For enthusiasts and overclocking fans, this Skylake processor has become not only a way to bypass Intel's overclocking limitations, but also a real opportunity to get a powerful quad-core Core i7 at the price of a Core i3. In this article we will look at another profitable option for purchasing iron in China.
On AliExpress, Taobao and Ebay you will find many Xeon server chips of the Sandy Bridge-EP and Ivy Bridge-EP generations, which went on sale in 2012 and 2013. At one time, these were one of the most high-tech and productive solutions, which is why such processors were quite expensive. For example, the retail price of the 8-core Xeon E5-2670, which will be discussed below, when ordering a batch of 1,000 pieces was $1,550. Now this model can be purchased for just a few thousand rubles, which is not surprising considering its age.
The presence of six and eight cores in outdated models Xeon attracts computer enthusiasts, and simply all those who want to save as much as possible when assembling system unit. In terms of price, some Sandy Bridge-EP and Ivy Bridge-EP chips are comparable to modern dual-core ones Pentium processors and Core i3 generations Skylake and Kaby Lake, and in terms of productivity multi-threaded applications- With Quad Core i7. Sounds tempting, right? But, as with any adventure related to the purchase of iron in China, there are pitfalls. Therefore, we decided to study this issue in more detail by assembling a productive and inexpensive gaming computer based on the Xeon E5-2670.
⇡ Selection and purchase
The most attractively priced Sandy Bridge-EP models for the LGA2011 platform and Chinese motherboards on the X79 Express chipset are the Xeon E5-1620, E5-1650, E5-2650, E5-2660, E5-2665, E5-2670, E5- 2680 and E5-2690. Finding these chips for sale on sites such as Taobao and AliExpress is not difficult. The most popular options from this list are the 6-core Xeon E5-1650 and 8-core Xeon E5-2670. The first model has an unlocked multiplier. Statistics show that this processor, using high-quality air cooling, can easily be overclocked to 4.3-4.5 GHz. The Xeon E5-2670 does not have such an advantage, but under load all eight cores of the chip operate at a frequency of 3 GHz, which is also not bad. Other server processors no longer look so attractive in the price-performance coordinate system. The Xeon E5-1620 has only four cores, the E5-2650 (~2,000 RUR), E5-2660 (~3,000 RUR) and E5-2665 (~3,500 RUR) chips operate at low frequencies, and the E5- 2680 (~7,500 rubles) will have to be paid extra.
On the same trading platforms full of Ivy Bridge-EP generation Xeon processors. The 10-core Xeon E5-2660 V2, Xeon E5-2670 V2 and Xeon E-2680 V2 seem to be interesting options - they are also compatible with the LGA2011 platform. An engineer Xeon E5-2680 V2, operating with all ten cores loaded at a frequency of 3100 MHz, costs an average of 8,000 rubles. A serial modification of this processor will cost significantly more.
As a result, our choice fell on the Xeon E5-2670 model (~4,000 rubles) with C1 stepping, since this chip costs less than the Xeon E5-1650 (~6,000 rubles), but without overclocking it turns out to be faster in all resource-intensive tasks, using multithreading. Specifications of these processors are shown in the table. For clarity, let's add to the comparison the Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition - the flagship chip among desktop solutions for the LGA2011 platform - and the Core i7-7700, since many sellers on TaoBao and AliExpress like to compare 8-core Xeons with 8-thread Core chips of the sixth and seventh generations.
It is important to understand that Sandy Bridge in 2017 is already considered an obsolete architecture. After its release in 2012, Intel introduced Ivy Bridge, Haswell, Broadwell and Skylake solutions, and when comparing a Sandy Bridge processor with a Skylake or Kaby Lake chip at the same frequency, a modern CPU will be faster by an average of 30%, and this is a noticeable increase. Plus, don’t forget that platforms evolve along with central processors.
| Xeon E5-2670 | Xeon E5-1650 | Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition | Core i7-7700 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform | LGA2011 | LGA2011 | LGA2011 | LGA1151 |
| date exit | Q1 2012 | Q1 2012 | Q4 2012 | Q1 2017 |
| Codename | Sandy Bridge-E | Sandy Bridge-E | Sandy Bridge-E | Kaby Lake |
| Technical process, nm | 32 | 32 | 32 | 14 |
| Number of cores/threads | 8/16 | 6/12 | 6/12 | 4/8 |
| Clock frequency (Turbo Boost), GHz | 2,6 (3,3) | 3,2 (3,8) | 3,5 (4,0) | 3,6 (4,2) |
| Unlocked multiplier | No | Eat | Eat | No |
| Level 3 cache, MB | 20 | 12 | 15 | 8 |
| Built-in memory controller | DDR3-800/1066/1333/1600, 4-channel | DDR3-1066/1333/1600, 4-channel | DDR4-2133/2400, DDR3L-1333/1600, 2-channel | |
| Number of PCI Express lanes, version | 40, 3.0 | 40, 3.0 | 40, 3.0 | 16, 3.0 |
| Integrated Graphics | No | No | No | HD 630 |
| TDP level, W | 115 | 130 | 150 | 65 |
| Price at the time of sale, $ | 1 552 | 583 | 1 059 | 303 |
As you can see, it is very similar to the server Xeon E5-1650. But Intel desktop six-core processors (don’t forget about the existence of the Core i7-3960X), also designed for the LGA2011 platform, have higher clock speeds and more third-level cache: 15 versus 12 MB. In addition, it is worth noting that processors based on the Sandy Bridge architecture do not support the AVX2 vector instruction set.
