All about intel xeon processors. Intel Xeon what kind of processors are these? Potential in gaming applications
For enthusiasts and overclocking fans, this Skylake processor has become not only a way to bypass Intel's overclocking restrictions, but also a real opportunity to get a powerful quad-core Core i7 at the price of a Core i3. In this article we will look at another profitable option for purchasing iron in China.
On AliExpress, Taobao and Ebay you will find many Xeon server chips of the Sandy Bridge-EP and Ivy Bridge-EP generations, which went on sale in 2012 and 2013. At one time, these were one of the most high-tech and productive solutions, which is why such processors were quite expensive. For example, the retail price of the 8-core Xeon E5-2670, which will be discussed below, when ordering a batch of 1,000 pieces was $1,550. Now this model can be purchased for just a few thousand rubles, which is not surprising considering its age.
The presence of six and eight cores in outdated Xeon models attracts computer enthusiasts, and simply all those who want to save as much as possible when assembling a system unit. In price, some Sandy Bridge-EP and Ivy Bridge-EP chips are comparable to modern dual-core Pentium and Core i3 processors of the Skylake and Kaby Lake generations, and in performance in multi-threaded applications - with quad-core Core i7. Sounds tempting, right? But, as with any adventure related to the purchase of iron in China, there are pitfalls. Therefore, we decided to study this issue in more detail by assembling a productive and inexpensive gaming computer based on the Xeon E5-2670.
⇡ Selection and purchase
The most attractively priced Sandy Bridge-EP models for the LGA2011 platform and Chinese motherboards on the X79 Express chipset are the Xeon E5-1620, E5-1650, E5-2650, E5-2660, E5-2665, E5-2670, E5- 2680 and E5-2690. Finding these chips for sale on sites such as Taobao and AliExpress is not difficult. The most popular options from this list are the 6-core Xeon E5-1650 and 8-core Xeon E5-2670. The first model has an unlocked multiplier. Statistics show that this processor, using high-quality air cooling, can easily be overclocked to 4.3-4.5 GHz. The Xeon E5-2670 does not have such an advantage, but under load all eight cores of the chip operate at a frequency of 3 GHz, which is also not bad. Other server processors no longer look so attractive in the price-performance coordinate system. The Xeon E5-1620 has only four cores, the E5-2650 (~2,000 RUR), E5-2660 (~3,000 RUR) and E5-2665 (~3,500 RUR) chips operate at low frequencies, and the E5- 2680 (~7,500 rubles) will have to be paid extra.
The same trading platforms are full of Xeon processors of the Ivy Bridge-EP generation. The 10-core Xeon E5-2660 V2, Xeon E5-2670 V2 and Xeon E-2680 V2 seem to be interesting options - they are also compatible with the LGA2011 platform. An engineer Xeon E5-2680 V2, operating with all ten cores loaded at a frequency of 3100 MHz, costs an average of 8,000 rubles. A serial modification of this processor will cost significantly more.
As a result, our choice fell on the Xeon E5-2670 model (~4,000 rubles) with C1 stepping, since this chip costs less than the Xeon E5-1650 (~6,000 rubles), but without overclocking it turns out to be faster in all resource-intensive tasks, using multithreading. The technical characteristics of these processors are shown in the table. For clarity, let's add to the comparison the Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition - the flagship chip among desktop solutions for the LGA2011 platform - and the Core i7-7700, since many sellers on TaoBao and AliExpress like to compare 8-core Xeons with 8-thread Core chips of the sixth and seventh generations.
It is important to understand that Sandy Bridge in 2017 is already considered an obsolete architecture. After its release in 2012, Intel introduced Ivy Bridge, Haswell, Broadwell and Skylake solutions, and when comparing a Sandy Bridge processor with a Skylake or Kaby Lake chip at the same frequency, a modern CPU will be faster by an average of 30%, and this is a noticeable increase. Plus, don’t forget that platforms evolve along with central processors.
