BlackDressKode :
Hi everyone!
I'm in the process of upgrading my video editing workstation from a HP Z400 to a HP Z420.
Right now, I'm looking into which processor to get for it and I am confused by one thing:
In the HP white papers it says that the workstation can accept processors up to 8-core, namely the 8-Core E5-1680 v2 - 3Ghz (For example).
But when I look at a list of processors for the C602 Chipset/ LGA 2011 socket, I find that I could theoretically use other processors with more cores or better clock speed, namely:
The 8-Core E5-2687W v2 - 3.4 Ghz
The 10-Core E5-2690 v2 - 3.0 Ghz
The 12-Core E5-2697 v2 - 2.7 Ghz
Would these processor work in my Z420 or is there some hardware restriction that would prevent me from going over 8-cores?
These are especially tempting when looking at deals on eBay,which drives me to a collateral question: What about Engineering Sample processors?Are they totally illegal? Are they sure NOT to work in a branded workstation such as the HPs?
Thank you very much for any help or advice you can provide!
BlackDressKode,
I think the limitation on HP z420 CPU's is going to be the power requirements. The list of originally supplied CPU's is on Page 3:
http://h20195.www2.hp.com/v2/GetPDF.aspx/4AA4-0128ENUC
> and there are two 8-core, the E5-1680 v2 3.0/3.9GHz, 130W:
http://ark.intel.com/products/77912/Intel-Xeon-Processor-E5-1680-v2-25M-Cache-3_00-GHz
> and which is a nice idea, but are expensive, selling for over $1,800 and up to $2,100. They're so rare that used ones are still $1,600+,\.
And, there is the E5-2650 V2 2.6 /3.4GHz, 95W:
http://ark.intel.com/products/75269/Intel-Xeon-Processor-E5-2650-v2-20M-Cache-2_60-GHz
The power is good, and the price for an 8-core is not too bad, in the $1,200 range. An E5-2600 is always a premium price and a bit lower speed due to the complications of the dual CPU architecture. The 2.6 base speed is not brilliant, but if you're effects processing a 4K video, you'll walk away overnight anyway.
The E5-2687w v2 is very tempting- one of the best workstation CPU's ever in my opinion- at 3.4 / 4.0 GHz:
http://ark.intel.com/products/76161/Intel-Xeon-Processor-E5-2687W-v2-25M-Cache-3_40-GHz?q=%20E5-2687w%20%20v2
> but they are 150W and used ones are still over $2,000- they're faster than the v3. The E5-12687w first version is 3.8 /3.8GHz- still a very attractive speed, and these are more in the $750 range, but also 150W. If you look at LGA2011 motherboards there is often a specified limit on the processor socket. this has implication for both power supply and the heat dissipation load. It doesn't seem that +20W would be a serious problem, but workstation are conservative for reliability and that is more important to me than speed. I compared my HP z420 (2015) with an E5-1660 v2 to a Precision T5500 (2011) with a Xeon X5680 and the time to open a 108MB Sketchup model was only 15 seconds faster on the HP, and navigation on the HP K4200 and Dell K2200 was only slightly different. Given that the entire T5500 cost less than the E5-1660 v2 CPU alone, there is a tipping point at which additional performance is a diminishing return and unnecessary expense.
I have two HP z420's- E5-1620 and E5-1660 v2 and I think that 130W is going to be the limit.
I agree with kanewolf and advise against the ES versions. They are actually usually a bit understressed- lower clock speeds, but who knows what evil quirks lurk therein.
If you think you'll need a lot of fast cores, you might consider a barebones Precision T7610 - about $600 and start it off with a pair of faster 5-core E5-2600 series of a single 6 or 8 core and add a second later.
Something I may do for my next system is to buy a Supermicro Superworkstation with a dual LGA1366 motherboard ($650), and plug in a pair of Xeon X5690 6-core @ 3.47 /3.73GHz for about $250 each, 48GB RAM (about $200) a Quadro M4000 (8GB)and run an SSD and mech'l drive off an LSI 6GB/s RAID controller. About $2,600 and have 12 cores/ 24 threads @ 3.47 /3.73, 48GB RAM, a great 8GB GPU, 900W PSU, fast disk system with 4 hot swap drives for about the same cost as a single used E5-2687w V2 processor on it's own.
Cheers,
BambiBoom
1. HP z420 (2015) > Xeon E5-1660 v2 six-core @ 3.7 / 4.0GHz > 32GB DDR3 ECC 1866 RAM > Quadro K4200 (4GB) > Intel 730 480GB (9SSDSC2BP480G4R5) > Western Digital Black WD1003FZEX 1TB> M-Audio 192 sound card > 600W PSU> Logitech z2300 > Linksys AE3000 USB WiFi > 2X Dell Ultrasharp U2715H (2560 X 1440) > Windows 7 Professional 64 >
[ Passmark Rating = 5064 > CPU= 13989 / 2D= 819 / 3D= 4596 / Mem= 2772 / Disk= 4555] [Cinebench R15 > CPU = 1014 OpenGL= 126.59 FPS] 7.8.15
Pending upgrade: HP /LSI 9212-4i PCIe SAS /SATA HBA RAID controller, 2X Seagate Constellation ES.3 1TB (RAID 1)
2. Dell Precision T5500 (2011) > Xeon X5680 six -core @ 3.33 / 3.6GHz, 24GB DDR3 ECC 1333 > Quadro K2200 (4GB ) > Samsung 840 250GB / WD RE4 Enterprise 1TB > M-Audio 192 sound card 875W PSU > Logitech z313> Linksys WMP600N PCI WiFi > Windows 7 Professional 64> HP 2711x (1920 X 1080)
[ Passmark system rating = 3490 / CPU = 9178 / 2D= 685 / 3D= 3566 / Mem= 1865 / Disk= 2122] [Cinebench 15 > CPU = 772 OpenGL= 99.72 FPS] 7.8.15
3. HP z420 (2013) E5-1620 4-core @ 3.6 /3.8GHz), 24GB DDR3- 1600 ECC , Quadro 4000 (2GB) , Samsung 840 250GB / WD RE4 1TB > Windows 7 1TB > Dell 24" and 19" LCD.
Network: Netgear GS108-400NAS Gigabit Ethernet
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