On sale you can find Xeon with both C1 and C2 stepping - a new version corrects errors in the implementation of VT-d virtualization technology. C2 stepping does not provide any other advantages, but such versions of Xeon cost 800-1,000 rubles more. We have the C1 model at our disposal. This is not an engineering sample, there are full markings on the cover. The FPO (Finished Process Order) number 3135C087 indicates that the processor was manufactured in week 35 of 2011.
This article discusses the option of purchasing not only central processor, but also the motherboard with the kit random access memory. The fact is that it is not easy to find a cheap motherboard based on the X79 Express chipset from a well-known manufacturer on Avito and other flea markets. There are options, but for a “worn” board of the GIGABYTE GA-X79-UD3 level they are asking 13-15 thousand rubles. People are not shy about offering crazier options. Fortunately, enterprising Chinese quickly figured out how they could organize sales of old Xeons, and at the same time earn extra money. Therefore, simultaneously with server CPUs of the Sandy Bridge-EP and Ivy Bridge-EP generations, inexpensive motherboards from little-known or completely unknown manufacturers are being traded. It is this combination - Xeon, “some kind of X79 motherboard”, DDR3 registered ECC memory - that is the most advantageous offer to date. Chinese boards work easily with regular RAM modules, but register memory kits on AliExpress and Taobao are cheaper and allow you to save additional money. In addition, sellers sell packages that immediately include one or another Xeon Sandy Bridge-EP, a motherboard and RAM (almost always register memory).
As with any product purchased abroad, there are pitfalls. Buying computer equipment abroad is always a risk, and even more so in the case of such platforms as AliExpress and Taobao. Firstly, we contact unverified sellers, and the presence of a rating system only helps partly. Although sellers promise 100% performance of the hardware, no one is immune from deception, defects, or substitution. Secondly, there is no official warranty for such components, and the seller’s warranty, even if it is provided, will not be easy to use. Thirdly, after sending, there comes a tedious wait for the order, during which you can only hope that the Russian and Chinese post offices will not lose or break the parcel. In most cases, everything works out, but, as Forrest Gump said, shit happens.
It is more profitable to buy a processor, board and memory on the Taobao site - this is a kind of AliExpress for our own people (for the Chinese). Nobody bothers you to use the services of third-party “purchasing” services. The cost of Chinese motherboards for the LGA2011 platform, which we will talk about later, on AliExpress is noticeably inflated for unknown reasons. But the prices for the processor and RAM are quite tolerable.
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Many sellers sell goods both individually and as a set. In the second case, it’s simply more convenient - the package will contain everything you need and upon receipt you can immediately begin assembling the PC.
| LGA2011 | LGA1151 | AM3+ | LGA1151 | LGA1151 | LGA1151 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Pentium G4560 | AMD FX-8320E | Intel Core i3-6100 | Intel Core i5-7400 | Intel Core i7-6400T (QHQG, L501C679) | |
| Motherboard | H110 Express | AMD 760G | H110 Express | H110 Express | Z170 Express | |
| Memory | 2 × 8 GB DDR3-1600 | 2 × 8 GB DDR4-2400 | 2 × 8 GB DDR3-1866 | 2 × 8 GB DDR4-2133 | 2 × 8 GB DDR4-2400 | 2 × 8 GB DDR4-2133 |
| Price | 14,000 rub. (including delivery) | 15,500 rub. | 17,000 rub. | 18,000 rub. | 22,500 rub. | 25,000 rub. |
We ended up purchasing a kit that included a Xeon E5-2670, 16 GB of DDR3-1600 registered RAM, and an mATX motherboard based on the X79 Express. This set cost, taking into account all additional expenses, 14,000 rubles. And this is noticeably cheaper than options with modern Pentium G4560 or Core i3-6100. All components arrived safe and sound - the seller did not spare any packaging material.
⇡ Motherboard and RAM
In fact, decide motherboard for Xeon Sandy Bridge-EP is more difficult than with the processor itself. As mentioned above, getting a model with an X79 chipset from a well-known manufacturer is very problematic and expensive. Among the Chinese offers there are several inexpensive models, but all of them are not without drawbacks and require optimization. Formally, Chinese motherboards for the LGA2011 platform are divided into two types. Although the device name uses the “X79” marking, in most cases Intel C602/C604 server chipsets are used.
The first and, perhaps, the most popular option is motherboards of the ATX form factor produced by HUANAN, as well as its clones. Original boards are marked X79; the manufacturer's name is printed on the PCB or heatsink. Clones are designated as X79Z - on such motherboards you can find PCI slot(original HUANAN does not have it). It is better to take boards of new versions: 2.46 and 2.47 for X79 and 2.4b for X79Z. We recommend avoiding old modifications, such as v150, 2.43 and rev 2.01. Firstly, there are no improved BIOS versions for them - this means that you will not be able to adjust the rotation speed of even PWM fans, and you will not run the RAM at an effective frequency of 1866 MHz. Secondly, these boards are not suitable for overclocking the Xeon E5-1650.
