Is an X79 build worth it?
Is an X79 build worth it?
While browsing eBay recently, I noticed LGA2011 CPUs are quite affordable and offer great value compared to Ryzen or Intel options. You can find a 6-core E5-1650 with solid speeds and an X79 board for under £80, which is cheaper than a Ryzen 5 1600 or 2600. Upgrading later to an 8-core E5-2690 is possible, though its boost clocks are a bit lower. I’m curious about any hidden downsides to using slower DDR3 memory and whether spending more on an i7 3930K or 4930K would be worthwhile compared to the mentioned CPUs.
It depends on your specific needs. For multi-threaded applications, an Xeon is ideal; otherwise, clock speed matters most. I’m currently playing games on an i5-4690k I found on Craigslist for $50 and a mobile motherboard around $60. Used markets are possible, but 4th generation Intel remains affordable and useful.
It varies by your needs. For gaming it's not worth the time. Video editing and rendering could be an option. Those Xeons are outdated now, especially for gaming because of their slow clockspeed—most run just over 60fps at best. For content creation, newer options like the Ryzen 1600 beat the E5 2690 V2, and the latter offers better single-core speeds overall. DDR3 memory isn't a big concern. Back then, CPUs didn't depend much on faster RAM, and performance gains were minimal. Ryzen was early to leverage DDR4 speeds effectively. A 3930k or 4930k isn't a smart buy unless your board supports them; they work at around 4.5ghz and are close to the cost of a Ryzen setup.
It's more than just gaming; it feels like juggling multiple tasks at once. My current setup uses an i5 3570S, which really falters when Chrome runs in the background. Plus, I occasionally record videos or stream, so having extra cores could help shift some processing to them. Don't forget the E5 1650 would boost gaming performance significantly—its all-core boost clock is 3.6GHz compared to the i5's 3.4GHz.
Core boost stands at 3.5, built around a sandy bridge design which makes it similar to other single-core chips. Despite its age, this processor will still push its limits for streaming since it's an older Xeon. It also consumes all its cores and threads quickly, which is typical for that era. What kind of motherboard are you planning to use?
It's a really low-cost board that seems interesting. If you're serious, you can save up for an upgrade later this year following the Ryzen release, which would provide better value than what you're getting now.
Several older Xeons are capable of overclocking, especially the 16xx v2 models found on X79. They perform comparably to mainstream Sandy/Ivy versions while offering 6-8 cores. As previously mentioned, they can be successfully overclocked. A 6c/12t Sandy/Ivy Bridge E chip running at 4.5-4.7 should easily outperform an R5 1600 in gaming scenarios (strong clock speed advantage, IPC is close behind) and match or surpass it in other tasks. They deliver significantly more power than Ryzen processors. The reason lies elsewhere. Intel CPUs are independent of RAM speed and bandwidth; it's the applications that matter. Even Cinebench scores will rise with faster RAM, and games gain a substantial edge up to a certain point (DDR4 speeds see diminishing returns beyond 3200MHz). The X79 model stands out because it supports quad-channel DDR3, allowing you to run 4 or 8 sticks at solid speeds and achieve near-dual channel DDR4 bandwidth while retaining the quick response times of DDR3. The main drawback is that these chips need overclocking to remain competitive, and suitable boards are costly. This applies similarly to X58 and X99—prices have risen, making it difficult to justify the investment when a board costing $150-200 is required. As expected, I was concerned about the quality of aftermarket boards, noting issues like faulty chipset variations (sometimes X79 or server variants), inconsistent RAM channel configurations (sometimes dual channel with 4 DIMMs), unreliable VRMs, and a lack of long-term reliability guarantees. Many use compromised components and BIOSes, which raises doubts about their durability.
In reality, systems priced above R5 3600/B450 don't justify the investment. The X79 offers strong value with its core count per dollar, quad DDR3 speed, eight overclockable cores, USB 3.0, SATA 3, and PCIe 3 support—making it a solid pick for a mid-range high-end build. For demanding memory and PCIe needs, it's worthwhile, though you'll need to overclock for modern performance. If you require many PCIe lanes and ample memory bandwidth, it's a smart choice. However, if you want to push cores without concern for speed or need dual socket/non-overclockable options, it's an excellent alternative. The X79 is comparable to the X58 from a few years ago and will stay relevant for some time. Personally, it's a better fit than the X99, especially given DDR3's low cost and the typical 8-10 core overclock range.
varies based on your choice, for single-core power I suggest options others recommended. However, if you want the best motherboard package, check this AliExpress offer I previously bought: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33029748...4c4dE52NvR. This deal shows how affordable it can be, though the included CPU (E5-2420) has six cores at 1.9GHz, making it less ideal for single-core tasks—still worth looking into.