Dell Workstation Owners Club

[Susquehannock]

Bad news friends. No go with these RDIMMs and dual QPI processors in T3500/X58. Not with my small sampling of hardware at least. Same results as with the single QPI W3680. Only get "S8" error at any configuration - one, two, or three modules. BIOS won't even complete POST sequence.

To reiterate, these are the IBM part #49Y1415 8gb 2Rx4 1.35v RDIMM modules.

First tried the W5590. S8 error. (dual QPI = yes)
Then tried X5687. S8 error. (dual QPI = yes)
Put the 6x2gb=12 UDIMMs back in. No issues.
Put the 3x8gb=24 RDIMMs back in the T5500 board. No issues.

So here is where I stand right now with X5687 installed.
> https://valid.x86.fr/c6frgm <

 

[lexluthermiester]

Bad news friends. No go with these RDIMMs and dual QPI processors in T3500/X58. Not with my small sampling of hardware at least. Same results as with the single QPI W3680. Only get "S8" error at any configuration - one, two, or three modules. BIOS won't even complete POST sequence.

To reiterate, these are the IBM part #49Y1415 8gb 2Rx4 1.35v RDIMM modules.

First tried the W5590. S8 error. (dual QPI = yes)
Then tried X5687. S8 error. (dual QPI = yes)
Put the 6x2gb=12 UDIMMs back in. No issues.
Put the 3x8gb=24 RDIMMs back in the T5500 board. No issues.

So here is where I stand right now with X5687 installed.
> https://valid.x86.fr/c6frgm <

Damn, was kinda hoping that would work. Thanks for trying though!

 

[Retrorockit]

I've gotten a report form OCN that people are running Westmeres with 3x16GB RDIMMs 2 rank modules.
This was posted as being able to work.
http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/ct204872bb160b
It's in the X58 Xeon club so I assume it's X58 systems. But it may be MB, by MB capability.

Then there's this, another phantom unlocked CPU. X5687 @ 56x133
http://valid.x86.fr/izs3g6
I wish I knew what is going on with this!

 

[ManGupta]

100*F ambient? Must have missed that somewhere. Was reading 30*C (86*F) ambient in post # 366.

Actually Here at peak Summer Temps can go even over 40 C but right now Winter has started .... still its 25 C. The actual acid test of cooling mods will be in May-June when temps go over 40 C.

Nice mod. Was thinking about ManGuptas's heat situation myself. I realize ambient room temps in India are much higher than mine (30*C vs 22*C/72*F), but why 100*C so quick? Bad thermal paste? Did you remove cooler and re-apply?
A couple of these boxes I got with W3565 would shoot right up to 100*C and thermal throttle exactly as described with only light loads. Turned out the thermal paste was as shipped from Dell - now old and dried out. Not even making good contact anymore. A quick clean and apply of standard white paste dropped full load temps to 70*C levels. Just a thought.
I did stress test after I received shipment of T3500 at ambient 30C then and got thermal throttling as core temp went upto 100C. Few days afterwards I did some simultaneous changes like Changing CPU frpm W3550 to X5680, cleaned and applied paste Artic silver 5 and added 5 new Fans. (But previously the paste was not dried and I guess the seller had applied new thermal paste before shipping the 8 Year old T3500).
After 5 fan mods/change of thermal paste I did stress testing again (by then ambient had also fallen to 25C), and there was no thermal throttling and peak Core Temp was 67C (still 9C more than yours 58C).

And like you said Retrorockit, lapping the heatsink smooth does help a lot. Even better if you can use a premium paste. Grizzly Kryonaut works well for me. Although expensive. Tried all sorts of fans in both push and pull configurations. Up to 120x38mm Nidecs. Did not seen to make a significant difference over the good old 80mm. Hottest I can make it now with configuration in my signature is 58*C with Prime95 small FFTs. Often stays below 50*C in gaming and the like.
Yeah Grizzly Kryonaut is probably the best but since I had Artic Silver 5 lying unused with me so applied it. I consider it Next best after Grizzly Kryonaut.

Bad news friends. No go with these RDIMMs and dual QPI processors in T3500/X58. Not with my small sampling of hardware at least. Same results as with the single QPI W3680. Only get "S8" error at any configuration - one, two, or three modules. BIOS won't even complete POST sequence.