HUANAN and clones are the most expensive options. Some models have an M.2 slot, but it operates in SATA 3 Gb/s mode, so it is practically useless. But they are all equipped with two SATA 6 Gb/s connectors, so they are quite suitable for building a PC using an SSD. Additionally, most have an internal USB 3.0 connector.
The second type includes motherboards for the LGA2011 platform, made in the mATX form factor. They are cheaper, but have fewer ports on the I/O panel, as well as denser component wiring. The most popular models belonging to the second type are marked G218a. Among them there are versions v1.0, v1.1a (this is the board that was purchased in the end) and v 1.1b. In addition, you can find boards marked MS-7777. They do not support registered ECC memory, are not equipped with an internal USB 3.0 connector, and even internal USB 2.0 ones are not all working. And these motherboards are equipped with only three expansion slots. Another option is boards labeled YW-X79-E. They have support for DDR3 ECC REG memory. These devices are less common than others, and therefore their capabilities have not been fully studied by enthusiasts.
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YW-X79-E |
As a result, you need to choose among motherboards whose power converter is equipped with a metal radiator. For assembly in a case, it is better that the board has an internal USB 3.0 connector. Plus, register memory is now relatively inexpensive. In general, we are looking towards models 2.46/2.47, 2.4b and v1.1a. We chose the G218a, preferring its more compact form factor. This motherboard also costs 1,000-2,000 rubles less than its ATX counterparts.
The chipset (after all, we are dealing with a microcircuit produced using a 65-nm process technology) in all Chinese motherboards is cooled by a small aluminum radiator. In a case with mediocre air circulation, the chip most likely will not last long.
The markings of the connectors on the PCB are similar to those that MSI uses in its solutions.
The seller included a simple cooler along with the processor, motherboard and memory. Also in the box we found instructions for English language, a disk with drivers, a pair of SATA cables, a plug for the I/O panel on the case and an adapter for mounting the cooler.
Please note that the LGA2011 processor socket in the G218A-V1.1a and other “Chinese” devices is designed slightly differently than in serial motherboards famous brands. It does not have mounting threaded holes at the edges, but four holes are drilled in the PCB, the distances between which correspond to the LGA1366 standard. This fastening system was used. It turns out that any coolers whose mounts are designed for use on LGA1366 platforms are compatible with Chinese motherboards. If such support is not provided, then the cooling system must be selected from among models that are attached using a crossbar with two eyes at the ends. For example, Deepcool Gammaxx S40 is suitable. Just use the adapter included in the kit. First we install it, then we hook the cooler to the lugs, as if we were installing a cooling system for an AMD processor.
The device has four DIMM slots, which means that Xeon Sandy Bridge-EP processors with a 4-channel DDR3 controller will be able to fully realize its capabilities. The v1.1a model supports ECC register memory.
The poor layout of some components immediately catches your eye. The internal USB 3.0 connector is inconveniently routed. And installing a long video card equipped with a dual-slot cooling system will lead to overlap of the PCI Express x1 closest to it and two SATA 3 Gb/s connectors.
By the way, the G218a has a total of six connectors for connecting drives. SATA 6 Gb/s ports are indicated in red, and 3 Gb/s ports are indicated in blue. Also on the PCB there are connectors for connecting case mini-jacks, COM and three USB 2.0 bundles at once.
The board received only three connectors for connecting fans. Two of them are four-pin. We will tell you more about setting the rotation speed of the turntables below.
The power subsystem has seven phases. Its elements are cooled by a small asymmetrical aluminum radiator. A screw mount is used, and a small layer of thermal paste is applied between the power converter and the heatsink. In the circuit, each channel has one inductor and a pair of M3004D transistors manufactured by UBIQ Semiconductor. The power subsystem is controlled by the ISL6366 PWM controller. I note that the G218a design uses exclusively solid-state capacitors.
Under load, the converter heats up noticeably, but the temperature does not go beyond 100 degrees Celsius. Ineffective cooling is... Therefore, when choosing options without additional cooling of the power subsystem, we were eliminated.
Please note that the RAM also gets noticeably warm. This problem affects all register modules. The forums report that kits without radiators have lower temperatures. In any case, cooling the components of a future system based on Xeon and X79 boards must be approached with all responsibility.
The I/O panel of the G218a is frankly scanty. There are a pair of USB 3.0 Type A ports. There are four more of the same connectors, but USB 2.0. From the markings we see that there should have been optical S/PDIF, but the space for soldering this connector is empty.
A simple Realtek RTL8111E controller is responsible for the network. A similar version of this gigabit chip is RTL8111H - . The audio path is based on a six-channel Realtek ALC662. In modern budget motherboards for Skylake processors and Kaby Lake, better chips are used - Realtek ALC887 or Realtek ALC892.
Controllers G218A-V1.1a- gallery
BIOS version G218a does not have many settings. All Chinese motherboards use similar firmware. Yes, you have to deal with the good old blue interface without mouse support and the inability to update from a flash drive without creating a bootable DOS partition.
