Need help finding SLI motherboard

[bazeroni]

I would like to put an SLI motherboard inside the HP xw6600 workstation.
1. is that possible and if so how would i move the CPU
2. any suggestions for a good but cheap mobo?

 

[GhislainG]

Unless the info at hp is incorrect, that workstation has a socket LGA771 Xeon processor and it uses DDR2-667 ECC memory. No SLI motherboard is fully compatible with both the CPU and memory. You may be able to find an old socket 775 SLI motherboard, but you'll need to make sure a modded Xeon (you'll have to mod it yourself) works with it. New memory most likely will be required because socket 775 motherboards normally require non-ECC memory. Since all you can reuse is the CPU (after modding it), it isn't worth it. Buying a faster GPU would be much easier.

 

[bazeroni]

Unless the info at hp is incorrect, that workstation has a socket LGA771 Xeon processor and it uses DDR2-667 ECC memory. No SLI motherboard is fully compatible with both the CPU and memory. You may be able to find an old socket 775 SLI motherboard, but you'll need to make sure a modded Xeon (you'll have to mod it yourself) works with it. New memory most likely will be required because socket 775 motherboards normally require non-ECC memory. Since all you can reuse is the CPU (after modding it), it isn't worth it. Buying a faster GPU would be much easier.

wouldn't something like a 980 fry my motherboard?

 

[GhislainG]

A 980 doesn't fry a motherboard, but it may not be compatible with your workstation (I was unable to find evidence either way). What processor(s) do you have? The fastest one probably is the Xeon E5450; it will bottleneck a 980. Does the PSU have two 6-pin PCI-E connectors? If you can spend that much for a GPU, then why not sell the workstation and build a new system?

 

[bazeroni]

A 980 doesn't fry a motherboard, but it may not be compatible with your workstation (I was unable to find evidence either way). What processor(s) do you have? The fastest one probably is the Xeon E5450; it will bottleneck a 980. Does the PSU have two 6-pin PCI-E connectors? If you can spend that much for a GPU, then why not sell the workstation and build a new system?

I don't have the budget for that kind of gpu lol. I was just trying to get an idea of it. It's weird because the previous owner had two gt 9500s in sli on Windows 7 on that pc. It has two slots but one power cord. I used a 6pin splitter to share the power between the two 660s.

 

[GhislainG]

Are you sure he didn't have two gt 9500s each running a separate monitor or the second one used for something else? I can't find anywhere in the specs that SLI is supported; besides the Intel chipset does not support SLI.

 

[bazeroni]

Are you sure he didn't have two gt 9500s each running a separate monitor or the second one used for something else? I can't find anywhere in the specs that SLI is supported; besides the Intel chipset does not support SLI.

He said sli and he had a bridge with him he gave to me. I guess that doesn't matter at this point though. Would getting a new case and motherboard and cpu be cheaper than buying a high end gpu like the 900 series?

 

[bazeroni]

Are you sure he didn't have two gt 9500s each running a separate monitor or the second one used for something else? I can't find anywhere in the specs that SLI is supported; besides the Intel chipset does not support SLI.

"Next-generation dual and quad-core Intel® Xeon®
processor and chipset technology help enable your
staff and business to accomplish more in less time.
With dual Gen2 PCI-e interfaces, the HP xw6600
leverages an architecture than can deliver up to
twice the graphic performance of previous systems.
Add more visual capability and flexibility with the
HP xw6600’s support of up to four 3D displays or
up to eight 2D displays. And, with an energy-wise
system design you can help lower your energy
consumption and reduce your power costs with
80 watt processors and an 80 PLUS efficiency
power supply."
This was taken off the xw6600 PDF Manual
What do you think?

 

[GhislainG]

Are you sure he didn't have two gt 9500s each running a separate monitor or the second one used for something else? I can't find anywhere in the specs that SLI is supported; besides the Intel chipset does not support SLI.

"Next-generation dual and quad-core Intel® Xeon®
processor and chipset technology help enable your
staff and business to accomplish more in less time.
With dual Gen2 PCI-e interfaces, the HP xw6600
leverages an architecture than can deliver up to
twice the graphic performance of previous systems.
Add more visual capability and flexibility with the
HP xw6600’s support of up to four 3D displays or
up to eight 2D displays. And, with an energy-wise
system design you can help lower your energy
consumption and reduce your power costs with
80 watt processors and an 80 PLUS efficiency
power supply."
This was taken off the xw6600 PDF Manual
What do you think?

Good marketing info that was written by a professional; but it doesn't help you.

 

[GhislainG]

Are you sure he didn't have two gt 9500s each running a separate monitor or the second one used for something else? I can't find anywhere in the specs that SLI is supported; besides the Intel chipset does not support SLI.

He said sli and he had a bridge with him he gave to me. I guess that doesn't matter at this point though. Would getting a new case and motherboard and cpu be cheaper than buying a high end gpu like the 900 series?

The cards support SLI, but they didn't work in SLI in that workstation. You could consider a GPU somewhere in between a high-end 980 that should be paired with a more powerful CPU and an old and slow GT 9500, you could consider a used GTX 660 Ti. If it's compatible, it would be a good match for your system. What's your budget?

 

[bazeroni]

Are you sure he didn't have two gt 9500s each running a separate monitor or the second one used for something else? I can't find anywhere in the specs that SLI is supported; besides the Intel chipset does not support SLI.

He said sli and he had a bridge with him he gave to me. I guess that doesn't matter at this point though. Would getting a new case and motherboard and cpu be cheaper than buying a high end gpu like the 900 series?

The cards support SLI, but they didn't work in SLI in that workstation. You could consider a GPU somewhere in between a high-end 980 that should be paired with a more powerful CPU and an old and slow GT 9500, you could consider a used GTX 660 Ti. If it's compatible, it would be a good match for your system. What's your budget?

My budget is under $1000. i would like to play stuff like gta v and bf4 and arma 3 at at least 30 frames or more
I have a 650 watt power source, X2 EVGA GTX 660s, and X2 SSDs equaling over a terabyte. I need a:
-motherboard that supports SLI
-a new processor
-a case
anything else to complete my shopping list?
I feel bad because i wasted my money on 2 660s and i kinda wanna use them

 

[GhislainG]

You don't need to spend $1000.

- ASUS Z170-A http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132566
- Intel Core i5-6600K http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117561&cm_re=i5-6600k_3.5ghz-_-19-117-561-_-Product
- 8 GB or 16 GB of DDR4 SDRAM 2400 memory http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231888&cm_re=ddr4-2400-_-20-231-888-_-Product
- A case is rather personal; check Fractal design, Corsair, NZXT and other cases and select an ATX case that you like.

You can save on the above if you use pcpartpicker.com