Throttlestop 8.48 on HP Z400.
Throttlestop 8.48 on HP Z400.
Consider adding heatsinks to the VRM MOSFETs. Manufacturers often omit this feature to reduce costs. The performance you observe is likely the maximum the motherboard can achieve. It wasn't built for overclocking, so you might need to push it a bit further. Proper airflow around the VRM area is essential too. I'm not sure about HP, but the 24-pin version from that earlier Dells model seemed typical. You could repurpose old GPU heatsinks or purchase new ones. Two-sided thermal tape works well, or Arctic offers a two-part epoxy solution. Some users even use superglue due to its thin application. I haven't tried it myself.
william p :
Consider adding heatsinks to the VRM MOSFETs. Manufacturers often don’t include this feature to save costs, so you’re likely hitting the limits of what the motherboard can handle. The design isn’t meant for overclocking, which means you might need to push a bit harder. Good airflow around the VRM area is also important. I’m not sure about HP, but the 24-pin version from that older Dells model worked fine. You could either cut up some old GPU heatsinks or purchase new ones. Some people use thermal tape on both sides, or Arctic offers a two-part epoxy. A few even try superglue because of its thin layer. I haven’t tried it myself.
I got my ATX with an HP PSU adapter a few days ago and installed an EVGA 600w PSU—same outcome. I’ll stick with the EVGA since it has more than one 6-pin PCIe slot.
I’m thinking about getting heatsinks for the MOFSETS. Thanks for the advice.
Honestly, if I knew I could have bought an older server and swapped out the CPU and PSU, I wouldn’t have built my 7700K system. For what I do, it’s just a lot of extra work. Now I mainly enjoy playing with these vintage setups. It’s a bit like tinkering with old cars, I suppose.
william p :
Would you mind running your machine through userbenchmark.com? This would let others witness the real capabilities of the system.
http://www.userbenchmark.com/?redirFrom=...hmark.com&
Several models are already being tested there, including a Dell Precision T3400, Dimension E520 (DM061), and a Precision T3500 that has been overclocked.
Unless this is your setup.
http://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/6938795
Have you also replaced the CPU cooler? The processor tends to throttle when temperatures climb too high. As long as temperatures stay manageable, you can push higher limits.
When you increase voltage and boost the multiplier simultaneously, heat output in watts rises sharply. For optimal overclocking, prioritize cooling first, then adjust voltage (or current), and finally tweak the multiplier. The extent of improvement depends on which component fails early—cooling, power supply, or CPU.
http://hwbot.org/hardware/processor/xeon_w3680/
These are my initial tests with this machine, at your request. I haven’t installed an SSD yet; I’m using a 750GB laptop HDD.
😀
I’m unable to apply voltage directly to the CPU since there’s no feasible method. Temperatures remained below 70°C during all trials. My system uses a stock HP High Performance cooler (Cool Master). The other Z400 model came with a standard cooler. I connected a jumper between pins 1 and 5 to simulate the HP High Performance unit. I’ve kept temperatures under mid-70s on that one, so it seems acceptable.
I first tested with the PNY GTX 780 and then my Aorus GTX 1080 Ti. In prior work with X58 boards, I managed to push the X5670 to 4.2+ GHz, but games like BF1, WoW, and PUBG showed about a 15% performance drop compared to my 7700K at 5GHz. This matches my expectations. The X3680 now reaches up to 4.1 GHz. I also have another HZ400 with a W3680 that caps at 3.8GHz—results are uncertain. I’ve included my 7700K paired with the GTX 1080 Ti for reference.
There are many who might hesitate about adding an $800 graphics card to a used $100 server from eBay. That’s not my concern. If I’d known better, I’d have made a more cautious build—something like an OEM server with minor upgrades and a 1070 or 1080 Ti. The 1060 seems ideal for this configuration. If you opt for a single 6-pin PCIe power port, you’d avoid needing a PSU upgrade, boosting the overall value of the system. I’d definitely consider a 1060 in one of these setups for 1080p gaming and be satisfied.
HP Z400 with W3680/24GB DDR3-1066 RAM (6x 4GB) and GTX 780
http://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/7053328
HP Z400 with W3680/24GB DDR3-1066 RAM (6x 4GB) and GTX 1080 Ti
http://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/7053914
7700K @ 5.0GHz/16GB DDR4-2400 and GTX 1080 Ti
http://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/7053123
P.S.
The RAM in the Z400 is DDR3-1600 but operates at 1066 in triple-channel mode with all slots filled. It runs at 1333 in dual-channel mode with only 4 slots active.
I’m expecting some Registered ECC RAM to be added soon. I hope it can handle 24GB (6x 4GB) in DDR3-1333, and I’ll update once I have confirmation. Mixed feedback has been seen on this setup.
In the Dells the X58 accommodates 48GB RAM. Given the memory controller resides on the CPU, it seems the HP might be compatible. ECC is likely acceptable, but Registered could pose an issue. Perhaps HP has a different model.
It seems you've significantly improved the expectations for that setup.
william p :
in the dells the x58 handles 48gb ram. because the memory controller sits on the cpu i believe the hp could match. i'm considering ecc might be fine but registered could be an issue. perhaps hp has a different setup.
it seems you've really pushed the limits for that machine.
http://www.userbenchmark.com/System/HP-Z...station/67
w3600 series can go up to 24gb (similar to the original i7)
x5600 series supports up to 288gb
you're right, it's not about the motherboard. the maximum ram is set by the cpu.
Reports on Overclock.net and the X58 forum suggest 48GB is possible. Sometimes bigger modules aren't offered with a CPU launch, which means higher capacities aren't always listed. Since each module size doubles, this isn't unusual. The original spec for the E520 was 4GB when it supported Pentium4 CPUs, while later BIOS versions allowed 8GB for Core 2 CPUs. The real value of 48GB is questionable unless you're using virtualization, which would be feasible with 12 threads. Another case is the X38 chipset, which had hidden 400MHz support—CPUs needing it didn't exist at the time, so it wasn't listed. However, when Intel introduced 400MHz LGA775 CPUs, the X48 wasn't available yet, and they told testers X38 already supported it.
william p :
I've seen mentions on Overclock.net and in the X58 forum that 48GB is possible. Sometimes bigger modules aren't offered when a CPU comes out, so the higher limit isn't always shown. Since each module size doubles, this isn't unusual. The original spec for the E520 was 4GB back then it supported Pentium4 CPUs, but later BIOS for Core 2 CPUs added 8GB support. Whether 48GB is really useful depends on your needs—unless you're using virtualization, which would definitely be an option with 12 threads available. Another case is the X38 chipset, which had hidden 400fsb support; since those CPUs didn't exist at the time, it wasn't listed. But when Intel introduced 400fsb LGA775 CPUs, the X48 wasn't available yet, so they told testers that X38 already supported it. You might be correct. I don't think 8GB DIMMs were in stock when the spec was published. I know 8GB DIMMs work on X58 boards as I've personally experienced, but not with six 8GB units.
A significant amount of effort has been put into The X58 workstations since this thread began. There are various starts and stops, so take a look at the content. But you'll likely find it intriguing.