Apito Setup Utility- gallery
There is no way to regulate the voltage of the processor and RAM. At all. There is no access to manual timing control for RAM modules. From useful functions: setting the RAM frequency divider, CPU multiplier and Smart Fan - controlling the speed of fans connected to the four-pin connectors depending on changes in processor temperature.
There are plenty of Samsung, Micron and SK Hynix RAM kits on sale. Kits with registered ECC memory for the LGA2011 platform are still cheap and cost significantly less than conventional RAM. But they are also noticeably slower. If you already have a set of regular DDR3 memory, then use it. If you buy register strips in China, then you can actually buy a two-channel DDR3-1600L kit with a capacity of 16 GB for 3,000 rubles. Considering that we are assembling a computer based on a fairly old platform, it makes sense to buy to capacity, namely, purchase four modules of 8 GB each. In my case, the seller sold the “board - processor - memory” kit only together with the Samsung M393B1K70DH0-YK0 set, consisting of two sticks with a total capacity of 16 GB. The letter “L” in the name of the RAM standard means that the kit operates at a voltage reduced to 1.35 V.
Practice shows that most of the DDR3-1333 and DDR3-1600 registered RAM purchased in China “starts up” at an effective frequency of 1866 MHz. Since we cannot change the timings in the BIOS, when the operating speed increases, most kits start with delays of 12-12-12-32.
⇡ Overclocking and tuning
Along with the motherboard, processor and RAM, the seller included a simple cooler - just with fasteners for the LGA1366 socket. The fan does not have PWM, so it rotates at a frequency of about 2400 rpm all the time. In this mode, the cooler’s operation is audible: from 30 centimeters, the measuring device recorded an acoustic pressure of 42 dB.
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At the same time, the efficiency of this cooling system is quite sufficient for the Xeon E5-2670. The processor frequency in LinX 0.7.0 drops to the standard 2.6 GHz. The BIOS provides settings to change the CPU power limit, but they do not work. In games and benchmarks, the operating frequency of all eight cores is 3 GHz. afudos newbios.rom /gan .
I think there is no point in reminding once again that an unsuccessful BIOS flashing process can lead to a “bricked” system. In this case, you will have to take up the programmer. Owners note that problems may arise with flashing HUANAN X79 rev2.47 motherboards. If you are unlucky, you will have to download this BIOS version using the programmer. But in the case of the G218a, the BIOS update went quickly and without any hiccups.
As already noted, the Xeon E5-2670 does not overclock. The multiplier can only be changed in the Xeon E5-1620 and E5-1650 models. You cannot manually adjust the voltage, but the processor changes it automatically in the range from 0.6 to 1.35 V. This is enough for the E5-1650 to accelerate to 4.3-4.5 GHz. Please note that high-quality cooling is necessary, since the TDP of the processor is 130 W. The multiplier is set in the BIOS Advanced/CPU Power Management Configuration menu.
Eight-core Xeon E5-2665, E5-2670 and E5-2680 are still overclockable, but only using the SetFSB utility (we used version 2.3.178.134). Clock generator operating frequency realistically increase by 3-7 MHz, which will give a total of an additional 90-210 MHz ( what luck with the iron?) for all eight cores.
The utility does not support generators such as ICS932SQ420DGLF and ICS932SQ420DKL. Therefore, go to the Diagnosis tab, in the Clock Generator menu, select the most last point— PLL Diagnosis. Click on the Get FSB button. A table will appear at the bottom of the SetFSB screen. Select the parameter that intersects at row “00” and column “06”. In the Bin field, change the default 00011000 to the following set of zeros and ones:
- 00011001 - for setting 101.30 MHz on the bus.
- 00011010 - for setting 102.47 MHz on the bus.
- 00011011 - for setting 103.78 MHz on the bus.
- 00011100 - for setting 105.08 MHz on the bus.
- 00011101 - for setting 106.25 MHz on the bus.
- 00011110 - for setting 107.55 MHz on the bus.
- 00011111 - for setting 110.03 MHz on the bus.
For example, to set the bus frequency to 106.25 MHz, change the value 00011000 to 00011101 and press the Update key. When you change the FSB for the first time, the computer may freeze. We turn it off by holding down the Power key on the case, and then start the system again. If you've loaded, that means the board has overclocked via bus up to 106.25 MHz. If you don’t boot, turn off the power to the system unit, wait ten seconds, turn on the system again - the settings will be reset. We try to set a lower clock generator frequency in SetFSB: we do all the same operations, but in the Bin field we specify the set 00011100 (105.08 MHz). And so on until we find a stable combination for Xeon, motherboard and RAM.
Enthusiasts report that the bus frequency of Chinese motherboards is overclocked using SetFSB to 106.25 or even 107.55 MHz. We were less fortunate, as the system only worked stably at 103.77 MHz. As a result, the processor frequency increased to 3113 MHz, and the RAM worked in DDR3-1937 mode with a set of timings of 12-12-12-32.
This acceleration will last exactly as long as power is supplied. Power outages or disconnecting the system unit from the outlet will lead to resetting the clock generator settings. Then the overclocking procedure using SetFSB will have to be repeated.
The built-in PCI Express controller of Sandy Bridge-EP processors supports the 3.0 standard. But sometimes the PEG ports of the motherboards into which the video card is installed operate in PCI Express 2.0 mode. In the case of NVIDIA video cards, this situation is corrected by a special patch. Just run it with administrator rights and reboot the system.
