Dell Workstation Owners Club

[lexluthermiester]

i have ordered a X5690 just to see if there is any small improvement.

There will be for any game that is mutli-threaded. I'd be interested to see what the difference is.

 

[Retrorockit]

No i haven't, i have just launched a couple of game already installed on the computer and you're right i think CPU could be the bottleneck (as well as pci-e 2x). i have ordered a X5690 just to see if there is any small improvement.
So on rise of the tomb raider and shadow of the tomb raider (4k / ultra) it struggles to reach 25/30fps, Mass effect andromeda and strange brigade (4k / ultra) run smooth at 60 fps so of course it's quite far from the performance i had with the i9-9900k. On some games the CPUs cores run at 100% on other only at 80%.

The X5687 can be tweaked with Throttlestop to run turbo speed on all cores for 3.89Ghz on 8 threads. If the X5690 helps then the unlocked 6C/12T W3680 overclocked with TS would be the final CPU upgrade.
With an 11GB GPU I would like to see 18GB of RAM on board. GPU texture caching in a few games can cause a RAM bottleneck that looks like CPU limitations.

 

[lexluthermiester]

With an 11GB GPU I would like to see 18GB of RAM on board. GPU texture caching in a few games can cause a RAM bottleneck that looks like CPU limitations.

There's a very good point. 18GB or 24GB is recommended for that system with that GPU having 11GB of VRAM. The system RAM is a buffer for the GPU, so you need more system RAM than VRAM to keep the GPU from being starved of data.

@slaine_mcroth
How much RAM do you have in that system?

 

[slaine_mcroth]

The system has only 15GB of ram, yes 24GB would be good, need to find compatible ram. I have never used Throttlestop, 3.89ghz on all cores, what about the heatsink ?

 

[Retrorockit]

The system has only 15GB of ram, yes 24GB would be good, need to find compatible ram. I have never used Throttlestop, 3.89ghz on all cores, what about the heatsink ?

Most users just add a fan to the back of the existing heatsink. This seems to be good up to about 4.1GHz 6C/ 12T.
Here's the thread for it. The T3500 is well covered there.

Throttlestop overclocking Desktop PCs

Myself and a few others have used Throttlestop software and unlocked CPUs to overclock OEM locked BIOS PCs. Throttlestop was designed for underclocking, and undevolting laptop computers to extend battery life. It also allows full control of Voltage and multiplier on unlocked CPUs. There is a...

www.techpowerup.com

 

[lexluthermiester]

The system has only 15GB of ram

15? How do did you get such an odd amount of ram?

 

[KLiKzg]

Most users just add a fan to the back of the existing heatsink. This seems to be good up to about 4.1GHz 6C/ 12T.
Here's the thread for it. The T3500 is well covered there.

Throttlestop overclocking Desktop PCs

Myself and a few others have used Throttlestop software and unlocked CPUs to overclock OEM locked BIOS PCs. Throttlestop was designed for underclocking, and undevolting laptop computers to extend battery life. It also allows full control of Voltage and multiplier on unlocked CPUs. There is a...

www.techpowerup.com

Did not try that one yet on my T5500. Only changing to bigger heatsink.

Maybe the same solution should be OK for my C30?

 

[slaine_mcroth]

15? How do did you get such an odd amount of ram?

there are 6 memory slots on the mainboard, i'm using 3x 4GB modules and 3x 1GB modules, and it works fine in triple channel
I will try to find another 3x 4GB module to replace my 3x 1GB module

 

[Susquehannock]

Did not try that one yet on my T5500. Only changing to bigger heatsink.

Affixing the fan is easy. Slip a zip tie through the fins and use a second to hold it tight. Do this three times and you are done. My w3680 clocked at 4.0 ghz rarely hits 50c at full load in a 25-30c room.

 

[lexluthermiester]

there are 6 memory slots on the mainboard, i'm using 3x 4GB modules and 3x 1GB modules, and it works fine in triple channel
I will try to find another 3x 4GB module to replace my 3x 1GB module

Ok, fair enough. It could have easily been an odd mix of DIMMS. To be fair 15GB is going to be ok if you don't want to upgrade. But 24GB would last you the life of that system without any worries.

Affixing the fan is easy. Slip a zip tie through the fins and use a second to hold it tight. Do this three times and you are done. My w3680 clocked at 4.0 ghz rarely hits 50c at full load in a 25-30c room.

This. Works well.

