Dell Workstation Owners Club

[Retrorockit]

Okay, so I'm now taking a serious look at getting something like this for my apartment, so I can have another computer that visitors could use. By "something like this" I mean a good old cheap used workstation that has enough CPU grunt, memory, and graphics power to play at least some basic games. Surely a graphics card could be added later, if need be...

I know the "Dell T5500" is mentioned a lot, but it runs on x58 hardware. I'd prefer at least sandy-bridge era hardware if possible and the price is right, because it looks like the lack of AVX might finally be starting to cause some problems for some games... but it's not a requirement. I don't know a whole lot about the used workstation market, I just know of a few model numbers.

There's a guy who ran an overclocked Dell T5810 in the Throttlestop overclocking thread with an unlocked Xeon. One of a kind project.
It's on this page but pretty far down.

Throttlestop overclocking Desktop PCs

Now a 4GHz QX6800 without SSE4 has some real limitations!

www.techpowerup.com

 

[lexluthermiester]

Okay, so I'm now taking a serious look at getting something like this for my apartment, so I can have another computer that visitors could use. By "something like this" I mean a good old cheap used workstation that has enough CPU grunt, memory, and graphics power to play at least some basic games. Surely a graphics card could be added later, if need be...

I know the "Dell T5500" is mentioned a lot, but it runs on x58 hardware. I'd prefer at least sandy-bridge era hardware if possible and the price is right, because it looks like the lack of AVX might finally be starting to cause some problems for some games... but it's not a requirement. I don't know a whole lot about the used workstation market, I just know of a few model numbers.

Dell T3600/T5600 would likely fit your needs. You might also consider an HP Z440 as those would as do well.

I'm looking to put something together also for similar reasons, plus running WCG 24/7. Because of WCG, I'd like to run dual cpu's. Total noob on workstations though. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Same as above. Try to aim for a 6core Xeon or better.

If either of you would like specific examples, chime in and I'll link a few ebay pages. Let me know.

 

[hat]

I found an HP Omen somethingorother in a local pawn shop. It has a Ryzen 3600 in it, along with a GTX1650. Only spent 150! I think I won this round...

 

[lexluthermiester]

I found an HP Omen somethingorother in a local pawn shop. It has a Ryzen 3600 in it, along with a GTX1650. Only spent 150! I think I won this round...

Holy crap! SCORE! Very nice!

 

[hat]

Holy crap! SCORE! Very nice!

Yes, indeed... I also successfully augered my toilet, so it's been a productive day still. There was a yellow straw(?) stuck in the auger bit when I pulled it out. Now it flows much better. It's amazing what a single straw can do...

 

[crazydrve`]

Perhaps it might be most useful for you to be asking these questions over in the Dell support forums.

Dell Community | DELL Technologies

www.dell.com

The problems you're having and questions you're asking are better asked there.

Not to make you feel unwelcome, however this is a workstation thread, not a server thread.

I get it, no worries. You all have been so helpful.

Has anyone ran dell diagnostics on the T5600 and got a message saying it can't use all the cpus or something?

I upgraded my t5600 to a e5-2640 but now I get that message.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Has anyone ran dell diagnostics on the T5600 and got a message saying it can't use all the cpus or something?

Screenshot please?

I upgraded my t5600 to a e5-2640 but now I get that message.

Yeah that CPU should work. Did you make sure to update the bios to the most recent version?

 

[crazydrve`]

Screenshot please?

Yeah that CPU should work. Did you make sure to update the bios to the most recent version?

Before I did the upgrade I made sure to reset bios and updated it. It already was but couldn't hurt.

It might be a "supported" issue. I don't see it listed on the cpu support list.

I am still getting the error, is there a way to upgrade the ePSA program?

 

[lexluthermiester]

It might be a "supported" issue. I don't see it listed on the cpu support list.

That system supports the 2640v2, that's not it.

I am still getting the error, is there a way to upgrade the ePSA program?

This might be a thing. The diag utilities might not support them. Have you tried testing with the original CPU?

Out of curiousity, what problems are you having the motivated the use of the system diags?

 

[crazydrve`]

That system supports the 2640v2, that's not it.

This might be a thing. The diag utilities might not support them. Have you tried testing with the original CPU?

Out of curiousity, what problems are you having the motivated the use of the system diags?

From what I can tell I am having no issues yet. I did a full memtest, cpu stress test, and furmark video test.
My system is overheating so I am looking at replacing the fans and will change the thermal paste. Too be honest I dont have the original cpus yet. its probably fine, I just figured I would use the tests. lol

How would I tell what revision of the cpu it is?