| Xeon E5-2670 | Xeon E5-1650 | Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition | Core i7-7700 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform | LGA2011 | LGA2011 | LGA2011 | LGA1151 |
| date exit | Q1 2012 | Q1 2012 | Q4 2012 | Q1 2017 |
| Codename | Sandy Bridge-E | Sandy Bridge-E | Sandy Bridge-E | Kaby Lake |
| Technical process, nm | 32 | 32 | 32 | 14 |
| Number of cores/threads | 8/16 | 6/12 | 6/12 | 4/8 |
| Clock frequency (Turbo Boost), GHz | 2,6 (3,3) | 3,2 (3,8) | 3,5 (4,0) | 3,6 (4,2) |
| Unlocked multiplier | No | Eat | Eat | No |
| Level 3 cache, MB | 20 | 12 | 15 | 8 |
| Built-in memory controller | DDR3-800/1066/1333/1600, 4-channel | DDR3-1066/1333/1600, 4-channel | DDR4-2133/2400, DDR3L-1333/1600, 2-channel | |
| Number of PCI Express lanes, version | 40, 3.0 | 40, 3.0 | 40, 3.0 | 16, 3.0 |
| Integrated Graphics | No | No | No | HD 630 |
| TDP level, W | 115 | 130 | 150 | 65 |
| Price at the time of sale, $ | 1 552 | 583 | 1 059 | 303 |
As you can see, it is very similar to the server Xeon E5-1650. But Intel desktop six-core processors (don’t forget about the existence of the Core i7-3960X), also designed for the LGA2011 platform, have higher clock speeds and more third-level cache: 15 versus 12 MB. In addition, it is worth noting that processors based on the Sandy Bridge architecture do not support the AVX2 vector instruction set.
On sale you can find Xeon with both C1 and C2 stepping - the new version corrects errors in the implementation of VT-d virtualization technology. C2 stepping does not provide any other advantages, but such versions of Xeon cost 800-1,000 rubles more. We have the C1 model at our disposal. This is not an engineering sample, there are full markings on the cover. The FPO (Finished Process Order) number 3135C087 indicates that the processor was manufactured in week 35 of 2011.
Within the framework of this article, we consider the option of purchasing not only a central processor, but also a motherboard with a set of RAM. The fact is that it is not easy to find a cheap motherboard based on the X79 Express chipset from a well-known manufacturer on Avito and other flea markets. There are options, but for a “worn” board of the GIGABYTE GA-X79-UD3 level they are asking 13-15 thousand rubles. People are not shy about offering crazier options. Fortunately, enterprising Chinese quickly figured out how they could organize sales of old Xeons, and at the same time earn extra money. Therefore, simultaneously with server CPUs of the Sandy Bridge-EP and Ivy Bridge-EP generations, inexpensive motherboards from little-known or completely unknown manufacturers are being traded. It is this combination - Xeon, “some kind of X79 motherboard”, DDR3 registered ECC memory - that is the most profitable offer today. Chinese boards work easily with regular RAM modules, but register memory kits on AliExpress and Taobao are cheaper and allow you to save additional money. In addition, sellers sell packages that immediately include one or another Xeon Sandy Bridge-EP, a motherboard and RAM (almost always register memory).
As with any product purchased abroad, there are pitfalls. Buying computer equipment abroad is always a risk, and even more so in the case of such platforms as AliExpress and Taobao. Firstly, we contact unverified sellers, and the presence of a rating system only helps partly. Although sellers promise 100% performance of the hardware, no one is immune from deception, defects, or substitution. Secondly, there is no official warranty for such components, and the seller’s warranty, even if it is provided, will not be easy to use. Thirdly, after sending, there comes a tedious wait for the order, during which you can only hope that the Russian and Chinese post offices will not lose or break the parcel. In most cases, everything works out, but, as Forrest Gump said, shit happens.
It is more profitable to buy a processor, board and memory on the Taobao site - this is a kind of AliExpress for our own people (for the Chinese). Nobody bothers you to use the services of third-party “purchasing” services. The cost of Chinese motherboards for the LGA2011 platform, which we will talk about later, on AliExpress is noticeably inflated for unknown reasons. But the prices for the processor and RAM are quite tolerable.