Some users have noted that overclocking an 8-core Xeon bus above 105 MHz causes PCI Express 3.0 mode to switch back to PCI Express 2.0 mode. But in general there is nothing wrong with PCI Express x16 2.0: bandwidth The interface is quite sufficient for video cards of the GeForce GTX 1070 and GeForce GTX 1080 level.
The server processor segment, unlike mobile or consumer ones, is conservative and predictable. This is unlikely to upset anyone, because for professionals, reliability, compatibility and performance are important, and not spectacular functionality. Nevertheless, there is undoubtedly movement here too. Therefore, with some frequency (less often than we would like, but still) on the Intel blog we publish reviews of the current situation with Xeon processors - a kind of instant cross-section of the entire line. Well, two interesting news prompted us to do this review right now.
A short preface for those who are interested in the topic, but have not previously followed the development of the Intel Xeon line. Xeon (correctly read “Zion”) - server processors using Intel Core technologies and following the Core update strategy (the same one that used to be “tick-tock”, and now “tick-tock”), albeit with some delay . That is, Intel Core i3/i7 Kaby Lake appears first, and after a while Intel Xeon E3/E7 Kaby Lake appears. The more complex the processors, the greater the generational difference. Let's say Intel Xeon E3v6 (Kaby Lake) appeared 8 months after Intel Core i3 v7 (Kaby Lake) - right now, and this is the first news. But Intel Xeon E5v6 does not yet exist in nature and it will not appear soon, because the current current generation is the fourth, which is Broadwell. Confused about the numbers? The Core and Xeon generations differ by one, since the first “Zion” was made on Sandy Bridge cores, that is, the second generation Core.
Having familiarized ourselves with the arithmetic of the model range of Intel Xeon processors, let’s move on to their comparative consideration.
Intel Xeon E3
Intel Xeon E3 – processors for single-socket servers entry level, the performance of which, however, is sufficient to solve a wide variety of problems. As already mentioned, in March of this year, Intel introduced the new, sixth generation Xeon E3v6. This does not mean, however, that they are the only ones available for order now. The inertia of the server market is great; if the platform of previous generations is more suitable for your task/budget, you can easily buy both v5 and v4.
Typical configuration Intel Xeon E5 v6
Xeon E3v6 is the third stage in the Intel processor upgrade cycle, the optimization stage. This means that functionally and hardware-wise it is almost no different from its predecessor; There are some “file modifications” taking place in order to more fully utilize the available resource. Let's look at what has changed during the current iteration of the cycle, which took a total of 2 years.
| E3-1285V4 | E3-1280V5 | E3-1280V6 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technical process | 14 nm | ||
| Generation | Broadwell | Skylake | Kaby Lake |
| Price | $556 | $612 | $612 |
| Launch | 2Q15 | 4Q15 | 1Q17 |
| Cores/threads | 4/8 | 4/8 | 4/8 |
| Base frequency | 3.5 GHz | 3.7 GHz | 3.9 GHz |
| L3 cache | 6 MB | 8 MB | 8 MB |
| TDP | 95 W | 80 W | 72 W |
| Memory, max. | DDR3-1866 | DDR4-2133 | DDR4-2400 |
| New features | |||
| Temperature monitoring | + | + | |
| Intel SGX | + | + | |
| Intel MPX | + | + | |
| Secure key | + | + | |
| Intel Optane support | + | ||
Intel Xeon E5
Intel E5 v4 Line Positioning Chart
22 Feb 2018
New models of Intel Xeon server processors often receive minor improvements, and line updates occur with a delay (compared to Intel Core). However, thanks to the presence of three lines (E3/E5/E7), you can easily choose the appropriate option. Let's figure out what their features are and what differences they have. In addition, after the release of the new Xeon Scalable, the cost of these processors has decreased slightly.
Intel Xeon E3
This line is inexpensive processors designed for use in entry-level servers. Thus, all processors in the line are equipped with 4 cores with a clock frequency of up to 4.2 Ghz. This is enough for comfortable operation of a web server or application server (with a small number of users).
It is worth noting that they are updated more often than the older Xeon E5 and Xeon E7 lines, however, changes in latest versions were small - gradual evolution.
For comparison, you can choose three models from different generations (Broadwell, Skylake Kaby Lake), which obviously have not undergone significant changes:
E3-1285v4 | E3-1275v5 | ||
Technical process | 14 nm |
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Price | 350$ | 339$ |
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Launch date | Q2"15 | Q4"15 | Q1"17 |
Cores/Threads | 4/8 | 4/8 | 4/8 |
Clock frequency | 3.5 GHz | 3.6 GHz | 3.8 GHz |
Cache size | 6 Mb | 8 Mb | 8 Mb |
TDP | 95W | 80 W | 73W |
RAM type | DDR3/DDR3L 1333/1600/1866 | DDR4-1866/2133, DDR3L-1333/1600 | DDR4-2400, DDR3L-1866 |
As you can see, no revolution has occurred - the clock frequency has increased slightly, heat dissipation has decreased and the cache memory size has changed. Thus, the productivity increase was about 5-10%, and the cost remained at the same level. Support for DDR4 RAM can be considered a significant change, but for many users the capabilities of the previous generation are sufficient.
