Question Need input on dual CPU system

jamesdsimone · Jun 17, 2024

Finally getting around to outfitting my z840. I got it used but it looks new with the plastic film still on both sides of the case. It came with 2 E5-2620 V3's and 32 8x8 Gb ECC PC2133. It has an 1125w PS with 3 6 pin PCIe power connectors. I don't know exactly what I want to do with it but I was thinking about doing one of those distributive projects. I was thinking about using Linux. I have read that Linux handles dual CPU's better than Windows, surprise. Not sure if I should add ram. It has 16 ram slots. Big question is what to upgrade the CPU's to? Any reason to use a Haswell over a Broadwell? I was thinking an E5-2690 v4 or E5-2697A v4.

Shmee · Jun 22, 2024

Yeah adding RAM could be a good idea as 32GB seems low for that many cores, especially with 2P, and I do think Linux makes sense, though it depends on what you are using it for. I think your thought of dual E5-2697A v4 CPUs sounds great.

jamesdsimone · Jun 22, 2024

Oops 4x8gb ECC PC2133. Just grabbed 8x16gb modules of DDR4 ECC PC2400 SK Hynix Samsung memory on ebay for about 1USD/gb. Why I love tinkering with these old work stations, everything is so inexpensive. I like going with the lower watt part if possible but the E5-2697A v4 is only 10 watts more than the E5-2690 v4. The Broadwells didn't lower power much over the Haswells even though they went from 22nm to 14nm. Not sure why not.

cytg111 · Jun 24, 2024

I got a an old dual E5-2670 rig running esxi, it's obviously not fastest in the class but it does what it's supposed to, running multiple different purpose vm's like a champ.
Got em very very cheap off ebay back then too, guess they're retired datacenter cpu's or something now living their golden years in my office .

Cost benefit wise this is probably the best computer purchase i've ever done.

As to the question, if it's not much difference in price, get the broadwell and the 10%(?) performance extra.

Dont go vanilla Linux, go free esxi.

jamesdsimone · Jun 24, 2024

cytg111 said:
I got a an old dual E5-2670 rig running esxi, it's obviously not fastest in the class but it does what it's supposed to, running multiple different purpose vm's like a champ.
Got em very very cheap off ebay back then too, guess they're retired datacenter cpu's or something now living their golden years in my office .

Cost benefit wise this is probably the best computer purchase i've ever done.

As to the question, if it's not much difference in price, get the broadwell and the 10%(?) performance extra.

Dont go vanilla Linux, go free esxi.

The Sandybridges do use a lot of power. Cast off Broadwell/Haswell Xeons are dirt cheap though the Skylakes are still relatively expensive.

cytg111 · Jun 24, 2024

jamesdsimone said:
The Sandybridges do use a lot of power. Cast off Broadwell/Haswell Xeons are dirt cheap though the Skylakes are still relatively expensive.

They do serve a dual purpose come winter time, yes, pricewise this was 7-8 years ago. I might be tempted at an upgrade when 16 cores are running like 60-70 bucks.

Shmee · Jun 24, 2024

cytg111 said:
They do serve a dual purpose come winter time, yes, pricewise this was 7-8 years ago. I might be tempted at an upgrade when 16 cores are running like 60-70 bucks.

You can already get 16 cores for under $40, I was looking at the e5-2697A V4 on Ebay earlier.

Markfw · Jun 24, 2024

cytg111 said:
They do serve a dual purpose come winter time, yes, pricewise this was 7-8 years ago. I might be tempted at an upgrade when 16 cores are running like 60-70 bucks.

One thing to remember. OLD cores like this are cheap for a reason. It is very possible that those 16 cores could easily be beat by a 6 core or 8 core CPU of today. Especially depending on what you are doing. They can also suck a lot of power compared to todays CPUs' Without exact benchmarks of what you are doing, all of this is only a general statement, so don't hold me to anything.

But cheap is that way for a good reason, you don't get something for nothing.

jamesdsimone · Jun 25, 2024

Markfw said:
But cheap is that way for a good reason, you don't get something for nothing.

I've looked at multiple benchmarks and yes modern CPU's are faster but that doesn't mean the older CPU's don't perform well. Old cores are cheap not because they perform poorly but mostly because there isn't much of a used market for them. People buying Xeon workstations are doing it for just that work so they are buying the lastest and greatest for top dollar, they aren't buying cast off computers. The average consumer is buying the retail chips just as you say, not tinkering with old workstations like people here might do. So the percent of the market is probably single digit, probably low single digits. I can get a complete Xeon system for the price of just the modern 6-8 core CPU. I got an HP z420 with 64gb PC1333 ram /E5-1650 v2/400gb ssd/2Tb Hd/AMD 7000 video card with Win10 installed for 150.00. I spent 30USD for 4x16 PC1866 ECC DDR3 and 15 on an E5-2690 v2 which I didn't have to but still got a capable system for less than 200USD. You can't beat the price/performance ratio.

jamesdsimone · Jun 25, 2024

Shmee said:
You can already get 16 cores for under $40, I was looking at the e5-2697A V4 on Ebay earlier.

I have to put the z840 on the bench and getting it up and running then decide on the CPU.

Question Need input on dual CPU system

jamesdsimone

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Shmee

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jamesdsimone

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cytg111

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jamesdsimone

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cytg111

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Shmee

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jamesdsimone

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