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Many sellers sell goods both individually and as a set. In the second case, it’s simply more convenient - the package will contain everything you need and upon receipt you can immediately begin assembling the PC.
| LGA2011 | LGA1151 | AM3+ | LGA1151 | LGA1151 | LGA1151 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Pentium G4560 | AMD FX-8320E | Intel Core i3-6100 | Intel Core i5-7400 | Intel Core i7-6400T (QHQG, L501C679) | |
| Motherboard | H110 Express | AMD 760G | H110 Express | H110 Express | Z170 Express | |
| Memory | 2 × 8 GB DDR3-1600 | 2 × 8 GB DDR4-2400 | 2 × 8 GB DDR3-1866 | 2 × 8 GB DDR4-2133 | 2 × 8 GB DDR4-2400 | 2 × 8 GB DDR4-2133 |
| Price | 14,000 rub. (including delivery) | 15,500 rub. | 17,000 rub. | 18,000 rub. | RUB 22,500 | 25,000 rub. |
We ended up purchasing a kit that included a Xeon E5-2670, 16 GB of DDR3-1600 registered RAM, and an mATX motherboard based on the X79 Express. This set cost, taking into account all additional expenses, 14,000 rubles. And this is noticeably cheaper than options with modern Pentium G4560 or Core i3-6100. All components arrived safe and sound - the seller did not spare any packaging material.
⇡ Motherboard and RAM
In fact, deciding on a motherboard for the Xeon Sandy Bridge-EP is more difficult than deciding on the processor itself. As mentioned above, getting a model with an X79 chipset from a well-known manufacturer is very problematic and expensive. Among the Chinese offers there are several inexpensive models, but all of them are not without drawbacks and require optimization. Formally, Chinese motherboards for the LGA2011 platform are divided into two types. Although the device name uses the “X79” marking, in most cases Intel C602/C604 server chipsets are used.
The first and, perhaps, the most popular option is motherboards of the ATX form factor produced by HUANAN, as well as its clones. Original boards are marked X79; the manufacturer's name is printed on the PCB or heatsink. Clones are designated X79Z - on such motherboards you can find a PCI slot (the original HUANAN does not have it). It is better to take boards of new versions: 2.46 and 2.47 for X79 and 2.4b for X79Z. We recommend avoiding old modifications, such as v150, 2.43 and rev 2.01. Firstly, there are no improved BIOS versions for them - this means that you will not be able to adjust the rotation speed of even PWM fans, and you will not run the RAM at an effective frequency of 1866 MHz. Secondly, these boards are not suitable for overclocking the Xeon E5-1650.
HUANAN and clones are the most expensive options. Some models have an M.2 slot, but it operates in SATA 3 Gb/s mode, so it is practically useless. But they are all equipped with two SATA 6 Gb/s connectors, so they are quite suitable for building a PC using an SSD. Additionally, most have an internal USB 3.0 connector.
The second type includes motherboards for the LGA2011 platform, made in the mATX form factor. They are cheaper, but have fewer ports on the I/O panel, as well as denser component wiring. The most popular models belonging to the second type are marked G218a. Among them there are versions v1.0, v1.1a (this is the board that was purchased in the end) and v 1.1b. In addition, you can find boards marked MS-7777. They do not support registered ECC memory, are not equipped with an internal USB 3.0 connector, and even internal USB 2.0 ones are not all working. And these motherboards are equipped with only three expansion slots. Another option is boards labeled YW-X79-E. They have support for DDR3 ECC REG memory. These devices are less common than others, and therefore their capabilities have not been fully studied by enthusiasts.
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YW-X79-E |
As a result, you need to choose among motherboards whose power converter is equipped with a metal radiator. For assembly in a case, it is better that the board has an internal USB 3.0 connector. Plus, register memory is now relatively inexpensive. In general, we are looking towards models 2.46/2.47, 2.4b and v1.1a. We chose the G218a, preferring its more compact form factor. This motherboard also costs 1,000-2,000 rubles less than its ATX counterparts.
The chipset (after all, we are dealing with a microcircuit produced using a 65-nm process technology) in all Chinese motherboards is cooled by a small aluminum radiator. In a case with mediocre air circulation, the chip most likely will not last long.
The markings of the connectors on the PCB are similar to those that MSI uses in its solutions.
The seller included a simple cooler along with the processor, motherboard and memory. Also in the box we found instructions in English, a disk with drivers, a pair of SATA cables, a plug for the I/O panel on the case and an adapter for mounting the cooler.
Please note that the LGA2011 processor socket in the G218A-V1.1a and other “Chinese” products is designed slightly differently than in serial motherboards from well-known brands. It does not have mounting threaded holes at the edges, but four holes are drilled in the PCB, the distances between which correspond to the LGA1366 standard. This fastening system was used. It turns out that any coolers whose mounts are designed for use on LGA1366 platforms are compatible with Chinese motherboards. If such support is not provided, then the cooling system must be selected from among models that are attached using a crossbar with two eyes at the ends. For example, Deepcool Gammaxx S40 is suitable. Just use the adapter included in the kit. First we install it, then we hook the cooler to the lugs, as if we were installing a cooling system for an AMD processor.