Intel Xeon E5
The widest range of Intel Xeon server processors. For example, the latest generation of Broadwell includes 38 processors, among which it is easy to choose the appropriate model.
So, here are two processor options:
- A small number of cores (4-8) with a high clock frequency (from 3 Ghz). These are mainly E5-processors 1 XXX, but there are several models from the E5- series 2 XXX. They are suitable for servers that are demanding on the speed of performing one task, for example a 1C server.
- A large number of cores (from 10 to 22), with a slightly reduced clock frequency (2.1-2.4 Ghz). This processor is great for tasks that work efficiently with a large number of cores. For example, a database server or a terminal server.
It is worth noting that on the base you can assemble a configuration with 1, 2 or 4 processors. The latest generation of Xeon E5 was built on Broadwell, which means there are no improvements that appeared in Slylake and Kaby Lake. However, this allows Intel to test innovations more thoroughly, releasing the most stable products possible.
E5-1680v4 | E5-2699v4 | E5-4669v4 |
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Technical process | 14 nm |
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Price | 1723$ | 4115$ | 7007$ |
Launch date | Q2"16 | Q1"16 | Q2"16 |
Max. number of processors | |||
Cores/threads | 8/16 | 22/44 | 22/44 |
Clock frequency | 3.4 GHz | 2.2 GHz | 3.0 GHz |
Cache size | 20 Mb | 55 Mb | 55 Mb |
TDP | 140 W | 145 W | 135 W |
RAM type | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 |
As you can see, Xeon E5 processors are distinguished by their variability, and when it is possible to scale a server, they are almost as good as new ones .
Intel Xeon E7
This line includes the most productive models of Intel server processors. Thus, Xeon E7 includes significantly fewer models than Xeon E5 - only 12 V last generation. Most 4th generation Xeon E7 processors are equipped with a large number of cores (10 or more), but there is also a model with 4 cores - E7-8893v4. This processor operates at a clock frequency of 3.2 Ghz and contains 60 MB of cache memory. It is worth noting that due to high performance, processors of this line are distinguished by high heat dissipation. Thus, the calculated TDP of all possible models is from 105 W. This should definitely be taken into account when designing a server and choosing a cooling system.
In fact, when choosing a processor, you are limited to the following options: either just powerful or very powerful. Let's compare two such processors.
E7-4850v4 | E7-8894v4 |
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Technical process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
Price | 3003$ | 8898$ |
Launch date | Q2"16 | Q1"17 |
Max. number of processors | ||
Cores/threads | 16/32 | 24/48 |
Clock frequency | 2.1 GHz | 2.4Ghz |
Cache size | 40 Mb | 60 Mb |
TDP | 115 W | 165 W |
RAM type | DDR4-1333/1600/1866 DDR3-1066/1333/1600 |
The Xeon E7 line is designed for use in 4 and 8 processor configurations, providing maximum performance. However, to create a new productive server, it is more rational to use Xeon Scalable models, for example . At the same price as the Xeon E7, you get about a 20% performance gain.
In addition, the new processors provide several advantages:
- the ability to scale the server in the future;
- support for high-frequency DDR4 RAM;
- the presence of some integrated solutions (Intel VMD, Intel Vitrual Raid on CPU, RDMA).
Final choice
As we see, even with the release of new Scalable processors, the previous Intel generation Xeon has not lost its relevance. Thus, processors from the Xeon E3 line are excellent for creating an inexpensive server. For example, it can be used as a web server or 1C application server.
Xeon E5 processors are suitable for large quantity tasks:
- 1C application server;
- terminal server;
- database server.
Thanks to the wide model range, you can easily change the processor to a more powerful one, because all models within the same generation use a single socket.Using Xeon E7 allows you to get maximum performance at a significant cost. However, in the future there may be problems with increasing productivity, because new models will not be released. Therefore, it is more rational to use the new Xeon Scalable Gold. For example, processor provides high level performance (14 cores with a clock frequency of 2.6 Ghz), and if necessary, it can be easily replaced with another Gold/Platinum model or the next generation Xeon Scalable.
Guys, hello to you all. We will talk about processors. I understand them a little, it seems to me. You've probably heard the mention of Xeon somewhere, well, it's like a processor and all that. But what kind of processor is this? Why is it cooler than usual and what’s the big deal? I'll tell you everything. Xeon processors are not designed for ordinary users, or rather not for ordinary computers, but for server computers. That is, they are purely hard workers. They work in all kinds of servers, designed to work constantly around the clock =)
But in fact, ordinary processors are hidden under the name Xeon. Yes, yes, it’s just like for servers. No, well, they are actually for servers, it’s just that the characteristics show that they are almost the same as similar desktop processors. Xeon, as it should be, supports registered server memory with ECC, which, by the way, is cheaper used than regular memory, because regular desktop processors do not work with it.
Is it possible to put a server process on a regular motherboard? In principle it is possible, but it will not always work. Because not all motherboards support server processors. Although maybe it’s all the same, I don’t know for sure, I won’t lie. They just match the contacts (provided the socket is the same). For example, my Asus Gryphon Z87 motherboard supports it. In general, regarding support, it’s best to look at the official website of the motherboard =)
Windows works fine on both a server processor and a regular one. Although in general server equipment install server Windows. It is also impossible to overclock server processors, although people somehow overclocked them on the 775 socket. Also, the server processor may lack a graphics core, although in the era of the 775 socket there was no question of this, there was no video core in good luck then.
