In April 2018, AMD launched its Ryzen 2nd Generation processors and completely blew the first generation out of the water in terms of performance, becoming the best processors you can buy in 2018. But, what about the high-end Ryzen Threadripper CPUs that put Intel on the Core X defensive in 2017?
Well, we’re expecting to see that follow-up in the second half of this year.
With AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2nd Generation, similar to the move from Ryzen to Ryzen 2nd Generation, we’re expecting a huge leap in performance – from better power management to higher clock speeds. This is thanks to the move to the same 12nm Zen+ architecture used in the recent Ryzen 2nd Generation processors.
And, at Computex 2018, we finally got a glimpse of what Ryzen Threadripper 2nd Generation has in store. AMD teased and benchmarked an incredible 32-core, 64-thread processor live during its keynote.
Just a week later, this nuclear processor would appear again as the rumored Ryzen Threadripper 2990X. This beast, according to a leak, rocks 32 cores in a single chip – and it’s apparently capable of 4.12 GHz. We don’t know when it’s coming out, but we can’t wait to get our hands on it.
There is still plenty to be revealed though, so be sure to keep this page bookmarked – we’ll keep it updated with any Ryzen Threadripper Generation 2 news that comes our way.
Cut to the Chase
What is it? AMD’s next generation of high-end desktop CPUs
When is it out? Rumored for Q3 2018
What will it cost? Hopefully around the same price as the first generation
Ryzen Threadripper Generation 2 release date
Thanks to some information shared by AMD at CES 2018 and some new information at Computex 2018, we know that Ryzen Threadripper Generation 2 CPUs will be releasing some time in the second half of 2018. AMD said that we can expect the beastly 32 core Threadripper chip shown at Computex 2018 in Q3 2018.
And, in an interview with Forbes, Jim Anderson, Senior Vice President and General Manager of AMD, said that we can assume to get another three CPUs for the high-end – the same as the first generation of Ryzen Threadripper.
The original line of Threadripper CPUs launched in August 2017, and seeing as Ryzen 2nd Generation CPUs released on April 19, 2018 – just one month later than the March 2017 release date for the first gen – we expect to see the Ryzen Threadripper Generation 2 launch date to fall in line this September or later.
Ryzen Threadripper Generation 2 price
We don’t have much concrete information on the pricing of Ryzen Threadripper Generation 2, but we can still speculate based on the pricing of Generation 1. And, we can also look at the difference in cost from AMD Ryzen to AMD Ryzen 2nd Generation.
The prices of Threadripper are as follows, and we don’t think Threadripper Generation 2 is going to be wildly different:
Ryzen Threadripper 1950X: $999 (£845, AU$1,359)
Ryzen Threadripper 1920X: $799 (£689, AU$1,069)
Ryzen Threadripper 1900X: $549 (£384, AU$629)
Ryzen Threadripper Generation 2 specs
Luckily, it looks like AMD is planning on staying with the same TR4 Socket for a while, according to a report from Anandtech, so anyone looking to upgrade once Threadripper Generation 2 drops shouldn’t have to worry about buying a new board. However, just as they did with Ryzen 2nd Generation and the X470 chipset – we’re expecting to see a new chipset for the new Threadripper chips that will optimize performance and power consumption.
More than likely, older motherboards will also need to be updated with a new BIOS that also may require you to boot them with an original Ryzen Threadripper CPU.
Initially we were expecting Threadripper Generation 2 improvements to follow in the footsteps of the improvements to Ryzen that led to the fantastic Ryzen 7 2700X. However, what we actually saw at Computex goes way further.
Because Ryzen Threadripper Generation 2 is using the same microarchitecture as the first generation, we thought we’d just get some higher clock speeds and better efficiency. We didn’t think we were going to get higher core counts. But, not only did AMD introduce a Threadripper chip with more cores, it showed off a 32-core behemoth at Computex. And, we’ve also seen a leak that suggests it doesn’t end there.