The device has four DIMM slots, which means that Xeon Sandy Bridge-EP processors with a 4-channel DDR3 controller will be able to fully realize its capabilities. The v1.1a model supports ECC register memory.
The poor layout of some components immediately catches your eye. The internal USB 3.0 connector is inconveniently routed. And installing a long video card equipped with a dual-slot cooling system will lead to overlap of the PCI Express x1 closest to it and two SATA 3 Gb/s connectors.
By the way, the G218a has a total of six connectors for connecting drives. SATA 6 Gb/s ports are indicated in red, and 3 Gb/s ports are indicated in blue. Also on the PCB there are connectors for connecting case mini-jacks, COM and three USB 2.0 bundles at once.
The board received only three connectors for connecting fans. Two of them are four-pin. We will tell you more about setting the rotation speed of the turntables below.
The power subsystem has seven phases. Its elements are cooled by a small asymmetrical aluminum radiator. A screw mount is used, and a small layer of thermal paste is applied between the power converter and the heatsink. In the circuit, each channel has one inductor and a pair of M3004D transistors manufactured by UBIQ Semiconductor. The power subsystem is controlled by the ISL6366 PWM controller. I note that the G218a design uses exclusively solid-state capacitors.
Under load, the converter heats up noticeably, but the temperature does not go beyond 100 degrees Celsius. Ineffective cooling is... Therefore, when choosing options without additional cooling of the power subsystem, we were eliminated.
Please note that the RAM also gets noticeably warm. This problem affects all register modules. The forums report that kits without radiators have lower temperatures. In any case, cooling the components of a future system based on Xeon and X79 boards must be approached with all responsibility.
The I/O panel of the G218a is frankly scanty. There are a pair of USB 3.0 Type A ports. There are four more of the same connectors, but USB 2.0. From the markings we see that there should have been optical S/PDIF, but the space for soldering this connector is empty.
A simple Realtek RTL8111E controller is responsible for the network. A similar version of this gigabit chip is RTL8111H - . The audio path is based on a six-channel Realtek ALC662. Modern budget motherboards for Skylake and Kaby Lake processors use better chips - Realtek ALC887 or Realtek ALC892.
Controllers G218A-V1.1a- gallery
BIOS version G218a does not have many settings. All Chinese motherboards use similar firmware. Yes, you have to deal with the good old blue interface without mouse support and the inability to update from a flash drive without creating a bootable DOS partition.
Apito Setup Utility- gallery
There is no way to regulate the voltage of the processor and RAM. At all. There is no access to manual timing control for RAM modules. Among the useful functions: setting the RAM frequency divider, CPU multiplier and Smart Fan - controlling the speed of fans connected to four-pin connectors depending on changes in processor temperature.
There are plenty of Samsung, Micron and SK Hynix RAM kits on sale. Kits with registered ECC memory for the LGA2011 platform are still cheap and cost significantly less than conventional RAM. But they are also noticeably slower. If you already have a set of regular DDR3 memory, then use it. If you buy register strips in China, then you can actually buy a two-channel DDR3-1600L kit with a capacity of 16 GB for 3,000 rubles. Considering that we are assembling a computer based on a fairly old platform, it makes sense to buy to capacity, namely, purchase four modules of 8 GB each. In my case, the seller sold the “board - processor - memory” kit only together with the Samsung M393B1K70DH0-YK0 set, consisting of two sticks with a total capacity of 16 GB. The letter “L” in the name of the RAM standard means that the kit operates at a voltage reduced to 1.35 V.
Practice shows that most of the DDR3-1333 and DDR3-1600 registered RAM purchased in China “starts up” at an effective frequency of 1866 MHz. Since we cannot change the timings in the BIOS, when the operating speed increases, most kits start with delays of 12-12-12-32.
⇡ Overclocking and tuning
Along with the motherboard, processor and RAM, the seller included a simple cooler - just with fasteners for the LGA1366 socket. The fan does not have PWM, so it rotates at a frequency of about 2400 rpm all the time. In this mode, the cooler’s operation is audible: from 30 centimeters, the measuring device recorded an acoustic pressure of 42 dB.