Well, what else can I say. There is an opinion that the Xeon processors there are super selected and tested specifically so that they can work for years without interruption.. I don’t know if this is true, I doubt it, to be honest.
Also, guys, it happens that there is a top model of a processor, for example i7, but there is a similar option but a server one, so it will cost less. But, as I already said, it will not be possible to overclock it. And the i7 is possible, of course, if the model with the letter K comes with it.
Who can take Xeon? I think for those who do not plan to overclock the processor. Because it will most likely win in price; also, used server memory is cheaper. But you need to check that the motherboard supports Xeon.
So I’ll also say this. Previously, I knew for sure that Xeon and regular processors often differed in the socket, that is, it was not compatible at all. For example, regular processors have socket 775, and server ones have socket 771, that is, they are not compatible in any way, but these are all old sockets. But there was a joke here, in short it turned out that the processors from the 771st socket are suitable for the 775th and so off we go...
Today, it seems like Xeon and regular desktop PCs have physically the same socket. Well, or in most cases.
And so, roughly speaking, apart from the memory and the fact that in most cases Xeon cannot be overclocked, then in principle there is not much difference. Xeon may cost less and may run cooler, and there are also models without an integrated core.
Look, here's an example for you. There is an i7 4790K processor (1150 socket), and there is a similar model of it, the E3-1286 v3. The difference is that the first has a turbo boost frequency of 4.4 GHz, and the second has 4.1 GHz and no overclocking. They also seem to have a different video core, the i7 4790K has an Intel HD Graphics 4600, and the E3-1286 v3 has an Intel HD Graphics P4700, but I don’t know which is better...
Damn, I forgot to write something else important. All server processors have been called by one name for a cloud of years now: Xeon. There are no Pentiums, Celerons and others here. Everything is very strict.
That's all guys, I hope everything was clear to you here, good luck to everyone!
Owners of personal computers are of little interest, because crystals in this segment have a completely different task related to mathematical calculations and working with databases. The unrealistically inflated cost and its own platform, in addition, completely relieve the potential buyer from thinking about purchasing and installing processors from the corporate segment.
In fact, the computer hardware manufacturer is simply not interested in regular users installed server solutions for themselves, because this would undermine the company’s policy and suspend sales of new equipment. In this article, the reader will get acquainted with one interesting representative of the corporate segment, which can compete with expensive crystals. We will talk about the XEON E5450 processor. Review, characteristics, description and user reviews will help the reader to better know the representative of the corporate segment.
Specifications
The processor is designed for installation in a socket reserved by Intel for multiprocessor platforms. For the XEON E5450, the performance characteristics are slightly different from the Pentium 4 crystals and their analogues intended for installation in socket 775. Four cores, implemented separately on one platform (like the Core Quad), operate at a frequency of 3 GHz. The bus operating frequency corresponds to 1333 MHz.
The only indicator that stands out is the size of the processor memory cache, which is 12 megabytes (for the second level). Support for a 64-bit platform, 80 Watt heat dissipation and support for all instructions necessary for server operation complete the general idea of the XEON E5450 crystal.
Processor Features
The reader has already noticed several fundamental differences between the representative of the server platform and processors intended for installation in a personal computer. A crystal with four cores operates at a frequency of 3 GHz, while a home representative, even in the top version, is limited to a threshold of 2.9 GHz. The bus performance indicator is also interesting - 1333 MHz for most users personal computer can only be achieved by overclocking. And then in most cases the frequency threshold is 1066 MHz.
The heat dissipation, which does not exceed 100 Watts, is also pleasing. Naturally, the user may want to overclock the XEON E5450. The enthusiast’s surprise will know no bounds when he passes the psychological barrier without any problems and stops at 4.1 GHz. True, before overclocking, you need to solve the problem with cooling, since the crystal has a temperature limit (70 degrees Celsius), after which automatic protection is triggered, and server processor turns off.
Comparison with analogues
Naturally, all users eagerly want to compare the server crystal with some well-known product. For example, XEON E5450 vs Core Quad Q6800. At the very least, all users of the platform do not consider the Q6800 processor to be a performance standard that fits well into the price-quality criterion. However, IT experts recommend that enthusiasts raise the bar much higher and look for an Intel Core I5 representative for comparison.
Yes, the last generation server processor will easily outperform not only all multi-core AMD representatives, but also its older Core I3 brothers in performance. It is this feature of the crystal that attracts many users who have long wanted to increase the performance of their computer, but do not have the resources to switch to new platform enough funds.
Professional use
Crystal Intel XEON The E5450 will be useful primarily to experts in the field of video processing and creating 3D models. Processing power is enough to complete the most complex tasks. If we compare with other processors on the socket 775 platform, the performance gain can be assessed as follows:
- the Pentium 4 platform with one core is 20 times slower;
- the dual-core Dual Core representative is 15 times inferior;
- a Core 2 Duo crystal with a core frequency of more than 2.6 GHz is 10 times slower than the XEON E5450;
- a Core Quad representative with 4 cores is 5 times inferior to a server representative.