According to one early, unconfirmed report, AMD flagship 2nd generation Threadripper has 32 cores and 64 threads. What’s more impressive is that the CPU is apparently capable of running a 4.12GHz clock across all the cores. That’s insane. Some may point out that the 28-core processor that Intel showed off at Computex hit 5GHz, but we’re still not 100% sure of the particulars (i.e. cooling setup) surrounding that demo.
AMD didn’t share any information regarding clock speeds or even a model name, but we’re going to go ahead and assume that it’ll be the flagship Threadripper Generation 2 processor – which means we’ll be getting 2 more.
As for what the other chips are going to look like, your guess is as good of ours, especially now that AMD completely shattered our expectations. But, keep coming back to this page – we’ll update it as soon as we hear more information.
Best In-Ear Headphones Buying Guide: Welcome to TechRadar’s round-up of the best earbuds and earphones you can buy in 2018.
As much as we’d love to stay home and listen to music using our pristine umpteen-watt floor-standing speakers, at some point, we have to leave home.
But just because you’re heading out for the day doesn’t mean you have to leave exceptional sound quality at your doorstep – a great pair of in-ear headphones (or earbuds) can contend with some high-end systems and cost a lot less.
Not only are the best pairs of in-ear headphones ultra-comfortable to wear for extended periods of time, but newer models can be completely wire-free and support Hi-Res audio codecs like LDAC and aptX HD.
That being said, our list of the best headphones are routinely tested to ensure they’re still the best in the business. We’re looking for pristine sound quality, convenient features and bullet-proof build quality at a price you can afford.
While you won’t find any discount-bin headphones on our list, you can rest easy knowing that the headphones you see below are durable, long-lasting and sound (for the most part) out-of-this-world. As we review more models this list might change from month-to-month, which means you can expect that you’re getting the best headphones on the market at any point and any time you buy them.
Can’t decide which type of headphones to buy? Check out our guide video below!
The best earbuds and in-ear headphones of 2018:
1. 1More Triple Driver In-Ear Headphone
Your search for great sounding, good value headphones ends here
After spending a few weeks with both the 1MORE Triple Driver in-ear headphones and the 1MORE Quad Driver in-ear headphones we were blown away at just how much value each one gave in their prospective price ranges.
For $100 (£100, about AU$168), it’s hard to think of a better sounding and built headphone than the 1MORE Triple Driver. That said, if you want just that little extra refinement and luxury materials, the 1MORE Quad Drivers are still a bargain at twice the price.
There’s very little we can fault the Triple Drivers for. Their rubber cable is annoying and its remote control feels cheap but these are just nitpicks. But, for their price, it’s impossible to do better than 1MORE’s Triple Driver in-ear headphones.
Good sound is subjective, yes, but there are things that we can all agree on that make a headphone sound good: Bass should be tight and impactful, highs detailed but not harsh, and mids that are smooth like honey.
Most headphone manufacturers shoot for these specs, but what if you want a little more bass or want to increase the energy of the highs? For most headphones, your only option is to mess with equalization. But RHA has a different idea.
The RHA T20i is an excellent sounding pair of in-ear headphones with a neat party trick: customizable filters. These filters thread into the headphone housings and let you choose from Bass, Treble, and Reference. Each filter makes an audible impact and are easy to swap out on the go.
As a package, the build quality, sound, and customizable filters make the RHA T20i a must-have for audiophiles on the go. In fact, they sound so good, they made us want to give up our wireless headphones.
If you have the money for some truly spectacular in-ears, the Creative Aurvana Trio are well worth their $249 (about £180, AU$300) sticker price. They’re darn comfortable, sound great and offer extreme clarity in nearly all areas of the audio spectrum. If $249 feels a bit too far out of your price range at the moment but the idea of a triple driver headphone sounds appealing, you should probably stick with our first choice, the 1MORE Triple Driver Headphones.
OnePlus is most known for its “flagship killer” phones like the OnePlus 6, but the company also makes headphones – the best example of which are the company’s excellent Bullets in-ears.
