. The result is a beautiful array of 100 fins of varying lengths on the heat spreader of the $12,000 processor.
The water block also required careful analysis. The Ryzen Threadripper 1900X and Ryzen Threadripper Pro 9995WX have different designs. The two CCDs (core clusters) in the Ryzen Threadripper Pro 9995WX are located on the edges of the chip, unlike the CCDs in the Ryzen Threadripper 1900X, which are grouped in the center. Due to the specific chiplet design and crystal placement, Geekerwan had to rethink the water block design.
Instead of using a traditional dual-tube water block, Geekerwan tested an alternative four-tube configuration on a Ryzen Threadripper 1900X processor. In this system, two central inlets supply liquid, which is then discharged through two side outlets. This design ensures even heat dissipation between the two CCD blocks. The results were impressive: temperatures dropped by 5,1 degrees Celsius compared to dual-tube designs.
Geekerwan overclocked the Ryzen Threadripper Pro 9995WX to 5325 MHz. In idle mode, the chip consumes approximately 176 watts, while its temperature remains below 5 degrees Celsius. The liquid temperature inside the cooling loop was around 2 degrees Celsius, so heat transfer from the 96-core chip to the water tank was very effective. During Cinebench 2024 and Cinebench 2026 tests, the processor consumed approximately 1340 watts, while core temperatures fluctuated between 30 and 50 degrees Celsius. The entire system consumed just over 1700 watts.
The performance boost from these modifications was, naturally, significant. The Ryzen Threadripper Pro 9995WX at 5,3 GHz demonstrated up to 18% higher multi-core performance compared to the standard Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO) settings, which clocked the cores at around 4,8 GHz. In global overclocking rankings on HWBot, Geekerwan's overclocked Ryzen Threadripper Pro 9995WX placed 7th in Cinebench R23, just slightly behind the Ryzen Threadripper Pro 7995WX running on liquid nitrogen at 6,2 GHz. In Cinebench 2024 and Cinebench 2026 tests, the Zen 5 processor took third and second places respectively, behind the Ryzen Threadripper Pro 9995WX with a frequency of 5,7 GHz and the Xeon 698X with a frequency of 4,9 GHz.
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Source: 3dnews.ru
