2019 Upgrades - Need Suggestions!

Hey all, I've been running some CPU stuff on autopilot for a while, and I thought it might be time to revamp my fleet. I have several dormant rigs, some due to reliability and some due to the fact I haven't had an office in over a year, and I can't run all this stuff in my house. Especially in the Memphis heat! I have an office now, so I'd like to upgrade at least one box to put there.

I have an X99 rig with a Xeon E5-2670 V3 ES 12c/24t CPU and 2x GTX 960. I was thinking of upgrading it to E5-2699 V4 22c/44t and a RTX 2080 Super:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-Xeon-...X/163770114205

https://www.outletpc.com/jc9214.html

Let me know what you think, I'm way behind on all the new stuff-

Just an opinion here...
My E5-2670 V3 ES 12c/24t CPUs are trashing the V4's (all cores/threads versions) everywhere I run directly against them.

There's nothing wrong with the processor, it still a very capable CPU, better than most, it keeps up fairly well with the Threadrippers also...

The 2080 GPU is a good one better than a 1080Ti by about 25% head to head, but if you can afford it go for the 2080Ti, it's better even still.

Conclusion on best advice? I would keep the processor and go for the better GPU.... (unless your considering a threadripper, that's where the cutting edge is right now)

(just a note, that x99 MB throttles the E5-2670 V3 Xeons, in fact it throttles all Xeons. I would suggest if your considering upgrading, update to an X10 supermicro server MB. It really unlocks the capabilities of the 2700 series Xeons)

Derp... not sure why I didn't consider swapping the mobo for a dual-socket and adding a 2nd E5-2670 V3. It will even cost less, and for more threads :D

Here's what I'll get:
https://www.newegg.com/supermicro-mb...82E16813182967

Is it best to fill all the memory slots? I don't know if I can justify the cost of 128Gb RAM... I think 64 will have to do. Better to do 8x8 or 4x16?

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Originally Posted by Egilman

Just an opinion here...
My E5-2670 V3 ES 12c/24t CPUs are trashing the V4's (all cores/threads versions) everywhere I run directly against them.

There's nothing wrong with the processor, it still a very capable CPU, better than most, it keeps up fairly well with the Threadrippers also...

The 2080 GPU is a good one better than a 1080Ti by about 25% head to head, but if you can afford it go for the 2080Ti, it's better even still.

Conclusion on best advice? I would keep the processor and go for the better GPU.... (unless your considering a threadripper, that's where the cutting edge is right now)

(just a note, that x99 MB throttles the E5-2670 V3 Xeons, in fact it throttles all Xeons. I would suggest if your considering upgrading, update to an X10 supermicro server MB. It really unlocks the capabilities of the 2700 series Xeons)

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That's the ticket, I ran one when I had my 7990's. (I had to upgrade to one with onboard video after the big GPU crash)

Memory? I would go with 4 sticks rather than two.... and make sure you update to the latest bios.

If I remember right, it will accept standard H55 CPU AIO coolers also.... (it will also accept three GPUs all at x16)

Very good MB for what we do....

Just a note for others watching this thread: If you are buying older CPUs, be sure to avoid ivybridge (v2) or earlier. They lack AVX2. You need at least Haswell (v3) or later, to get AVX2.

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Originally Posted by FourOh

Here's what I'll get:
https://www.newegg.com/supermicro-mb...82E16813182967

Is it best to fill all the memory slots? I don't know if I can justify the cost of 128Gb RAM... I think 64 will have to do. Better to do 8x8 or 4x16?

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Those CPUs are quad channel. I *think* that means you want to have at least 4 DIMMs, and if you add more, you should add them in sets of 4. But if you add more than one DIMM per channel, things slow down.

But I am not sure if that rule is per CPU or per MB.

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Originally Posted by zombie67

Those CPUs are quad channel. I *think* that means you want to have at least 4 DIMMs, and if you add more, you should add them in sets of 4. But if you add more than one DIMM per channel, things slow down.

But I am not sure if that rule is per CPU or per MB.

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You want 4 DIMMs per CPU max on quad channel Xeons. That way each DIMM has it's own dedicated memory controller and is faster. So 8 DIMMs total on a dual socket board.