To reiterate, these are the IBM part #49Y1415 8gb 2Rx4 1.35v RDIMM modules.

First tried the W5590. S8 error. (dual QPI = yes)
Then tried X5687. S8 error. (dual QPI = yes)
Put the 6x2gb=12 UDIMMs back in. No issues.
Put the 3x8gb=24 RDIMMs back in the T5500 board. No issues.

So here is where I stand right now with X5687 installed.
> https://valid.x86.fr/c6frgm <

That's a setback and a moment of truth though. But thanks for trying anyway.

 

[caupro]

Hi guys i have a t5500 with a Xeon x5680 and 24gb RAM.

Does anyone know if this model/chipset supports sli? Tks.

 

[SoNic67]

Hi guys i have a t5500 with a Xeon x5680 and 24gb RAM.

Does anyone know if this model/chipset supports sli? Tks.

Not natively. But I was able to use Different SLI that bypasses that limitation and use two nVidia cards, Fermi generation. However, I do have the 866W power supply from T5500 in my T3500.
https://github.com/EmberVulpix/DifferentSLIAuto

 

[Susquehannock]

Hi guys i have a t5500 with a Xeon x5680 and 24gb RAM.

Does anyone know if this model/chipset supports sli? Tks.

Hi. Welcome to the forums.
Twin Quadro cards was an option from Dell. Driver support with aftermarket cards can be finicky. Saw a dual CPU T5500 running two GTX 670s in SLI on a another forum while back. Cannot remember where.

 

[Retrorockit]

I don't know what I have to do to keep the full images from loading.
But here is the 0P041K reversed, with the 1.8A. Nidec Beta V 92x38mm thermal control fan installed. Had to use the hardmount and remove the fan outlet side mounting holes. No loss really, it's a pull only fan, and no screen needed on the outlet anyway. The old fan was an AVC .4A. 74cfm PWM. It still respects the LGA1366 cooling footprint. This fan will respond to ambient as well as CPU heat.
I found the spec. sheet on this fan 130cfm, and .75" static presssure. 5700RPM. #M35105
https://datasheet.octopart.com/M34789-33-Nidec-datasheet-643872.pdf
The 3 pin plug will install on the 5 pin if you're careful to get it going the right way. But 1.8A. where .9A. was is a bit risky. I would just run 12V. to it. ManGupta is right that with hot air for cooling plenty of air flow is key. You might just tr this fan and see what happens. This fan is the CPU fan from an old Socket 478 Dell Pentium4 machine. I think they were Dimension series.

@ ManGupta you might ask about undervolting X58 in the overclocking thread. Throttlestop was actually designed for that. Unclewebb can probably help you with that approach to heat management.

BTW I didn't take pictures of it because it was too ridiculous, even by my standards. But I actually had a 2 motor 120x50mm GFB1212VHG 3.4A. Delta fan hanging off the back of the Macho 120 on page 9 of the OC thread, Just to see if it would fit. But the 150x50mm AFC1512DgG in front seemed like enough. I have used these to replace the 120x38mm fans before I discovered the 150mm fan swap.

 

[ManGupta]

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I don't know what I have to do to keep the full images from loading.
But here is the 0P041K reversed, with the 1.8A. Nidec Beta V 92x38mm thermal control fan installed. Had to use the hardmount and remove the fan outlet side mounting holes. No loss really, it's a pull only fan, and no screen needed on the outlet anyway. The old fan was an AVC .4A. 74cfm PWM. It still respects the LGA1366 cooling footprint. This fan will respond to ambient as well as CPU heat.
I found the spec. sheet on this fan 130cfm, and .75" static presssure. 5700RPM. #M35105
https://datasheet.octopart.com/M34789-33-Nidec-datasheet-643872.pdf

Yeah I was impressed with this fan when I read its specs from the Aliexpress site from the link you had posted. But Aliexpress shipment takes around 3 weeks or more to deliver at my place. Waiting for the shipment.

The 3 pin plug will install on the 5 pin if you're careful to get it going the right way.
How to exactly install 3 pin plug on the 5 pin ?

But 1.8A. where .9A. was is a bit risky. I would just run 12V. to it. ManGupta is right that with hot air for cooling plenty of air flow is key. You might just tr this fan and see what happens. This fan is the CPU fan from an old Socket 478 Dell Pentium4 machine. I think they were Dimension series.

