Xeon processors and motherboard compatibility

[cptwhite_uk]

I've inherited an E5-1620, which is a 4 core 8 thread part from the Sandy Bridge generation. I'm trying to source a compatible motherboard to go with it.

I understand it's socket LGA2011, but there's also something called LGA 2011 v3 - is this different? Does the E5-1620 work in the same motherboards are the E5-2620 for example?

Never built with Xeon chips below, so I a quick breakdown of the chipsets and compatibility is required, can anyone shed some light?

[Pob255]

I'd be interested too, I've got a E3-1230v3 which I'm trying to figure out which motherboard and if it's worth it?

Check the chip is there a v number after the E5-1620? there's four E5-1620, E5-1620v2, E5-1620v3 and E5-1620v4

[DDY]

The chipsets that work with Sandy Bridge (and Ivy Bridge 'V2') Xeon E5 chips are the X79 and C60* series, these use socket 2011.

The socket 2011-v3 chips use X99 and C61* chipsets from Haswell 'V3' onwards and are not backwards compatable.

The fun thing is that there are a few "new" unbranded generic far east X79 boards from the usual places - the suspicion is that these use recycled X79/C60* chipsets, these are available "new" for less than what familiar X79 branded boards go for used!

[cptwhite_uk]

I've been looking online and basically came to the same conclusion. You can pick up X79 motherboards for sub £55, but then X99 which have USB3 and, plus 16Gb RAM, plus an E5-2620 v3, which is 6 core 12 thread, and Haswell Gen ( I think) can be picked up for £110, so seems little point getting a X79 motherboard

[DanceswithUnix]

My son's PC is an old Dell workstation with a similar era 6 core 12 thread Xeon in it. They are still quite usable, and 24GB of ram is easily enough for school work , but I wouldn't invest too much money in one. I am wondering how much longer he can stay on that old platform, though getting a PS5 should keep him happy for a while.

[Kanoe]

Also coolers that say they fit 2011v3 will also fit the 2011 boards, even though the CPUs are not pin compatible between the two.

I liked them as a low cost high core count option, still rocking my dual 2011 Xeon rig and its not ageing too bad.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I will give you a rundown of what is what,especially as I did a ton of builds with the SB/IB/Haswell Xeon E3 1200 series CPUs.

So the first three generations of the Xeon E3 1200 series,were rebranded consumer socket SB/IB/Haswell Core i5/Core i7 CPUs,ie,V1,V2 and V3. They can't be overclocked and will support ECC memory with certain motherboards. However they were a cheaper way to get a 4C/8T CPU for Core i5 money. If they lack a 5 on the end they have no IGP and if they have a 5 on the end they have an IGP. WRT to motherboards they will work fine in normal consumer motherboards - my Xeon E3 1220 and Xeon E3 1230 V2 worked fine in my H67/B75 mini-ITX motherboards.

However,Intel cottoned onto what people did,so the Skylake E3 1200 series,ie,V5, were locked to C232 series motherboards,etc and you couldn't run them in consumer motherboards(unless ASRock managed to get around this).

The Xeon E5 and E7 require enterprise motherboards. A number of Xeon E5 1600 series CPUs in the earlier generations did use socket 1366 and socket 2011,so IIRC,you could use HEDT motherboards for them,but I don't know if Intel later closed that "loophole" too from Skylake onwards.

I've inherited an E5-1620, which is a 4 core 8 thread part from the Sandy Bridge generation. I'm trying to source a compatible motherboard to go with it.

I understand it's socket LGA2011, but there's also something called LGA 2011 v3 - is this different? Does the E5-1620 work in the same motherboards are the E5-2620 for example?

Never built with Xeon chips below, so I a quick breakdown of the chipsets and compatibility is required, can anyone shed some light?

Socket 2011 had different variants down to memory support. The initial variant of socket 2011 supported DDR3,,socket 2011 v3 was introduced with Haswell(V3) and supports DDR4.

[cptwhite_uk]

Thoughts on this bundle?
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000807782513.html

There's also a variant with a 12 core / 24 core E5-2678
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000808264179.html

No idea of the quality of the motherboards, but at least they look smart.

There was one bundle where you could download an unofficial BIOS to unlock Turbo Boost on Xeon chips, which was mentioned on Tech YES City recently. Here's an exmaple:
https://www.aliexpress.com/i/4000574132460.html

[DanceswithUnix]

From a quick look at the specs on these cheap motherboards, they only seem to support dual channel RAM despite it being a 2011 platform.

As I said, these things are great if you can build them cheap. My mum has one a quad core Xeon, my son has a hex core Xeon. But my mum's PC was a cast off CPU that I could chuck in an Asrock motherboard. My son's PC the whole thing was gifted to him.

For everyday use, an Athlon 3000g on a A320 motherboard is probably better.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Thoughts on this bundle?
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000807782513.html

There's also a variant with a 12 core / 24 core E5-2678
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000808264179.html

No idea of the quality of the motherboards, but at least they look smart.

There was one bundle where you could download an unofficial BIOS to unlock Turbo Boost on Xeon chips, which was mentioned on Tech YES City recently. Here's an exmaple:
https://www.aliexpress.com/i/4000574132460.html

PhilsComputerLab which is another great channel for these kinds of builds:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xodWRCEr8CE

He tested thet CPU you have with one of those Aliexpress motherboards. However,remember now Aliexpress is adding VAT at the checkout.

However,the issue is you can get a Core i5 10400F for around £130 now or a Core i5 10100F for around £75. A cheap H or B series motherboard would be fine,together with some cheap RAM,as the motherboards are locked to 2666MHZ DDR4 IIRC.

[DanceswithUnix]

PhilsComputerLab which is another great channel for these kinds of builds:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xodWRCEr8CE

He tested thet CPU you have with one of those Aliexpress motherboards. However,remember now Aliexpress is adding VAT at the checkout.

However,the issue is you can get a Core i5 10400F for around £130 now or a Core i5 10100F for around £75. A cheap H or B series motherboard would be fine,together with some cheap RAM,as the motherboards are locked to 2666MHZ DDR4 IIRC.

A modern i5 would be in a whole new league. A quad core 8 thread i3 10100F would eat a Sandy Bridge Xeon, and they are £74 on Scan with a "frequently bought together" link to a £58 motherboard on the page giving you a £131 bundle.