Can you run an i7 Extreme in a Xeon E5 socket

[dctv411]

I am currently retrieving parts for a custom build and I'm stuck trying to find a motherboard. I have determined that I am going to run two i7-3970x extreme editions, and the socket is LGA 2011. While looking for motherboards with dual LGA 2011 sockets, it says they are Xeon E5 compatible. I want to know whether or not I can run i7 extremes on the board even though the sockets are compatible if the xeon differs from the i7 to the point where you cannot run an i7. Thanks

 

[twelve25]

i7 chips are not multi CPU capable. You need an E5 or E7 with a 2000 or higher model number.

If you were using a single socket board, then yes. An i7 extreme is just an E5-1650 unlocked.

What are you trying to do with this computer?

 

[dctv411]

I do work with 3DS max, After effects, Photoshop, C++ scripting, Web Design, and Gaming, I'm essentially trying to make a super computer because of all that, and I figured two i7's could be SLI'd

 

[13thmonkey]

sli is a gpu term, scan line interleaving, oops scalable link interface, can't spell these days

cpu's need to know to talk to each other, the xeon's can do that, i's can't.

 

[twelve25]

I do work with 3DS max, After effects, Photoshop, C++ scripting, Web Design, and Gaming, I'm essentially trying to make a super computer because of all that, and I figured two i7's could be SLI'd

You'd have to go Xeon e5-2000 series or opteron to do dual CPU. And since none of these come with 6 really fast cores like the i7-3900s, you'll need to go 8+ slower cores to get there. Dual E5-2660s would be about the same as dual i7-3970K's, but a little more expensive.

You could also go dual AMD 16-core Opteron for a little cheaper and get similar performance.