xeon x3220 vs q6600

[jeffw2767602]

i was wondering if anyone could explain to me the differnece between these 2 processors. i looked over the specs and couldnt find anything major that was different.

thanks

 

[adairusmc]

They should be the same exact thing.

 

[JAG87]

Originally posted by: adairusmc
They should be the same exact thing.

Wrong. The Xeon has a higher Thermal Specification. The Q6600 is 71c while the Xeon is 85c. This means that the Xeon can get a lot hotter before it becomes unstable and it throttles.

This only applies to the G0 revision. B3 revisions are 62.2c and 62c respectively. Some food for thought.


EDIT

there are other differences, but I'm not going to get in to them because I have no way to prove them (at least officially), and some people might not agree with me. if you wish to know, just ask.

 

[jeffw2767602]

the price tag sure doesnt suggest that they are the same lol

 

[sgrinavi]

Don't you have to use ECC RAM with the XEON?

 

[JAG87]

Originally posted by: sgrinavi
Don't you have to use ECC RAM with the XEON?

No, there are desktop Xeons and Server Xeons.

Desktop Xeons use regular ram, because they are the exact same processor as their desktop counterpart. Just a different name (and some other stuff).

 

[bryanW1995]

Originally posted by: JAG87

Originally posted by: sgrinavi
Don't you have to use ECC RAM with the XEON?

No, there are desktop Xeons and Server Xeons.

Desktop Xeons use regular ram, because they are the exact same processor as their desktop counterpart. Just a different name (and some other stuff).

I don't doubt your info, but this statement seems a little bit like saying "I'm almost completely done". either it's the exact same processor or it's not. If it has an 85c throttle point vs 71c then there are at least a few important differences.

 

[JAG87]

Originally posted by: bryanW1995

Originally posted by: JAG87

Originally posted by: sgrinavi
Don't you have to use ECC RAM with the XEON?

No, there are desktop Xeons and Server Xeons.

Desktop Xeons use regular ram, because they are the exact same processor as their desktop counterpart. Just a different name (and some other stuff).

I don't doubt your info, but this statement seems a little bit like saying "I'm almost completely done". either it's the exact same processor or it's not. If it has an 85c throttle point vs 71c then there are at least a few important differences.

indeed there are, but there is no official intel document that will tell you that so I wont get into that argument because I know someone will drop by and say, how do you know that, or how can you prove that. The only difference on paper is the thermal spec.

 

[bryanW1995]

well, I'm not questioning your info or how you got it, I'm just interested in what it is. What are the other differences that you are aware of? If sounds like the 3230 is the way to go for a G0 quad if it's priced the same as the Q6600 even if the only difference is the 14c upper end temps, so any other improvements should just be icing on the cake.

 

[JAG87]

xeons are binned to work at stock speeds with lower voltage and therefore produce less heat. this is done for longer longevity of the processor in a 24/7 server environment. you will find that an X3220 has a lower VID than a Q6600 (for example 1.25v as opposed to 1.3v) That means that the Xeon will run 2.4 Ghz with 1.25v while the Q6600 requires 1.3 to be stable.

some people think this is also an indication that with the same voltage (lets say 1.4), the processor will clock better. this is not truthful because stock speed and stock voltage and in no way related to overclocking potential. overclocking is a luck of draw, but with xeons you usually have a better chance, because the silicon is binned better to begin with.

an example. my X3230 has a VID of 1.2625 at 2.66 Ghz, and a VID of 1.2375 at 2.4 Ghz. Which means it only requires 1.2375v to be stable at 2.4Ghz. You will find most retail Q6600 have VIDs of 1.275 and up, and most Q6700 will have a VID of 1.3v and up. So you can see why a Xeon is a better choice at stock speed, and with some luck it will probably better be a good clocker too.


edit:
VID can be checked in coretemp. always check your VID at stock FSB. the cpu microcode has a table of VIDs for each multiplier. so 10x will have a VID, 9x will have a lower VID, 8x will have a lower VID, 7x will be even lower, and 6x will be lowest. Thats why when C1E kicks in, and your multiplier drops to 6x, you voltage also drops all the way to something like 1.1v.

 

[bryanW1995]

very intersting info. kinda makes me wish I would have gone for that instead of e6750...of course, now I have an excuse to upgrade in a few months...

 

[Link]

Originally posted by: jeffw2767602
the price tag sure doesnt suggest that they are the same lol

Well, I paid $290 for mine (G0 X3220) at provantage.com. It was a week ago.
They are out of stock now though.

 

[geoffry]

Do you need a different type of mobo for these desktop xeons or would any C2D supporting chipset take it?

My next upgrade will probably be a GA-P35-DS3R mobo and either a q6600 or a quad penryn, could I use the xeon x3220? It says nothing of it in the CPU specs but neither does the EVGA 680i.