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At the same time, the efficiency of this cooling system is quite sufficient for the Xeon E5-2670. The processor frequency in LinX 0.7.0 drops to the standard 2.6 GHz. The BIOS provides settings to change the CPU power limit, but they do not work. In games and benchmarks, the operating frequency of all eight cores is 3 GHz. afudos newbios.rom /gan .
I think there is no point in reminding once again that an unsuccessful BIOS flashing process can lead to a “bricked” system. In this case, you will have to take up the programmer. Owners note that problems may arise with flashing HUANAN X79 rev2.47 motherboards. If you are unlucky, you will have to download this BIOS version using the programmer. But in the case of the G218a, the BIOS update went quickly and without any hiccups.
As already noted, the Xeon E5-2670 does not overclock. The multiplier can only be changed in the Xeon E5-1620 and E5-1650 models. You cannot manually adjust the voltage, but the processor changes it automatically in the range from 0.6 to 1.35 V. This is enough for the E5-1650 to accelerate to 4.3-4.5 GHz. Please note that high-quality cooling is necessary, since the TDP of the processor is 130 W. The multiplier is set in the BIOS Advanced/CPU Power Management Configuration menu.
Eight-core Xeon E5-2665, E5-2670 and E5-2680 are still overclockable, but only using the SetFSB utility (we used version 2.3.178.134). Clock generator operating frequency realistically increase by 3-7 MHz, which will give a total of an additional 90-210 MHz ( what luck with the iron?) for all eight cores.
The utility does not support generators such as ICS932SQ420DGLF and ICS932SQ420DKL. Therefore, go to the Diagnosis tab, in the Clock Generator menu, select the very last item - PLL Diagnosis. Click on the Get FSB button. A table will appear at the bottom of the SetFSB screen. Select the parameter that intersects at row “00” and column “06”. In the Bin field, change the default 00011000 to the following set of zeros and ones:
- 00011001 - for setting 101.30 MHz on the bus.
- 00011010 - for setting 102.47 MHz on the bus.
- 00011011 - for setting 103.78 MHz on the bus.
- 00011100 - for setting 105.08 MHz on the bus.
- 00011101 - for setting 106.25 MHz on the bus.
- 00011110 - for setting 107.55 MHz on the bus.
- 00011111 - for setting 110.03 MHz on the bus.
For example, to set the bus frequency to 106.25 MHz, change the value 00011000 to 00011101 and press the Update key. When you change the FSB for the first time, the computer may freeze. We turn it off by holding down the Power key on the case, and then start the system again. If you've loaded, that means the board has overclocked via bus up to 106.25 MHz. If you don’t boot, turn off the power to the system unit, wait ten seconds, turn on the system again - the settings will be reset. We try to set a lower clock generator frequency in SetFSB: we do all the same operations, but in the Bin field we specify the set 00011100 (105.08 MHz). And so on until we find a stable combination for Xeon, motherboard and RAM.
Enthusiasts report that the bus frequency of Chinese motherboards is overclocked using SetFSB to 106.25 or even 107.55 MHz. We were less fortunate, as the system only worked stably at 103.77 MHz. As a result, the processor frequency increased to 3113 MHz, and the RAM worked in DDR3-1937 mode with a set of timings of 12-12-12-32.
This acceleration will last exactly as long as power is supplied. Power outages or disconnecting the system unit from the outlet will lead to resetting the clock generator settings. Then the overclocking procedure using SetFSB will have to be repeated.
The built-in PCI Express controller of Sandy Bridge-EP processors supports the 3.0 standard. But sometimes the PEG ports of the motherboards into which the video card is installed operate in PCI Express 2.0 mode. In the case of NVIDIA video cards, this situation is corrected by a special patch. Just run it with administrator rights and reboot the system.
Some users have noted that overclocking an 8-core Xeon bus above 105 MHz causes PCI Express 3.0 mode to switch back to PCI Express 2.0 mode. But in general there is nothing wrong with PCI Express x16 2.0: the interface bandwidth is quite enough for video cards of the GeForce GTX 1070 and GeForce GTX 1080 level.
The server processor segment, unlike mobile or consumer ones, is conservative and predictable. This is unlikely to upset anyone, because for professionals, reliability, compatibility and performance are important, and not spectacular functionality. Nevertheless, there is undoubtedly movement here too. Therefore, with some frequency (less often than we would like, but still) on the Intel blog we publish reviews of the current situation with Xeon processors - a kind of instant cross-section of the entire line. Well, two interesting news prompted us to do this review right now.
