Processors with dual LGA 1366 socket
Processors with dual LGA 1366 socket
Hey there. I purchased two old enterprise machines, both equipped with dual Xeon processors. One is a Go Z800 with two 6-core CPUs. My main concern is that it’s stuck on SATA 2 speeds. I’m searching for ways to upgrade or work around that. Have anyone ever bought dual socket motherboards from Ali Express and had success? They usually come with NVMe drives, which I’m considering using for a build. If not, are there alternatives like PCIe cards for NVMe or SATA 3 ports? Also, if I install two SSDs in RAID, will the speeds be similar or better? I’m aiming to create a powerful system at a lower cost.
SATA 2 mainly impacts data transfer speed, while the quick reaction times of regular computing aren’t much affected. It seems these older systems might support NVMe as well, especially if you need a high-speed backup drive. You won’t be able to boot via PCIe, but it can serve as a fast storage option.
I suggest adjusting your focus a little. SATA 2 doesn’t slow down an SSD like a traditional hard drive would. Even with reduced bandwidth, an SSD remains extremely quick thanks to its low latency. My secondary machine matches what you’re looking for—two 1366 CPUs. The SATA speed isn’t crucial here. A SATA SSD will give you the same performance, particularly on this setup. NVMe drives could prove useful in the future with direct storage, but I don’t think they’re necessary right now. If they become important later, a NVMe drive for secondary use still offers advantages, so you can consider adding one eventually.
It's proprietary work that makes moving between cases from HP a real challenge. Booting from an NVMe drive isn't possible in this setup, regardless of the situation. The concern about SATA 2 speeds seems minor; it won’t slow things down much. You're opting for a system over ten years old as your main device, so you'll face its inherent constraints and can't rely on it handling today's features. Remember, the processors from that era are quite outdated—modern games rarely run at 60 frames per second on them. In terms of raw power, a first-generation Ryzen 1600 is significantly more capable than an Xeon X5650, making even dual-core setups struggle to match current performance levels.
Well, it really varies. My secondary rig is mostly a gaming PC, but it doesn’t handle top-tier frame rates in recent AAA games. It works just fine for everything except the most demanding titles from the past few years.
You received both machines for around $100 total, excluding storage. The board you're using is the Intel S5520HC E26045-457 MOTHERBOARD, which already includes two quad-core CPUs. When setting it up, keep an eye on compatibility and performance expectations.
Choosing a different dual socket motherboard can be quite costly, even when used. Typically, it's the motherboard itself that drives up expenses on older systems. For these tasks, I wouldn't suggest dual CPU setups. A single 6-core CPU with hyperthreading is sufficient. It offers lower power consumption, quieter operation, and greater ease of use.