Sorry for absence guys, too busy with life. Here are some quick answers to lately asked questions above:
My benchmarks scores are lower with faster memory, how is this possible?
More stress on memory controller, now integrated into IO die with 3rd gen Threadrippers, competes for strict power limit of stock 280W with 3 to 8 core dies. This is most visible with 3990X which has 8 + 1 architecture.
If you find this to be issue, you can manually rise the PPT limit higher a bit.
Less or higher capacity modules (I.e 4x32GB), vs more of lower capacity modules (i.e 8x16GB)?
Always the former. Less stress on MC, higher stability for faster kits, and option to upgrade in future!
In terms of memory quality, it goes like this: Samsung B-Die (No 32GB modules exist!), Micron Rev-E (32GB modules are the latest and fastest, only from Crucial), Hynix CJR (32GB modules sold by G.Skill and Corsair, regardless of heatsink they mostly feature the same binning).
256GB Configurations have issues to be stable at 3600 CL16 on most boards except Zenith II ALPHA. That's ok, because it doesn't affect much at all. Just run 3200/3466.
I have boot issues, Q-Code 40
Make sure to disable fast-boot options in Windows 10. Also hybernate/sleep.
I have very varying frequencies
This is Corona related. Some scenes are more demanding than others, could also be plugin related.
I have very weird CPU utilization
I suspect Corona as well. I installed one of dailies in past month and my 100perc. smooth utilization instantly went to jumpy 100-50-100-50-100.... Reverting to main release solved the issue. I am not testing dailies anymore :- )
It's quite possible that Windows 10 updates (and accompanying chipset drivers) create some interference but still...should be something Corona should test.
I have very high idle temps with 3rd gen Zen chips
This is natural result of dense 7nm node. It's completely ok and expected. You can improve this at expense of some performance latency by running more balanced power profiles in Windows, but such profiles are also in bios, those affect stock power limits.