A short preface for those who are interested in the topic, but have not previously followed the development of the Intel Xeon line. Xeon (correctly read “Zion”) - server processors using Intel Core technologies and following the Core update strategy (the same one that used to be “tick-tock”, and now “tick-tock”), albeit with some delay . That is, Intel Core i3/i7 Kaby Lake appears first, and after a while Intel Xeon E3/E7 Kaby Lake appears. The more complex the processors, the greater the generational difference. Let's say Intel Xeon E3v6 (Kaby Lake) appeared 8 months after Intel Core i3 v7 (Kaby Lake) - right now, and this is the first news. But Intel Xeon E5v6 does not yet exist in nature and it will not appear soon, because the current current generation is the fourth, which is Broadwell. Confused about the numbers? The Core and Xeon generations differ by one, since the first “Zion” was made on Sandy Bridge cores, that is, the second generation Core.
Having familiarized ourselves with the arithmetic of the model range of Intel Xeon processors, let’s move on to their comparative consideration.
Intel Xeon E3
Intel Xeon E3 are processors for entry-level single-socket servers, the performance of which, however, is sufficient to solve a wide variety of tasks. As already mentioned, in March of this year, Intel introduced the new, sixth generation Xeon E3v6. This does not mean, however, that they are the only ones available for order now. The inertia of the server market is great; if the platform of previous generations is more suitable for your task/budget, you can easily buy both v5 and v4.
Typical configuration Intel Xeon E5 v6
Xeon E3v6 is the third stage in the Intel processor upgrade cycle, the optimization stage. This means that functionally and hardware-wise it is almost no different from its predecessor; There are some “file modifications” taking place in order to more fully utilize the available resource. Let's look at what has changed during the current iteration of the cycle, which took a total of 2 years.
| E3-1285V4 | E3-1280V5 | E3-1280V6 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technical process | 14 nm | ||
| Generation | Broadwell | Skylake | Kaby Lake |
| Price | $556 | $612 | $612 |
| Launch | 2Q15 | 4Q15 | 1Q17 |
| Cores/threads | 4/8 | 4/8 | 4/8 |
| Base frequency | 3.5 GHz | 3.7 GHz | 3.9 GHz |
| L3 cache | 6 MB | 8 MB | 8 MB |
| TDP | 95 W | 80 W | 72 W |
| Memory, max. | DDR3-1866 | DDR4-2133 | DDR4-2400 |
| New features | |||
| Temperature monitoring | + | + | |
| Intel SGX | + | + | |
| Intel MPX | + | + | |
| Secure key | + | + | |
| Intel Optane support | + | ||
Intel Xeon E5
Intel E5 v4 Line Positioning Chart
22 Feb 2018
New models of Intel Xeon server processors often receive minor improvements, and line updates occur with a delay (compared to Intel Core). However, thanks to the presence of three lines (E3/E5/E7), you can easily choose the appropriate option. Let's figure out what their features are and what differences they have. In addition, after the release of the new Xeon Scalable, the cost of these processors has decreased slightly.
Intel Xeon E3
This line is inexpensive processors designed for use in entry-level servers. Thus, all processors in the line are equipped with 4 cores with a clock frequency of up to 4.2 Ghz. This is enough for comfortable operation of a web server or application server (with a small number of users).
It is worth noting that they are updated more often than the older Xeon E5 and Xeon E7 lines, however, the changes in the latest versions were small - a gradual evolution.
For comparison, you can choose three models from different generations (Broadwell, Skylake Kaby Lake), which, obviously, have not undergone significant changes:
E3-1285v4 | E3-1275v5 | ||
Technical process | 14 nm |
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Price | 350$ | 339$ |
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Launch date | Q2"15 | Q4"15 | Q1"17 |
Cores/Threads | 4/8 | 4/8 | 4/8 |
Clock frequency | 3.5 GHz | 3.6 GHz | 3.8 GHz |
Cache size | 6 Mb | 8 Mb | 8 Mb |
TDP | 95W | 80 W | 73W |
RAM type | DDR3/DDR3L 1333/1600/1866 | DDR4-1866/2133, DDR3L-1333/1600 | DDR4-2400, DDR3L-1866 |
As you can see, no revolution has occurred - the clock frequency has increased slightly, heat dissipation has decreased and the cache memory size has changed. Thus, the productivity increase was about 5-10%, and the cost remained at the same level. Support for DDR4 RAM can be considered a significant change, but for many users the capabilities of the previous generation are sufficient.