Performance measurements were carried out by experts using applications for processing and encoding video in FullHD format. Well-known Sony programs Vegas and Pinnacle Studio. There is no doubt that there will not be much difference in performance when processing 3D objects.
Potential in gaming applications
Many enthusiasts believe that for XEON processor E5450 games will not be a stumbling block. After all, the server crystal has proven itself worthy in working with resource-intensive applications. This is true, but there are a few things that fans of dynamic modern toys should pay attention to. Firstly, in order to quickly exchange information between the application and the processor, it is necessary to ensure that the RAM operates at the same frequency as the crystal (1333 MHz). The weak point in the system can also be the video adapter, the potential of which is simply not enough for the full operation of the entire system.
For gaming computer based on a server processor, experts installed minimum requirements for video adapters: Geforce GTX 580 and Radeon HD 5970. Graphics accelerators with lower performance will slow down the entire system. Don't forget about the hard drive. It's time to build SSDs based on solid-state hard drives.
Real numbers
Naturally, all users, especially fans of resource-intensive modern games, want to see the performance of the XEON E5450 crystal in action. For comparison, enthusiasts created two identical platforms: 4 GB Hynix 1333 MHz RAM, mother MSI board G41M-P26, SSD Kingston HyperX 120Gb and a Gainward GTX 580 video adapter. The platforms differed only in processors. The server crystal was assigned to a Core Quad Q6800. In gaming applications GTA5, FarCry4, Witcher 3, Mortal Kombat X, Fallout 4, system performance increased almost 3 times (from 20-25 FPS to 60-70 frames per second).
Such indicators prompted enthusiasts to think about comparing a server solution for the socket 771 platform with a more powerful new generation processor - 2500K. The results turned out to be stunning - the XEON E5450 was only 5-7% behind the representative of the line! The weak point in the system, as practice has shown, is the amount of RAM - 4 GB is clearly not enough for resource-intensive games.
Physical differences between platforms
The XEON E5450 processor, designed for installation in socket 771, has some differences from the Intel Pentium 4, intended for installation in socket 775. Firstly, we are talking about two contacts that the manufacturer swapped in order to prevent interchangeability of processors. The problem can be resolved in several ways: the legs on the motherboard are soldered or a special adapter is used to change the socket.
The second nuisance is the lack of additional slots on the server processor for installation in socket 775. The problem is also solved in two ways: sawing through the slots on the processor or breaking off the limiters on the motherboard. The second method is safer.
Platform compatibility at the software level
Before you start searching for the XEON E5450 processor on the domestic market, you need to understand whether it is compatible with the motherboard that the user has. The fact is that Intel, when releasing chips, created some restrictions that relate not only to base operating frequencies, but also to heat dissipation. All motherboards based on P and G series chips, as well as nForce 7 series platforms, support the server processor at the hardware level.
Not all motherboards can “know” what kind of Intel XEON E5450 processor it is, even if this crystal is supported by the chip at the hardware level. The problem is that some have their own limitation that they have used to save temperature regime in system. Thus, manufacturers Foxconn, MSI and Gigabyte have limited the installation of processors with four cores operating at frequencies above 2.66 GHz at the BIOS firmware level. Accordingly, before purchasing, users are advised to read the specifications of the motherboard on the manufacturer’s official website.
Search for a ready-made solution
Having received introductory data regarding the performance of the Intel XEON E5450 server processor, the user will certainly begin to study offers on the domestic market, and after some time he will be disappointed by the lack of new crystals in retail sales. Yes, the platform is obsolete and has long been discontinued, so the secondary market will help you find the right solution. The cost of such a processor ranges from 2-4 thousand rubles.
A new crystal can be purchased at foreign online auctions. The cost of such processors is not much different from offers on the Russian market, but foreigners offer their products with minor modifications. The server processor is already bored out for socket 775 and has a corresponding adapter.
Cooling system
There is no need to think that the XEON E5450 crystal, which is undemanding in terms of power supply, does not need a decent cooler. The fact is that an economical processor is not only sensitive to overheating, but is also capable of shutting down the entire computer if the operating temperature is exceeded. After all, this is a server processor, and it is responsible for the safety of data and its own safety, so the user should think about purchasing a decent cooling system.
IT experts recommend taking a closer look at inexpensive solutions Intel. All versions of BOX 4 come with a decent cooler, which is designed to cool crystals with a heat output of up to 125 Watts. This solution will be quite sufficient even for overclocking the crystal to 4 GHz.
Finally
The XEON E5450 server solution is not only an alternative to upgrading your computer by moving to a new platform. It's more about saving Money user, because he is offered an unusual solution, which, along with increasing computer performance, allows him to save a large amount of money. Yes, the transition is not easy and requires physical intervention in the operation of the processor. But it’s worth it to enjoy the comfortable operation of the system in the next few years, without thinking about possible modernization, which requires significant financial costs.
True, many potential buyers still have to go through great job, before creating the platform of your dreams. A regular trip to the store is not enough here. First you need to make sure that your motherboard's processor is supported. After that, solving the installation problem, and improving the remaining components of the computer plays an important role here.