For $70 (£70, about AU$124), the OnePlus Bullets Wireless offer an incredible value in the neck-bud headphone category. Sure, true wireless headphones are en vogue now, but tethered wireless headphones offer better battery life and signal strength for much less money.
NuForce knocked it out of the park with the BE Sport3 headphones. They’re an incredible value for a pair of wireless headphones that sound good, last all day, have a bulletproof build and incredible noise isolation.
While they’re not the most dynamic or resolving headphones, NuForce shows us that the future of wireless headphones is a bright one.
If you want a pair of high quality truly wireless earbuds that aren’t the Apple AirPods, then the Jabra Elite 65t should be at the top of your list.
After spending over a month with them, we came away impressed with the well-rounded package that Jabra managed to create: The earbuds offer a subtle, mature look and a reliable wireless connection, which isn’t always the case with truly wireless earbuds. Plus, they sound great compared to the competition.
While the Jabra Elite 65t are easily one of the highest scoring true wireless headphones we’ve reviewed, there are a few others on the market worth considering: If you want a pair of exercise earbuds, there’s the Jabra Elite Sport which has a higher water resistance and handy sports-oriented features. For audiophiles who don’t mind stretching the budget, the active noise cancelling Sony WF-1000X are an excellent choice. Bassheads will want to try the SOL Republic Amps Air.
If you only have the budget for one of these, though, go for the Elite 65t.
If you have a tendency to lose or break headphones but still value sound quality, it’s hard to think of a better value than the RHA S500u.
These headphones have no business sounding so good for the price: Sound quality is balanced with a slight mid-bass bump. Bass is slightly emphasized but not egregiously and features good impact while maintaining good control. And highs, while sibilant at times, makes music sound more exciting.
With the appealing candy apple detailing, Sennheiser gets you in the door. But once you’re in, you’ll stay for the killer sound quality that comes from the Momentum In-Ear earphones.
These are the among the best deals in the headphones market as it stands today. The company has a version available for each flavor of mobile OS –Android and iOS – so everyone can get in on the goodness.
More expensive than the Triple Drivers, but More powerful too
Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 18.5 g | Cable length: 1.25 m | Frequency response: 20 – 40,000Hz | Drivers: N/A | Driver type: Dynamic | Sensitivity: 99 dB at 1KHz | Impedance: 32 ohms | Battery life: N/A | Wireless range: N/A | NFC: N/A
Beautifully balanced sound
Luxurious build quality
Remote controls work on
Cheaper sibling is better value
They’re expensive, but the 1MORE Quad Driver in-ear headphones are worth every penny. 1MORE hit it out of the park with this flagship pair of in-ear headphones with its balanced sound build quality, smartphone compatibility and price. These in-ear headphones will make mobile audiophiles very happy.
The only reservation that we have is that the Quad Drivers face tough competition from 1MORE’s own cheaper Triple Driver sibling which costs half the price (which sit pretty at the number one spot on our list).
In terms of value, the 1MORE Triple Driver headphones are the winner but for those who want just a bit better build and more detailed sound, the 1MORE Quad Driver headphones are worth the extra money.
While they can’t quite top other in-ears like the exceptional1MORE Triple Driver or RHA’s T10i, Optoma’s NuForce HEM6 does bring a lot to the table. Namely, that includes a great-sounding – and ultra-comfortable – pair of headphones.
So, why are they so far down the list?
While the NuForce BE Sport3 strikes the perfect balance between performance and price tag, the HEM6 skews a bit towards the expensive side without offering enough of a difference in performance to warrant the sticker price. That’s not to say these are a bad pair of headphones – they’re quite the opposite – it’s just that we feel there are better values out there in the headphone world.
Is your Windows PC running a little slowly? It’s not your imagination: over time hard drives accumulate all kinds of things that slow things down. PC optimization software can’t solve obsolescence – if your computer is struggling to meet the system requirements for your OS or apps that’s a job for more RAM or the addition of an SSD – but if the slowdown is software-related, it can really help.
