So there is "no path to operation", and no way to convert a Threadripper to an Epyc CPU. In further investigations late last week der8auer bought a new retail 1950X CPU (EUR 1000) and then ground the surface off the four dies to see the silicon structures inside (see above). He concluded that "there is no such thing as a dummy die" as all four looked the same and appeared to contain eight processor cores. Der8auer went on to guess that AMD would therefore one day release a 32 core Threadripper.

Since the extra two dies didn't look like 'dummy' dies or simple structural slabs of silicon, as had previously been indicated, AMD's dummy die assertion was brought into question. Thankfully, to address the confusion AMD's James Prior, Tweeted and responded to a query or two this weekend.