A threadripper build??! in this economy??

TL;DR

A high-end Threadripper workstation was built for Linux kernel maintainer Greg Kroah-Hartman, prioritizing silence, longevity, and AMD hardware.

Key Points

• 1.CPU & GPU: AMD sent a 64-core Threadripper CPU and a Radeon AI Pro R9700 with 32GB VRAM (essentially a 9070 XT with double the VRAM) at no cost to the builder.
• 2.Case & Cooling: Fractal Torrent chosen over the ASUS ProArt case for its compact size and shipping durability; cooled by an Arctic 4UM tower cooler (AIO skipped for long-term reliability over ~10 years).
• 3.Storage: Dual-drive setup using an 800GB Intel Optane P5800X (PCIe Gen 4, lowest latency available) for OS/fast access, paired with a Kioxia CM7 NVMe for high-speed bulk storage.
• 4.Motherboard: ASUS TRX50 Sage Wi-Fi A chosen for better memory cooling layout and dual DisplayPort-in, enabling optical Thunderbolt cable runs for remote desktop/USB extension.
• 5.Memory dilemma: Currently has four borrowed 96GB DDR5 DIMMs ($2,500 each) it can't give away; final config will likely be 256GB using 64GB DIMMs — the only readily available option.
• 6.Why not Threadripper Pro? Double the DIMM slots means double the heat and airflow demands, plus sourcing 8-channel memory is difficult — the non-Pro 64-core still compiles the Linux kernel extremely fast.