It’s worth noting that you can do much of what these PC optimization apps do yourself using Windows’ built-in system maintenance tools, but that’s time consuming; what’s really being sold here is convenience.
Enjoy a faster, cleaner PC with the best free PC optimization tool around
Iolo System Mechanic removes junk files and unwanted apps, blocks bloatware and unwanted auto-run settings, clears out RAM and wipes various logs, browser histories and caches.
Not only does this free up key system resources, it also eliminates traces of your browsing activity to protect your privacy.
Its PC optimization toolkit really does make a difference; whenever we’ve tested System Mechanic we’ve found a significant speed improvement, especially at startup. The free edition is excellent, but the two premium versions – System Mechanic and System Mechanic Pro – are well worth considering if you find yourself using it regularly – and Iolo is offering a 70% discount with the voucher code TECHRADAR.
The genuine performance boost we saw after running System Mechanic made it our favorite system optimization tool. Read on for four more of the best apps around for speeding up your Windows PC.
A hands-off approach to optimization that’s ideal for novice users
IObit Advanced SystemCare comes in two forms: a free edition version that covers basic house cleaning, and a Pro version that adds internet speed-boosting, real-time optimization, privacy protection, deep registry cleaning and 24/7 technical support. That’s US$20 (about £15, AU$25) for a year, and the license covers three PCs.
Whichever edition you choose, IObit Advanced SystemCare’s interface is well designed, easy to use and unlikely to frighten even the newest PC user. We’d deduct points for an installer that wants to add additional programs – that’s hardly in keeping with the philosophy of keeping unwanted stuff off your computer – but they’re easy to avoid if you choose a custom installation.
Like most of the free PC optimization software here, it cleans up files and folders you don’t need, neatens up the Windows registry and corrects errors on your hard drive – all via a simple, slick dashboard.
Eliminate unnecessary files, clean the registry and manage programs
Piriform CCleaner has been around for a long time, and part of the reason for its ongoing popularity is that it cleans the parts of your PC that many other free system optimization tools don’t.
There’s a paid-for version of the optimization toolkit that adds real time protection and cleanup scheduling, but the free edition of CCleaner covers the important stuff such as removing temporary files, getting rid of browser caches, removing unwanted cookies while keeping the useful ones and so on.
If your PC just feels sluggish then this is the app to try first. It doesn’t have all the advanced features of apps like System Mechanic, but the stuff it does clear is famous for slowing down PCs.
A fast, thorough scanner plus a suite of well designed maintenance tools
Ashampoo WinOptimizer 2018‘s biggest selling point is its flexibility – you can scan for junk files, broken registry entries and browser cookies with a single click, and erase them all with one more.
Alternatively, you can dive deeper by selecting the ‘Details’ button to review the results of your scan one by one. Unlike some PC optimization tools, Ashampoo WinOptimizer gives you a full description of each issue it’s identified, explaining exactly what it is, and why you should consider removing it. You can then make an informed decision about whether to erase or keep it.
WinOptimizer also includes a suite of ‘modules’ for routine maintenance tasks like defragging hard drives and optimizing startup processes. These are all tasks that could be accomplished within Windows itself, but having them all in one location is much more convenient than trawling through menus.
(In case you’re wondering, Ashampoo takes its name from this optimization software, which cleans your PC ‘like a shampoo’.)
Designed to help gamers wring extra performance from their PCs
If your system struggles when you’re trying to get your game on, Razer Cortex: Game Booster could well be the answer. This free PC optimization software suspends unnecessary system processes, clears out memory and defrags your system to get the very best game performance possible.
Razer Cortex: Game Booster is available for Windows 7, 8 and 10, and while the differences won’t make you jump up and down in astonishment – for most people the results will mean slightly smoother visuals rather than astonishing performance improvements – it does automate the fiddly process of turning off unnecessary software and services when it’s time to play.