Intel Xeon E5
The widest range of Intel Xeon server processors. For example, the latest generation of Broadwell includes 38 processors, among which it is easy to choose the appropriate model.
So, here are two processor options:
- A small number of cores (4-8) with a high clock frequency (from 3 Ghz). These are mainly E5-processors 1 XXX, but there are several models from the E5- series 2 XXX. They are suitable for servers that are demanding on the speed of performing one task, for example a 1C server.
- A large number of cores (from 10 to 22), with a slightly reduced clock frequency (2.1-2.4 Ghz). This processor is great for tasks that work efficiently with a large number of cores. For example, a database server or a terminal server.
It is worth noting that on the base you can assemble a configuration with 1, 2 or 4 processors. The latest generation of Xeon E5 was built on Broadwell, which means there are no improvements that appeared in Slylake and Kaby Lake. However, this allows Intel to test innovations more thoroughly, releasing the most stable products possible.
E5-1680v4 | E5-2699v4 | E5-4669v4 |
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Technical process | 14 nm |
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Price | 1723$ | 4115$ | 7007$ |
Launch date | Q2"16 | Q1"16 | Q2"16 |
Max. number of processors | |||
Cores/threads | 8/16 | 22/44 | 22/44 |
Clock frequency | 3.4 GHz | 2.2 GHz | 3.0 GHz |
Cache size | 20 Mb | 55 Mb | 55 Mb |
TDP | 140 W | 145 W | 135 W |
RAM type | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 |
As you can see, Xeon E5 processors are distinguished by their variability, and when it is possible to scale a server, they are almost as good as new ones .
Intel Xeon E7
This line includes the most productive models of Intel server processors. Thus, Xeon E7 includes significantly fewer models than Xeon E5 - only 12 in the latest generation. Most 4th generation Xeon E7 processors are equipped with a large number of cores (10 or more), but there is also a model with 4 cores - E7-8893v4. This processor operates at a clock frequency of 3.2 Ghz and contains 60 MB of cache memory. It is worth noting that due to high performance, processors of this line are distinguished by high heat dissipation. Thus, the calculated TDP of all possible models is from 105 W. This should definitely be taken into account when designing a server and choosing a cooling system.
In fact, when choosing a processor, you are limited to the following options: either just powerful or very powerful. Let's compare two such processors.
E7-4850v4 | E7-8894v4 |
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Technical process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
Price | 3003$ | 8898$ |
Launch date | Q2"16 | Q1"17 |
Max. number of processors | ||
Cores/threads | 16/32 | 24/48 |
Clock frequency | 2.1 GHz | 2.4Ghz |
Cache size | 40 Mb | 60 Mb |
TDP | 115 W | 165W |
RAM type | DDR4-1333/1600/1866 DDR3-1066/1333/1600 |
The Xeon E7 line is designed for use in 4 and 8 processor configurations for maximum performance. However, to create a new productive server, it is more rational to use Xeon Scalable models, for example . At the same price as the Xeon E7, you get about a 20% performance gain.
In addition, the new processors provide several advantages:
- the ability to scale the server in the future;
- support for high-frequency DDR4 RAM;
- the presence of some integrated solutions (Intel VMD, Intel Vitrual Raid on CPU, RDMA).
Final choice
As we can see, even with the release of new Scalable processors, the previous generation of Intel Xeon has not lost its relevance. Thus, processors from the Xeon E3 line are excellent for creating an inexpensive server. For example, it can be used as a web server or 1C application server.
Xeon E5 processors are suitable for a greater number of tasks:
- 1C application server;
- terminal server;
- database server.
Thanks to the wide range of models, you can easily change the processor to a more powerful one, because all models within the same generation use a single socket.Using Xeon E7 allows you to get maximum performance at a significant cost. However, in the future there may be problems with increasing productivity, because new models will not be released. Therefore, it is more rational to use the new Xeon Scalable Gold. For example, processor provides a high level of performance (14 cores with a clock frequency of 2.6 Ghz), and if necessary, it can be easily replaced with another Gold/Platinum model or the next generation Xeon Scalable.