@ ManGupta you might ask about undervolting X58 in the overclocking thread. Throttlestop was actually designed for that. Unclewebb can probably help you with that approach to heat management.
Yes I think I might need undervolting ....... for 20-30 days of peak Summer ...... But remaining 335-40 days I can do without it .

BTW I didn't take pictures of it because it was too ridiculous, even by my standards. But I actually had a 2 motor 120x50mm GFB1212VHG 3.4A. Delta fan hanging off the back of the Macho 120 on page 9 of the OC thread, Just to see if it would fit. But the 150x50mm AFC1512DgG in front seemed like enough. I have used these to replace the 120x38mm fans before I discovered the 150mm fan swap.

 

[Retrorockit]

You could do testing with the undervolting now. Basically you just add the difference in ambient to the CPU temperature. I guess about 13*C.
What CPU are you running, and how many cores/threads do you really need. There are some fairly fast 95W 4C/8T CPUs, and even some 95W 6 cores also. Maybe a summer CPU?
If you keep in mind that Dell has the RPM wire on pin #1 you stick the plug in that way. Yellow on pin 1, which was white on the 5 pin. Then black and red 12V. will be correct. But that fan regulates itself so just running 12V. to it would be safer.

 

[ManGupta]

You could do testing with the undervolting now. Basically you just add the difference in ambient to the CPU temperature. I guess about 13*C.
What CPU are you running, and how many cores/threads do you really need. There are some fairly fast 95W 4C/8T CPUs, and even some 95W 6 cores also. Maybe a summer CPU?
I am using X5680 130 W TDP. But yes may be just for summer I would buy a 95 TDP CPU. X5675 is 95 W TDP while still 6C/12T and still a 3 GHz+ CPU. I guess X5675 may be the ideal candidate for Summer CPU.

If you keep in mind that Dell has the RPM wire on pin #1 you stick the plug in that way. Yellow on pin 1, which was white on the 5 pin. Then black and red 12V. will be correct. But that fan regulates itself so just running 12V. to it would be safer.
Wow ... Got it.

Thanks Retrorockit. GREAT Advise.

I think now I will handle next Summer Heat.

Solution = 130 CFM Nidec Fan + 95W TDP X5675 + Hopefully very small amount of undervolting will do.

X5675 (with TDP 95W) is only 0.27 GHz slower than my existing X5680 (TDP 130W).

 

[Retrorockit]

I did my undervolting while running Prime 95 Small FFTs. So the undervolt doesn't cost any performance. If you had asked your question a week sooner I would have been undervolting a Q9505S 65W quad core 2.83GHz CPU intead of a 120W 3.33Ghz Xeon..
There are probably millions of people in your situation. South America, Africa, and much of Asia with older computers, and a very hot climate. This seems like a very worthwhile topic.

You could just use Throttlestop to turn down the multiplier on the existing CPU. TS was designed to extend battery life on laptops. But thermal management of a workstation is very similar.

 

[Susquehannock]

I don't know what I have to do to keep the full images from loading.

Thumbnail button still not working for you? Cannot speak for mobile access since I only use my PC on forums. What I do is take take images with my cell, Bluetooth the images to my PC, then use MS paint or Photoshop to modify pic size. Usually choose 1280x720. And use either program to change to JPEG. Seems to have best compatibility in forums.

 

[lexluthermiester]

For those of you that might be interested, I just watched this and it was surprising.

Found this very interesting and makes me appreciate my T3500's a bit more.

 

[ManGupta]

For those of you that might be interested, I just watched this and it was surprising.

Found this very interesting and makes me appreciate my T3500's a bit more.

4.5 GHz for X5675 and DDR3 @ 1700 MHz ...... No wonder Cinebench Score over 1K

I could not get any X58 Overclockable MB at reasonable price ...... these used X58 (OCable) are now selling at more than their release price.

Too bad ........ I found that only way to get X58 MB for cheap .................. was Getting T3500 system.


BTW ..... this Tech Yes City has done similar Video before also ....... that time he had pushed Memory speed even further to 1800 MHz ..... and got Cinebench score of 1026.

