Xeon and i7 differences for a new build

[HanzNFranzen]

Hello everyone,

I am in my planning stage for my new system. I thought I had decided on an i7 4770, until I read Ian's article reviewing the new Haswell Xeon's and saw the new pricing chart. It has the e3-1240 listed at $262 and the 1245(with IGP) for $276. SO my question... What is the reason that a person should NOT take one of these Xeon's over an i7 4770? (overclocking aside..) I pulled up the spec list of both on Intel's website and it seems to me the Xeon does everything the desktop i7 does plus more. (even if they are features that I may never take advantage of)
What is it that I'm missing here or not taking into account..? Do they require ECC RAM or can I still use non ECC? or do they require some different motherboard chipset that is more expensive? Unless I'm misinformed, I thought the Xeon line was supposed to also be sort of "hand picked" or better binned chips to start with, therefore I don't understand why I shouldn't save around $40 and get the Xeon over the i7 even if it is for desktop use? It seems like it is all pro's and no con's...But pricing and logic are telling me that there is more to it than that.

btw.. this will be a build with a discrete GPU, so any difference in IGP is of no matter.

Thanks for any insight!!

 

[tarlinian]

They do not require the use of ECC memory. You do need to make sure that your motherboard BIOS supports the Xeon you're interested in. (Most Z87 motherboards do, I don't know about the H8x motherboards.) Note that you do need a workstation motherboard with a C22x chipset if you *want* to use ECC memory as it requires support from the motherboard as well. The only other real difference between the Xeons and the i7 is the max turbo clock which is only 3.8 GHz on the E3-1240/5 as opposed to 3.9 GHz on the i7-4770/1. Ark is quite useful for comparing different Intel SKUs.

 

[MongGrel]

ECC pretty much a non factor unless you're building a server.

I can use it on the main rig and don't.

Use Ripjaw 1333's on my X5650.

 

[MongGrel]

Unless the new ones are different, but I doubt it.

 

[zir_blazer]

For pretty much everyone, the Xeon E3-1245V3 should be a better buy than the Core i7 4770 (Non-K). It is slighty cheaper, has a bit more features (That you will not use, but hey, its added value), at the only sacrifice of 100 MHz on Turbo.
As the LGA 1150 Xeons should be IDENTICAL Haswells to the Desktop counterparts, I don't think you need explicit BIOS/Motherboard/Chipset support for Xeons, unless Intel do some nasty trick like this. I would expect Xeons to work on any Desktop Motherboard even if not stated to be supported.
If current Xeons uses higher quality die bins or not, is impossible to know. As any possible overclock on a non-K Processor is severely limited (Capped Multiplier, and extremely limited Base Clock overclocking), you can't push it to its limits, so if they are better bins due to consistently overclocking better than normal Core i5/i7 can't be proven.

 

[Trevor3000]

Would that possibly better binning result in any higher reliability in 24/7/365 use? I am asking, because I am building a server for rendering and GPU compute. Usually the processor load would stay well under its maximum, but from time to time there would obviously be longer periods of almost 100% usage. The key is to have it running extremely reliably, potentially for months without interrupts. Right now I don't really have anything to base my opinion on, whether it should be i7 or Xeon.

There has been a lot of discussion about the thermal paste in Haswell. Has anybody opened their Xeon to see if it's any different?

 

[h9826790]

You didn't miss anything, Xeon is a better choice if you have no plan to OC.

And it's fully capable to run with normal non ECC RAM (I am doing that right now).

 

[TeknoBug]

Yup as others said: if you don't plan to OC then the Xeon, otherwise the i7 if you do plan to overclock.

Also if you're planning to run a file/stream server or any kind of server, you'll want ECC. I ran a dual Pentium Pro server for about a decade with ECC.

 

[Trevor3000]

Thanks for you answers. ECC is a good point. I have some non-ECC parts lying around, but I guess I might want to upgrade to ECC.

Do you think there is anything different between these processors (mechanical, paste, binning), that Intel ARK does not reveal?

 

[h9826790]

ECC is important for long time calculation, or some simulation can't afford any error, but almost make no difference on other normal use (e.g. photoshop, gaming, etc.) especially you have no plan to OC.

Since the ECC RAM is much more expensive. I think you better make sure you really need this function before investing any money on it.

 

[Yuriman]

Hasn't been said, but I don't think you can use ECC RAM unless you have a board that supports it too. That is, you'll need a server board with a server chipset. Ain't happenin in Z-87.

 

[Techhog]

Hasn't been said, but I don't think you can use ECC RAM unless you have a board that supports it too. That is, you'll need a server board with a server chipset. Ain't happenin in Z-87.

Which makes it a waste of money unless you need it.

(this post was edited because I suck at reading)

 

[zir_blazer]

ECC protects againts eventual single bit errors in the RAM Memory, that can happen even on fully functional Modules. Due to cosmic rays and bla bla bla, there is a small chance that over time a bit flips from 0 to 1 or viceversa. Consequences may be that nothing happens, an application crash, that your machine BSODs, or even the possibility that corrupt data will be written to the disk when you save a file. For a serious Server that will be on 24/7, it is a good idea if you can afford the price difference.

Currently, for getting ECC support on LGA 1150 you would need three things: A Xeon, where you actually get ECC for free if you choose a Xeon E3-1245V3 over a Core i7 4770 cause it is cheaper, a Workstation or Server Motherboard with a C Series Chipset which will make you sacrifice pretty much all overclocking features, and Unbuffered with ECC Memory Modules (NOT Registered/Buffered, these do NOT work on LGA 1150).

 

[Compman55]

I have the E3-1245V3 and can clarify a few things:

1.) The thermal paste is not better than any other Haswell. You either get a good or you don't. Xeons are not exceptions.

2.) The graphics drivers need to be installed to avoid the exclamation point in the device manager, or you can turn off the IGP in the bios of most mainboards. The regular intel drivers work, even though the Xeons have the better P4600. There is a rumor that regualar drivers dont; work. However in my case they do.

3.) You absolutly cannot use ECC ram in a regualr Z87 chipset motherboard. You need the C series chipset. But no worries, I am using non ECC and it works great. You are not forced to use ECC with Xeon, but rather have the option. This is great when you want to repurpose the CPU later by picking up a cheap C series motherboard.

4.) Aside from benchmarks I would place a bet you will not be physically able to tell the 100mhz frequency difference.

5.) The Xeon does come with the small round heastsink fan. Some vendors use incorrect pictures showing it coming with the nice square heatpipe model. This is misleading.

 

[Trevor3000]

Compman55, thanks for the information, I appreciate it.

 

[UaVaj]

not overclocking. not computing for ecc. buy the cheaper of the two.

no body mention this. but down the road. it will be easier to sell the i7.

 

[Trevor3000]

Maybe if I get a decent workstation-spec board and Xeon, it will be also easy to sell it. Because everybody's selling gaming rigs everywhere, but not so often I can see somebody selling something "aimed at graphics professionals" etc. Some people might be interested in buying those for home use.