Pulled the trigger on the dual Xeon motherboard, a 2nd 12c/24t Xeon E5-2670 V3, 64Gb RAM, and an RTX 2080 Super. While I wait for the CPU I got the 2080 Super up and running... 15 Mil per day on Collatz ain't bad!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FourOh

Pulled the trigger on the dual Xeon motherboard, a 2nd 12c/24t Xeon E5-2670 V3, 64Gb RAM, and an RTX 2080 Super. While I wait for the CPU I got the 2080 Super up and running... 15 Mil per day on Collatz ain't bad!!

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Very impressive. I'm a little jealous lol

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Originally Posted by John P. Myers

Very impressive. I'm a little jealous lol

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Me too!

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Originally Posted by FourOh

Pulled the trigger on the dual Xeon motherboard, a 2nd 12c/24t Xeon E5-2670 V3, 64Gb RAM, and an RTX 2080 Super. While I wait for the CPU I got the 2080 Super up and running... 15 Mil per day on Collatz ain't bad!!

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Good DEAL! Your going to fall in love with that setup, I know I did..... (I have six of them, I only wish the 2080's had come out two months earlier)

Those of you using Supermicro X10, what’s the trick to getting the mb to recognize the 2nd CPU? Or have I likely received one of the unlucky boards that needs to be RMAd?

BIOS is latest, and I have memory on each CPU. When I go to BIOS settings, everything is blank for CPU 2.

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Originally Posted by FourOh

....... Or have I likely received one of the unlucky boards that needs to be RMAd? .......

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Yeah unfortunately...... updated Bios isn't recognizing the socket? It's a socket problem that crops up occasionally with all X-10 duals/quads.

I got two of them, both ran fine on a single processor...... Supermicro will do the upfront pre-swap, send you a replacement then you can send the bad board back.... Just make sure you put the dead one in the correct serial numbered box, they get irritated when it isn't....

Just a shot: Sometimes, there are two power connections on the MB, one for each CPU. Do you have both CPUs powered?

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Originally Posted by zombie67

Just a shot: Sometimes, there are two power connections on the MB, one for each CPU. Do you have both CPUs powered?

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The Supermicro X-10's do have two, they are off white plastic and located right next to the main PS connection, they have sticky tags over them telling you that you have to connect both of them. Pretty hard to miss...

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Originally Posted by Egilman

The Supermicro X-10's do have two, they are off white plastic and located right next to the main PS connection, they have sticky tags over them telling you that you have to connect both of them. Pretty hard to miss...

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Yes, I plugged 8-pin CPU power to both those connectors. I have another CPU coming today, I'll try that and see if it makes any difference. If not, I'll get the RMA started :p

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Originally Posted by FourOh

Yes, I plugged 8-pin CPU power to both those connectors. I have another CPU coming today, I'll try that and see if it makes any difference. If not, I'll get the RMA started :p

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When I had the first one of mine, the service tech told me to drop the second CPU in the #1 socket and see if it boots with the 2nd CPU in single processor mode, it did so I knew the CPU's were ok. He automatically gave me an RMA# and with a credit card# they shipped it out immediately. Got it two days later and it booted fine with both installed....

He told me it happens with about 2-3% of the X-10 dual and quad MB's they ship, something to do with the way the sockets are installed on the MB in assembly.... (It's very touchy and if not precise, it breaks something)

But no issues with the RMA though. Smooth as glass.....

So I noticed two of my E5-2670 V3s were showing up as "Stepping 1" in CPU info, the other "Stepping 2." So I put the two like CPUs together and it's working! So glad I didn't have to RMA :p

I was gonna make a suggestion about the stepping but it didn't seem the problems you were having would've been caused by that. Learned something new :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FourOh

So I noticed two of my E5-2670 V3s were showing up as "Stepping 1" in CPU info, the other "Stepping 2." So I put the two like CPUs together and it's working! So glad I didn't have to RMA :p

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by John P. Myers

I was gonna make a suggestion about the stepping but it didn't seem the problems you were having would've been caused by that. Learned something new :)

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Wow, I didn't even think to ask you to check that....

YES! Stepping has to be the same on all processors in any dual/quad processor/SMP situation....