 

[Retrorockit]

The guys at OCN X58 Xeon Club are pursuing the RDIMM Question. There are several types of RDIMM modules 2Rx4,2Rx8 and others. 2Rx4 seems to be not working. 2Rx8 seems to be what they think will work sometimes.
https://www.overclock.net/forum/showthread2.php?p=27721840#post27721840

 

[lexluthermiester]

The guys at OCN X58 Xeon Club are pursuing the RDIMM Question. There are several types of RDIMM modules 2Rx4,2Rx8 and others. 2Rx4 seems to be not working. 2Rx8 seems to be what they think will work sometimes.
https://www.overclock.net/forum/showthread2.php?p=27721840#post27721840

I'm not holding my breath, but it'll be interesting to see developments.

 

[Susquehannock]

Me either. Not with these Dell systems anyway. What boards are the OCN X58 Xeon Club trying?

More I research more I am convinced this would be a case by case thing depending on the BIOS. Aftermarket boards like the Sabertooth have a lot of options in that regard. Seems the X58 and 5520 are same Tylersburg chipset with BIOS matched for intended purpose. Page 12 - 14 on this 5520 platform overview, it appears the I/O chipset has more to do with CPU and memory controller than I once thought. Could be wrong. Sure most of you can make better sense of it than I can.

[edit]
Page 5 has note - "Customized to High -End Desktop (X58)"

 

[lexluthermiester]

Seems the X58 and 5520 are same Tylersburg chipset with BIOS matched for intended purpose.

They're close, but they have distinct differences. The 5500/5520 chipsets can handle dual/quad socket designs and manage data traffic between CPU's and other components of the board whereas the x58 is limited to a single CPU socket. There are other differences that set them apart as well.

 

[Susquehannock]

Yes I know. Any reason the actual chip itself needs to be different? Cannot find any hard data to that but I am way out of my league here.

[edit]
Have the heatsink off a T3500 board presently and chip does have "X58" on it along with several numbers. Will try to remove cooler from a T5500 board and see how that looks.

 

[Retrorockit]

The guys at OCN use everything but HP/Dells. But if they get something going it might be worth a try. Some of them say it works, but getting the specicfics might take a while.

 

[Susquehannock]

Had chance to watch the two above videos this morning. Thank you for sharing. Makes me want an ASUS Sabertooth board even more. They confirm what most of us know. These older socket 1366 systems can still be quite relevant today. Don't need for all the latest and greatest to achieve decent frame rates in games.

I came about these Dells a bit backwards. Casual conversation at a football party resulted in T3500s coming my way instead of the recycling dumpster. Only planned using them as internet machines but soon discovered they were capable of much more. Took a chance on RX 480 card even though most said it was incompatible, and that a 6-pin PCIe connector could not power them. No problem. Then Retrorockit clued me in on their overclocking potential as well.

Has been interesting watching CPU prices. Top end ones like X5687 and X5690 have dropped about 50-60% in price since I started this adventure two years ago. Even the popular overclocking X5675 has fallen. Conversely, average prices of W3680 and W3690 have risen the past few months. No doubt due to their unlocked status.
[edit] - believe I understand "W" designation on certain 32nm Westmeres. Someone was asking about that. Going through the Intel ark, looks like they are all single QPI. May be a way to differentiate them from X units which are all 2 QPI.

 

[Retrorockit]

There were W series 2 QPI also "W5580". I think W started as an identifier for 130W CPUs in the 4 core series, but then so many 6 core were 130W it looks like they just dropped it for the 2 QPI 6 cores.

 

[dorsetknob]

There were W series 2 QPI also "W5580". I think W started as an identifier for 130W CPUs in the 4 core series,

Think Intel used the W Designation for CPU's intended for Workstations

 

[Susquehannock]

You are right of course. W5580 and W5590 are 2 QPI. They are 45nm Nehalem. Only two W series Wetmere far as I can see. W3670 and W3680. Both single QPI. W3690 is Gulftown and also single QPI.

The comparator makes things easy.

[edit]

Think Intel used the W Designation for CPU's intended for Workstations

That is a good thought. Looks like all the W series are single QPI which are a better fit for the X58 based boards and will not work in the T5500 5520 based boards which are server grade.

[edit 2]
Back to cooling ... anyone try the optional HDD cage for the optical bay? There is a header at top of board for it and looks to use 120x38mm fan.