using an old school computer system
using an old school computer system
hello everyone, i’m following a technical education in my school and many of us in my class are considering using an old-school pc. the machines we’re talking about are quite different from the average school computers you might find. they’re professional-grade systems built back then, costing thousands of euros long ago. specifically, it’s an HP Z600 workstation equipped with two Xeon X5570 processors (totaling 8 cores or 16 threads), 24 gigabytes of RAM (six sticks, each with 3-channel memory), three 4TB HDDs, a 256GB SATA SSD boot drive, and a Quadro 2000 motherboard. i’ve never used a setup with two CPUs—my experience is limited to SLI systems. i have several questions: - the startup manager shows smt disabled. is this due to the dual CPU configuration or simply a BIOS setting? - are these dual CPU configurations functional, or do they limit performance and support for modern software? i found out through research that dual CPUs often hurt gaming performance. - can overclocking work with two CPUs on one motherboard? i’m curious if the HP board supports it, even if it might be challenging. - what would be a suitable GPU to pair with this older hardware? i’m thinking of buying one on eBay, with a budget around 100€, though I’m open to spending up to 150€. thank you for your help!
It seems you're asking about optimizing an older system. Let's clarify the key points:
- You're dealing with a pre-775 setup, not 1366 Ht disabled.
- Dual socket boards work fine except for the Evga SR2.
- Trying to adjust BCLK with setfsb won't help much.
- If you have an older 775 chipset, you might have had better clock stability on server boards.
- The best approach is likely to undervolt the board and use conductive traces to improve signal paths.
- Check intel datasheets for the right voltage settings; avoid anything above 3.2GHz unless necessary.
- For GPUs, stick with models clocked between 4.2-4.6GHz—most stock options fall short.
- X58 boards are outdated but still usable if you find a good one; prices on marketplaces can be surprisingly low.
- Avoid MSI Pro boards—they're overkill for this build.
- Cooling will become a bigger challenge as voltages drop.
- Your main goals: stabilize performance, extend lifespan, and get the most out of your hardware.
Alright, let's go through this step by step. So, the HP Z600 is an older machine with a dual-core processor. It’s running slowly and uses a lot of power. Even with both cores working together, it struggles against modern systems.
The main issue is that it can’t handle 60 frames per second in current games because it hasn’t reached its full potential. It also doesn’t support a second CPU for gaming purposes. That means you won’t get smooth gameplay or fast performance.
For gaming, it falls short compared to newer systems, especially since most titles don’t take advantage of the extra core. The single-core speed is pretty weak, making it unsuitable for demanding tasks like video editing or 3D modeling.
In terms of productivity, it’s okay for basic software but will lag significantly. It’s not a top choice anymore, especially when compared to more recent models that offer better performance and efficiency. If you’re looking for something reliable today, it might be better to upgrade.
Likely disabled during BIOS setup. LGA 1366 processors handle HyperThreading. They function similarly to any PC from 2009. A simplified view is that each CPU acts like an i7-870. The challenge with dual socket systems and gaming arises when one CPU needs memory linked to the other. This forces the second CPU to pause while retrieving data and sending it via QPI for use. Modern software designed for NUMA should aim to reduce this issue. Not on that board, unfortunately. Just remember your power limits, especially with HP OEM supplies. To be honest, I wouldn’t invest much in a machine this outdated. Your system should come pre-configured with Windows 7 Pro, which will unlock Windows 10 Pro.
These Xeon x5570 chips are quite outdated, demanding a lot of energy and offering limited speed compared to modern alternatives like an Intel i3-4130 or AMD FX-4330 (which use the AM3 socket). When you run programs that can leverage all their cores simultaneously, you can achieve the performance of a single 4-core/4-thread Ryzen 3 1200 model consuming about 40 watts. However, using two 95W TDP units could require around 150 watts to match that output. Many applications will default to using just one CPU, and in certain cases they might even limit performance when both are active due to memory contention and latency from data transfers between processors. This can cause regular interruptions in games—like steady 5-10ms stutters every few seconds. Released in 2009, these chips aren’t cutting-edge; they support SSE and newer instructions but lack AVX. It’s possible they don’t support AVX, and some may not run Windows 11 or even Windows 10 smoothly. You’ll also need to check the BIOS for UEFI extensions, as modern UEFI cards might not work properly with these older processors... for instance, newer AMD RX cards from the RX 470 series onward, or nVidia GTX 1060 and higher models with classic firmware.
these machines are quite outdated, their cooling setup mainly reflects the dual CPU limitation, which restricts performance unless you're lucky enough to find one with a suitable power supply—most come with a standard 400-watt unit, while high-end models have 1000 watts for powerful add-ins. pushing overclocking on these Xeons isn't feasible regardless of manufacturer. if you manage to get one at no cost, that's ideal. otherwise, installing something midrange like an 1660 gives a decent but power-hungry setup. still, second-hand listings often come at absurd prices, so unless you don’t need a dual-core system, it might be smarter to swap it out and purchase another used option for the same budget. you could likely find a Haswell Prodesk or Elite Desk for a fraction of the cost.
It looks like a potential BIOS choice. A user shared on another forum that their Z600 would fail when SMT is turned on, possibly explaining why it’s turned off. This model from that era isn’t ideal by current standards. Some lightweight programs might work better here, but gaming performance will be limited. Regarding processor instructions, AVX won’t be available. Generally, it should be a yes for this chip, though HP often blocks overclocking features in the BIOS. You might try a modified BIOS to unlock it. It’s likely a GTX 4/5/6/700 or HD 58/68/6900 series card. Note: This machine consumes a lot of power and isn’t suited for heavy tasks. For modern gaming, consider upgrading to a new PC.
The FX-4330 chip fits an AM3+ socket, not an AM3 chip. You may use AM3 boards with AM3 chips, but most AM3 boards won’t support AM3+. All FX “Bulldozer” chips require an AM3+ connection and there’s minimal backward compatibility to AM3 boards—except for a few exceptions, which are rare and usually limited (like certain 9-series FX chips). This misunderstanding often begins as a simple mistake, though it remains an error.
Aiming for performance today isn’t realistic. It’s similar to older systems—still functional for everyday tasks except intense gaming—and far from matching current standards. The main hurdle is the limited RAM support; fortunately, your setup can handle more memory than usual. You’ll find it works well for most needs, just not at the cutting edge.
Expect some limitations, especially with RAM capacity. Fortunately, your system supports higher GB amounts, which is a plus. Overall, it’s a solid project—good luck and have fun building!
There are many suggestions, I’ll address most of them since the PSU is 600W and it should support a good GPU. It’s disappointing about the CPUs—it looked impressive to finally try overclocking. My friend has an AMD RX 470, but his GTX 750 Ti doesn’t fit with his setup. He’s using a Q6600 with DDR2 (it’s been overclocked a lot, and it boots in loops when cold). I hope he can get his card working in the Z600 system. Thanks for your support!
What's the purpose of this? Are they meant to show you how to squander energy? Educators should understand that better. They're pleasant tools, yet they consume so much power that the only option is to reuse them. Do you have one at home? If yes, does the instructor cover the electricity bill? If not, I won't even bring it back.