So, you’re buying a Threadripper CPU, but you’re not sure what to pick up next? We’ve compiled the best options for memory, power supplies, cases and more. Keep in mind your specific use case may require something different; these are just good all-around options to look into:
MOTHERBOARD
Your choice of motherboard will have knock on effects throughout your whole build. Threadripper and Threadripper Pro have different socket orientations, so you’re going to want to make sure you pick up the correct motherboard for your CPU. TRX50 supports both Threadripper and Threadripper Pro, while WRX90 only supports Threadripper Pro. Additionally TRX50 only supports 4 DIMMs, while WRX90 supports 8 DIMMs.
TRX50
For TRX50 we recommend the ASUS Sage TRX50, which has a ton of PCIe connectivity for whatever you want to do. However both the ASRock TRX50 WS and the Gigabyte TRX50 Aero D are also great choices.
All three board support PCIe tunneling (aka Thunderbolt in all but name).
WRX90
For WRX90, your choices are very limited, and of those choices we like both, but we have to give the edge to the the ASRock WRX90 WS EVO. It has two MCIO ports which let you get up to all kinds of storage shenanigans. However the WRXE90 Sage is still a very good motherboard. Gigabyte also makes a server WRX90 motherboard that’s very nice, but it’s not suitable for workstations or enthusiast overclocking scenarios, so keep that in mind.
CASE
The most important thing here is to find a case with high airflow and also enough room for whatever you want to do with your build. The Fractal Torrent is a good all around choice, it has great airflow and two massive fans in the front for even more cooling. Fractal makes other cases that are fit for the job, but you’ll probably want to add your own fans to help keep things cool. If you’re looking for something more enterprise level, the Silverstone RM53 is a great choice, again with plenty of cooling. If you have a choice, go for a mesh side panel; it’ll improve your airflow even more.
PSU
FSPGroup makes a ton of great PSUs, and we specifically recommend their Hydro line. What wattage you go for depends on your use case, but we recommend buying a platinum certified PSU. Remember that Threadripper Pro consumes more power than regular Threadripper, so you might want to grab a 1200W PSU if you’re getting one, while 1000W should be enough for a standard Threadripper.
GPU
Look, I get it. You’re thinking because you’re building a workstation that you need a workstation GPU. Something like a Blackwell RTX 6000, maybe. Well, you don’t. You can get by just fine with a normal gaming GPU like an RTX 5090, or even a Radeon 7900XTX. Unless you’re doing machine learning, you don’t need the gobs and gobs of vram that an RTX 6000 has. However, the GPU you go with will depend on what kind of work you’re doing with your machine. The 5090 is a good all around option, so we’ll recommend that, but be sure to do your research.
MEMORY
Threadripper requires RDIMMs, so your options are a little limited. V-COLOR, Kingston, and GSKILL all have good options. We’re partial to the 96GB 7200 MHz kit from V-COLOR, but like GPUs your choice of memory kits depends on your use case.
COOLING
Like GPUs, there are several good options for cooling. Generally you have a choice between HSF (HeatSink and Fan, aka traditional air cooling) vs AIO (All In One liquid cooling). If you want an AIO, the SilverStone XE360-TR5 is a great option, while the Noctua NH-U14S TR5-SP6 is an ideal HSF cooler. Keep in mind that Threadripper Pro consumes more power and operates hotter, so you’re going to want an AIO or a custom loop solution over an air cooler in most cases.
STORAGE
The Crucial T705 is one of the fastest PCIe Gen 5 SSDs on the market, and it’s our recommendation for storage in just about any machine you can think of. You can set up a bunch of these in a RAID using the ASUS Hyper m.2 card we’ve linked below and be set for almost any storage scenario you’ll encounter.
One thing to keep in mind, all of these recommendations apply not only to last gen Threadripper, but to the current Threadripper 9000 CPUs as well, so feel free to grab a 7000 series Threadripper, they’re great too!