 

[lexluthermiester]

From what I can tell I am having no issues yet. I did a full memtest, cpu stress test, and furmark video test.
My system is overheating so I am looking at replacing the fans and will change the thermal paste. Too be honest I dont have the original cpus yet. its probably fine, I just figured I would use the tests. lol

I wouldn't worry about it then.

How would I tell what revision of the cpu it is?

Is your E5-2640 a 6core or 8core? The V1 2640 is a 6core, the V2 2640 is an 8core. The screenshots you provided show 8 cores so that CPU is very likely a E5-2640V2.

https://ark.intel.com/content/www/u...0-15m-cache-2-50-ghz-7-20-gt-s-intel-qpi.html

https://ark.intel.com/content/www/u...-processor-e5-2640-v2-20m-cache-2-00-ghz.html

 

[crazydrve`]

I wouldn't worry about it then.


Is your E5-2640 a 6core or 8core? The V1 2640 is a 6core, the V2 2640 is an 8core. The screenshots you provided show 8 cores so that CPU is very likely a E5-2640V2.

https://ark.intel.com/content/www/u...0-15m-cache-2-50-ghz-7-20-gt-s-intel-qpi.html

https://ark.intel.com/content/www/u...-processor-e5-2640-v2-20m-cache-2-00-ghz.html

I just looked and they are 6 core. I have ran all tests I can think of so its not an issue, from what I can tell.

Now I just need to cool the T5600, just replaced the cpu paste and it still idles about 40-45C. I am looking at updating the case fans and or heatsink.

Thank you
Bill

 

[lexluthermiester]

I just looked and they are 6 core. I have ran all tests I can think of so its not an issue, from what I can tell.

Now I just need to cool the T5600, just replaced the cpu paste and it still idles about 40-45C. I am looking at updating the case fans and or heatsink.

Thank you
Bill

Odd, the pictures you posted above show an 8core/16thread CPU.. Do you have a pair of the 2640's?

 

[crazydrve`]

Odd, the pictures you posted above show an 8core/16thread CPU.. Do you have a pair of the 2640's?

Yea, I have 2 x Xeon E5-2640, not sure why it shows the 8core.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Yea, I have 2 x Xeon E5-2640, not sure why it shows the 8core.

This could be a glitch with the software. Or the version of software you have might be expecting a different system.

 

[crazydrve`]

This could be a glitch with the software. Or the version of software you have might be expecting a different system.

Yea, its probably the ePSA diagnostics.

Has anyone tried to use a normal power supply for the T5600? My T5600 isn't booting, no sounds, only white power led. Verified video and hdd work. cant test the cpu in a different mobo.

 

[Retrorockit]

Earlier in this forum there was some info on swapping and upgrading T3600/T5600 PSUs. But a normal PSU won't work. They connect to a proprietary edge connector.

 

[crazydrve`]

Earlier in this forum there was some info on swapping and upgrading T3600/T5600 PSUs. But a normal PSU won't work. They connect to a proprietary edge connector.

I should have known. lol thanks.

this may be a dumb question but if I get no video, posts sounds, etc when starting T5600, does that mean the cpu is bad?

I dont see any lights except power led is solid white?

Anyone have any ideas?

 

[lexluthermiester]

this may be a dumb question but if I get no video, posts sounds, etc when starting T5600, does that mean the cpu is bad?

Might be a bad motherboard, might be the PSU. Have you unplugged the PSU and pressed the reset button on the back of the PSU(right above the power cable socket) yet? If not, try that and then plug everything back in and try to power on again.

 

[crazydrve`]

Yea, I have done that, and running minimal things too. Only video card and usb kb one thing taht might help is it seems the usb doesnt get power? no lights on my keyboard when on.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Yea, I have done that, and running minimal things too. Only video card and usb kb one thing taht might help is it seems the usb doesnt get power? no lights on my keyboard when on.

Have you unplugged the PSU and plugged it back in? How about unplugging the power cables from the motherboard and back in to reseat them?

 

[crazydrve`]

Have you unplugged the PSU and plugged it back in? How about unplugging the power cables from the motherboard and back in to reseat them?

I will try that again, I'm thinking I may have tightened the cpu heatsink too tight. Ugj

 

[lexluthermiester]

I'm thinking I may have tightened the cpu heatsink too tight.

I don't think that possible with those mounting brackets..

 

[crazydrve`]

Have you unplugged the PSU and plugged it back in? How about unplugging the power cables from the motherboard and back in to reseat them?

I will try that again, I'm thinking I may have tightened the cpu heatsink too tight. Ugj

yea that didnt work. so its either motherboard, psu or cpu.

Also the power led stays solid white.

 

[lexluthermiester]

or cpu.

It won't be that. If it were the CPU, the system would at least power on and give error codes.

so its either motherboard, psu

So yeah, this. Have you tried a spare ATX PSU plugged directly into the motherboard?