How to test Intel Xeon CPU

[hasu]

I am trying to upgrade my Ubuntu server which is based on old E5506. I was looking at ebay for better LGA1366 CPUs. If I buy a used CPU from ebay, how can I test to see if *all* functions work fine?

 

[Cerb]

Pray.

More practically, try Linpack for a few hours. You can't test that every little thing works, but if it handles that without error, I think you'll be OK.

Most eBay ones are likely server pulls or overstock, and are just fine, though. Get one from a vendor that sells a lot of them, and preferably refurb server gear, and you'll get a good one.

 

[MongGrel]

It's a bit of a crap shoot, haven't had one that is non functional that way yet, just more or less how hard you can push em myself.

Test em like you would any other chip, Linpack or Prime95 etc.

Had three bent pins on one I straightened with a drafting pencil and worked fine, the other 2 no flaws still.

 

[ArisVer]

Intel Processor Diagnostic Tool.

 

[hasu]

Intel Processor Diagnostic Tool.

Exactly what I was looking for...
Thanks!!

 

[Burpo]

These guys sell a lot of cpu's. Hard to beat the value of hex core tho..
http://www.ebay.com/itm/614735-001-...US_Server_CPUs_Processors&hash=item51bebe84a0

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BX80614X565...702?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cdbcae016

 

[XavierMace]

I'll also mention I've bought almost a dozen of that generation of Xeon CPU's from ebay, haven't had any issues with any of them. As already mentioned, most of them are server pulls. Just stick with one of the larger sellers and you should be fine.

Edit: I've bought stuff from the seller in Burpo's second link before. No issues. I would recommend going with the L5640 though for the lower power draw.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/131381211683?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

$67 shipped from the same seller as Burpo's link.

 

[ArisVer]

Exactly what I was looking for...
Thanks!!

Correction note. I just saw that you are running Ubuntu. IPDT is a Windows program.

 

[Cerb]

>15k sales, good rating, lots of server gear for sale...looks good to me. You're not going to get a CPU somebody tried to OC, or otherwise abused, from a seller like that. They part out what can make them more money separately, is all.

 

[hasu]

Correction note. I just saw that you are running Ubuntu. IPDT is a Windows program.

They have a Fedora 15 version too. Moreover it is not hard to install windows temporarily to test the CPU (on another hard drive)!

 

[hasu]

I'll also mention I've bought almost a dozen of that generation of Xeon CPU's from ebay, haven't had any issues with any of them. As already mentioned, most of them are server pulls. Just stick with one of the larger sellers and you should be fine.

Edit: I've bought stuff from the seller in Burpo's second link before. No issues. I would recommend going with the L5640 though for the lower power draw.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/131381211683?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

$67 shipped from the same seller as Burpo's link.

I ordered this!

I was looking at higher frequencies but 2.23GHz x 6 cores with HT should be better than my E5506 (2.13GHz x 4 cores with no HT) @60W!

Thanks for all the help!

 

[Micrornd]

Intel Processor Diagnostic Tool.

Thanks for that

 

[schmuckley]

x5650s go for around $70
and OC to 4.2-4 fairly easily

 

[exar333]

There is a sticky for exactly this!

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2195063

 

[hasu]

x5650s go for around $70
and OC to 4.2-4 fairly easily

I read that in another thread.. but I already ordered L5640

What kind of performance variation would you see among the following?
(These are the ones that I shortlisted).

L5640
E5640
X5660

I was thinking of getting X5660 because of the higher base frequency. May be I should wait until my requirements outgrow L5640.

My specific use of this machine (two CPU server) is to host a bunch of KVM servers including a database server used by many other servers.

 

[XavierMace]

E5640 is only a quad core, both of the others are a hex core. Personally I don't think the extra 540mhz on the X5660 is enough to justify the 35W TDP increase.

 

[hasu]

Is it possible to under-clock X5675 to make power dissipation similar to L5640?