Xeon L5639 Overclocking on X58

[Torn Mind]

This is dangerous advice. Not all X58 boards work with Xeon chips. If you review this thread, there is an EVGA board that needs a hardware mod.

The incompatibility stems from the dual QPI links. The rest of your advice, however, is sound.

In addition, the current BIOS on my Biostar Tpower board doesn't work with the L5639 Xeon but it does work with the W3520(i7-920 Xeon equivalent) no problem. I need to get around to updating that bios to see if it works with the latest BIOS though.

 

[TerryMathews]

In addition, the current BIOS on my Biostar Tpower board doesn't work with the L5639 Xeon but it does work with the W3520(i7-920 Xeon equivalent) no problem. I need to get around to updating that bios to see if it works with the latest BIOS though.

W3520 is a single QPI chip...

 

[JohnDC]

The chip should work in most any high end X58 board (any bios). If you want to work this chip (OC heavily) pick your board according to the power section. The more phases the better, Asus has 16+2 Phase Power Design, and others may have 12 or more. These will be the easiest to OC with stability. Next to that, decide if you want USB 3 and Sata 3. Decide whether you may eventually want to run SLI or Crossfire to see if you need 2 PCI-E slots. Boards are still available new or refurbed for around $200-$249. Used still brings $150+ on ebay.

Next & very important is cpu cooling. Whether you want to go liquid or just HSF is your choice, but these low power chips work well with a good heat sink & fan.

Use fast ram for best OC.. 1600 or better

Use a good power supply.. 450 watts or better..

Boards are still available, refurbs usualy without backplates. Here's a few I found on ebay..
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ASUS-RAMPAG...578076805?pt=Motherboards&hash=item5af0447c85

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ASUSTeK-ASU...225922405?pt=Motherboards&hash=item2a31e81f65

http://www.ebay.com/itm/XFX-MB-X58I...290542764?pt=Motherboards&hash=item5d332cf4ac

http://www.ebay.com/itm/EVGA-141-GT...187353146?pt=Motherboards&hash=item1c3754423a

Nothing wrong with getting a used board. Just be sure of what you want.. Search "X58 motherboard" on ebay..

Good Luck!

Thanks for the advice and the links Burpo.The Asus Sabertooth is sold out,the Rampage and P6X58-E WS are great looking boards,but for $200.00-218.00 shipped plus 80-90 for a cpu is putting me in core i5-4670K haswell chip and motherboard combo territory and kind of ruins the low budget build aspect of this setup which is why I am interested.

Would be nice to pick up a board and cpu for 200-220 shipped that is confirmed to be working together from other user input.

From the information I have found the XFX x58 boards are rebranded Foxconn boards and the bloodrage does not work with this cpu,so compatibility is suspect.

From the information I got from the L5640 thread on the other forum,Every EVGA single processor board tried did not work with the xeons so I would not purchase one unless someone has one and can confirm it works.

Any other suggestions would be welcome.

 

[Burpo]

I5 vs 6 core Xeon? Seriously? Not me.. no way.. Look at Cinebench scores.. I need the processing power..

 

[TerryMathews]

I5 vs 6 core Xeon? Seriously? Not me.. no way.. Look at Cinebench scores.. I need the processing power..

Depends on what your end goal is. 2500k @ 5ghz would give you a better gaming experience.

He's 100% right. That's too much money to put into a motherboard for this platform unless you need the ancillary benefits.

Paying $200 for the motherboard puts you at $285 min for a combo, which is $35-50 above market for a 2500k combo.

 

[gbeirn]

How's the power consumption? Anybody got a killawatt and is willing to post some results on idle/load?

Mine was just shipped and I'm interested to see if it'll actually consume less power than a regular old quad 9xx at the same clocks with it being 32nm and carrying the "L" specification.

I don't have a Kill-A-Watt but my APC battery backup says 145W at idle and 240W with all 6 cores and 12 threads loaded. This is at 3.2GHz @ 1.3V, 12GB of DDR3 1600MHz, 1x5850, 1x5830, 1x80GB Intel G2 SSD and 1x1TB Seagate 7200.11 Hard Drive.

It pumps out way less heat then my previous 920/960 chips.

 

[JohnDC]

I5 vs 6 core Xeon? Seriously? Not me.. no way.. Look at Cinebench scores.. I need the processing power..

Absolutely no doubt this is a multicore multithread beast of a chip.But if you check out Balla's overclocked I-5 haswell in the Cinebench thread it isn't very far behind this chip with only 4 cores.