I made a solution for my main use T3500 which was posted over in the Ghetto Mods thread, but I'll post it here;

I made this due to the cooling issues when I was ThrottleStop OCing my W3680. The 120mm fan is pulling air through the duct toward the back of the case. Works VERY well. Since taking these picture I've refined the design a little more.

I used to have the following on that same heatsink;

 

[KLiKzg]

Looks great, but the size of it would interfere with CPU raiser for 2nd CPU on T5500.

So will go with design of your previous version or the one with zip ties.
How large is the fan for zip ties? 80x80?

 

[lexluthermiester]

Looks great, but the size of it would interfere with CPU raiser for 2nd CPU on T5500.

True.

How large is the fan for zip ties? 80x80?

80MM fan, but a 92mm fan will work well too. I used metal tape instead of zip-ties, but zip ties work fine. Remember to mount the fan so that it pulls air through the heatsink toward the back of the case.

 

[crazydrve`]

Does anyone know if there is a way to find the different motherboard revisions for dell workstations?

 

[Remeca]

Does anyone know if there is a way to find the different motherboard revisions for dell workstations?

There's no master database afaik, you just need to research each one specifically. The Dell spec pages and community have a lot of information.

 

[Susquehannock]

Ok, fair enough. It could have easily been an odd mix of DIMMS. To be fair 15GB is going to be ok if you don't want to upgrade. But 24GB would last you the life of that system without any worries.


This. Works well.

I made a solution for my main use T3500 which was posted over in the Ghetto Mods thread, but I'll post it here;
View attachment 214148View attachment 214149View attachment 214150
I made this due to the cooling issues when I was ThrottleStop OCing my W3680. The 120mm fan is pulling air through the duct toward the back of the case. Works VERY well. Since taking these picture I've refined the design a little more.

I used to have the following on that same heatsink;
View attachment 214151

You found the RAM shroud unnecessary? Painted mine black.

 

[lexluthermiester]

You found the RAM shroud unnecessary?

Completely. In fact it seemed to be the cause of airflow restrictions. So yeah, pulled it out. I take them out any time I find a system with one.

 

[Susquehannock]

Completely. In fact it seemed to be the cause of airflow restrictions. So yeah, pulled it out. I take them out any time I find a system with one.

Interesting. Guess it all depends on the set up. Found my module temps went up after removing it. And I do like how that shroud directs flow right on the northbridge sink in T3500. Also don't have any rear case fans. Call me a minimalist. If I can still get decent temps with less fans I'm all for it.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Found my module temps went up after removing it.

I think the difference was 4C for mine, which is nothing when we're talking about sub-50C temps.

Also don't have any rear case fans.

None of my fans make much noise so it's not an issue. Everyone's preferences are different, so it's all good.

 

[KLiKzg]

Got used ASUS 1650 SUPER for my T5500:

Need to make some small "reworks":

 

[crazydrve`]

Hey all,

Just a general question, but does anyone know why there are different part numbers for the same motherboard, power supply, etc.?

I am needing to get a new power supply for my T5500 and not sure which one to get, if it even matters.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Just a general question, but does anyone know why there are different part numbers for the same motherboard, power supply, etc.?

Dell part numbers serve as identifiers for where that part was made and what revision it is. As a general rule part numbers for identical models are interchangeable.

I am needing to get a new power supply for my T5500 and not sure which one to get, if it even matters.

It doesn't matter. If it's for the T5500 or even T3500 & T7500, it'll work in your T5500. The fit is the same as is the wiring harness connector.

 

[Remeca]

Dell part numbers serve as identifiers for where that part was made and what revision it is. As a general rule part numbers for identical models are interchangeable.

It doesn't matter. If it's for the T5500 or even T3500 & T7500, it'll work in your T5500. The fit is the same as it the wiring harness connector.

It would be nice if this was true of Optiplex.

 

[lexluthermiester]

It would be nice if this was true of Optiplex.

Yes it would. It sorta is as long as you stay within the same model series of them.

 

[crazydrve`]

Dell part numbers serve as identifiers for where that part was made and what revision it is. As a general rule part numbers for identical models are interchangeable.

It doesn't matter. If it's for the T5500 or even T3500 & T7500, it'll work in your T5500. The fit is the same as it the wiring harness connector.

Thanks Lex

OK all, I just realized that for some stupid reason, I had a jumper on the Password Jumper and RTC Reset Jumper.

I fixed this but what kind of damage could that do?

Thanks again for any help.

 

[lexluthermiester]

I fixed this but what kind of damage could that do?

Well, you want to put it back. That is the clear CMOS settings jumper. Dell just words it funny.