 

[Burpo]

Buy what you need.. If you're a gamer, go for it. I built mine for work, as in "income" and it needs to render.. Every time I start it, it goes to WORK and does more than an I7 4770k can in the same amount of time..

 

[JohnDC]

Buy what you need.. If you're a gamer, go for it. I built mine for work, as in "income" and it needs to render.. Every time I start it, it goes to WORK and does more than an I7 4770k can in the same amount of time..

I am sorry if I offended you in some way by the comparison.I will step away now and hope you have a great evening.Enjoy.

 

[Burpo]

Not offended.. I was being serious.. If you like gaming, get what works for you.. I need the power for rendering.. That's all I'm saying..
You can have mine for $200 shipped.. I'm ready to go dual

I think you are kidding, but this was reported, so just a reminder, you can only sell in FS/FT
Markfw900
Anandtech Moderator.

 

[TerryMathews]

Not offended.. I was being serious.. If you like gaming, get what works for you.. I need the power for rendering.. That's all I'm saying..

Hey man its cool were all just talking. These chips are an incredible value no doubt. We just have to be careful not to overpay for mobos for them.

 

[Makaveli]

Not offended.. I was being serious.. If you like gaming, get what works for you.. I need the power for rendering.. That's all I'm saying..
You can have mine for $200 shipped.. I'm ready to go dual

You have to state your purpose in the post.

most people here assume new build equals gaming!

If you need to render I think its a great option to look at.

 

[dmoney1980]

I can confirm that this CPU works on the EVGA x58 SLI LE board with BIOS 83! Pics below!
This is sitting under a Noctua NH-D14

 

[Burpo]

I can confirm that this CPU works on the EVGA x58 SLI LE board with BIOS 83! Pics below!
This is sitting under a Noctua NH-D14

Fixed for you.. I don't think this site likes .png's Upload your pics as .jpg..

Nice.. Now to start upping the bclk!

 

[Ajsez]

I can confirm that this CPU works on the EVGA x58 SLI LE board with BIOS 83! Pics below!
This is sitting under a Noctua NH-D14

dmoney,
Did your board came with Bios 83, or you updated it? I have an X58 FTW3 coming in 1 or 2 days and it have Bios 82 out of the box. I'm just hoping it works with the L5639 that I have as I don't have any other 1366 processor to update the Bios with....

 

[Burpo]

It's not always necessary to upgrade bios, it should work fine w/82.. I was helping dmoney some last night, and he got his up to 187 bclk pretty easily and is now refining settings to go a little higher.

 

[dmoney1980]

dmoney,
Did your board came with Bios 83, or you updated it? I have an X58 FTW3 coming in 1 or 2 days and it have Bios 82 out of the box. I'm just hoping it works with the L5639 that I have as I don't have any other 1366 processor to update the Bios with....

I flashed mine to ver. 83. The previous BIOS was a few years old so I kinda had to

 

[Burpo]

I wish I could go back to my original flash.. was simpler & overclocked a tad better.. Did you try 192 bclk yet? Keep going up

 

[Ajsez]

My X58A UD7 v2.0......Tried 210Blck....

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[aib0forcen]

My X58A UD7 v2.0......Tried 210Blck....

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HAHA, so the x58 extreme should hit 220 blck barrier with no prob. I can't wait for that hexy to arrive lol!:twisted:

 

[Burpo]

Doubtful it will hit 220 (depends on the chip too).. Mine throttles anywhere above 214.. Much more stable at 207-210..

 

[dmoney1980]

My X58A UD7 v2.0......Tried 210Blck....

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what voltage did you use for the CPU , VTT, PLL etc?
if you don't mind sharing...

 

[aib0forcen]

Doubtful it will hit 220 (depends on the chip too).. Mine throttles anywhere above 214.. Much more stable at 207-210..

Hmm, you know mine 920(c1/c0) with HT is running in this board at 200 bclk at 20x multi, all voltages are stock, except vcore which is 1.36 in bios, and ram is at 1.65v set manual, thats it, all stable 24/7

 

[Burpo]

NOT the same chip.. 60 watts not 130, 6 cores, not 4.. apples to oranges..
Good luck!

 

[aib0forcen]

Hey man, you could try compare a <edited out> to a stick would that be awesome? You don't get my point at all.


That kind of language and attitude is inappropriate for a tach forum. This just bought you an infractions
Markfw900
Anandtech Moderator