Processor choice for well equipped quad channel memory system... generational improvements worth it?

[storm-chaser]

First of all the build is just for fun I will likely sell later, but I want to build out a specific workhorse for video rendering and advanced work loads. I'm curious to what you guy's think of my potential CPU choices - because that will obviously determine the trajectory of the build. I was thinking a DDR4 platform, newer, faster, but also more expensive. However, some of the older hardware appears to be desirable as well. My only pre-requisite is NOT mainstream sockets AND quad channel memory. I need all the bandwidth I can get out of all four channels. I will go DDR3 if the better CPU choice dictates that. I have not made my mind up yet, so let me know what y'all think. I plan on a liquid cooling solution and moderate overclocking so the CPU MUST have an unlocked mutli.

INTEL ONLY.

Intel BX80633I74930K Core i7-4930K Hexa-Core Processor: $250.00 (QUAD channel, DDR3) LGA 2011

Intel BX80648I75930K Core i7-5930K 3.5GHz 15MB Cache Hexa-Core Processor $210 (QUAD channel, DDR4) LGA 2011

Intel BX80673I77800X Core i7-7800X 3.5 GHz Hexa-Core Processor $350 (QUAD channel DDR4) LGA 2066

Intel BX80671I76850K Core i7 6850K Hexa-Core 3.6GHz $240 (QUAD Channel DDR4) LGA 2066

Intel BX80613I7990X Core i7-990X $140 (Triple Channel DDR3) LGA 1366

EDIT: My target is six cores or up.

 

[Hyderz]

+1 on the 6850k

 

[oxrufiioxo]

6850K out of those choices I believe it has better memory support than Haswell E so that would be my pick..... I would look for an 8 core variant though unless you want to wait ages for anything to actually render

The 5820k is uber slow by today standards it gets obliterated by even a 1700... if you can find a sample that will do around 4.6ghz it will match a stock 3.2ghz 1700 in rendering but consume over 200w doing it so get some really good cooling. Avx is almost a no go from what I can remember due to heat getting out of control. Maybe a delided 6850k would fare better idk.

I had a pretty decent one that I gave away in 2018.

I scored 27 627 in Fire Strike

Intel Core i7-5820K Processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 x 2, 16384 MB, 64-bit Windows 10}

www.3dmark.com

 

[basco]

am i wrong isn't the 6850k socket 2011_3 ??

 

[steen]

The 5820k is uber slow by today standards it gets obliterated by even a 1700... if you can find a sample that will do around 4.6ghz it will match a stock 3.2ghz 1700 in rendering but consume over 200w doing it

That's the problem with all the cheap Xeon upgrades for X58/X79/X99. 6-8 core Ryzen kills them as a value/perf/power proposition. Unless you basically get old parts for nix, Ryzen combo deals can be had cheap.

am i wrong isn't the 6850k socket 2011_3 ??

Correct. LGA2011-3.

 

[phanbuey]

Intel Xeon E5-1650 V2 3.5GHz (SR1AQ) Processor for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Intel Xeon E5-1650 V2 3.5GHz (SR1AQ) Processor at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[bobbybluz]

You can get an unlocked Xeon 1680 V2 for less than $200 now (saw one on Ebay yesterday for $175). 8 cores of premium silicon for the X79 platform that are close in performance to a 5960X (I own both so this is based on personal experience). The 1650 V2 and 1660 V2 are also decent but not 8 cores though around half the price. Xeons are the smart way to go at the moment.

 

[thesmokingman]

I had a 7820x and my 3900x just flat out stomped all over it. You wrote Intel only but given your supposed workload, that's counter productive.

 

[Kapone33]

The X399 platform is uber affordable now and would give you a better overall experience due to more PCIe_ lanes and more cores. The 1920X is $350 Canadian on Amazon and the As Rock X399 Phantom Gaming 6 is $339. That is a a ton of I/O potential for under $700. In terms of memory support you don't just get DDR4 but also ECC modules work fine with TR4.

 

[storm-chaser]

I had a 7820x and my 3900x just flat out stomped all over it. You wrote Intel only but given your supposed workload, that's counter productive.

I was on an Intel kick there... who knows, maybe I will go AMD at the end of the day.

The X399 platform is uber affordable now and would give you a better overall experience due to more PCIe_ lanes and more cores. The 1920X is $350 Canadian on Amazon and the As Rock X399 Phantom Gaming 6 is $339. That is a a ton of I/O potential for under $700. In terms of memory support you don't just get DDR4 but also ECC modules work fine with TR4.

Thanks. I will look into this.

 

[Waldorf]

not sure why you want to limit yourself to intel.
my 200$ R3600 runs ~50GB/s for ram with just dual channel..

 

[thesmokingman]

I was on an Intel kick there... who knows, maybe I will go AMD at the end of the day.

You listed the 7800x at $350... while the 3900x is either $420 online at the major retailers or $400 from microcenter. There is no way in hell I'd go Intel HEDT when the cost diff between your HEDT choice vs the 3900x is soo slim. On the other I wouldn't go x399 platform either.

 

[Kapone33]

You listed the 7800x at $350... while the 3900x is either $420 online at the major retailers or $400 from microcenter. There is no way in hell I'd go Intel HEDT when the cost diff between your HEDT choice vs the 3900x is soo slim. On the other I wouldn't go x399 platform either.

Yes but the 3900X does not support quad channel.

 

[storm-chaser]

You listed the 7800x at $350... while the 3900x is either $420 online at the major retailers or $400 from microcenter. There is no way in hell I'd go Intel HEDT when the cost diff between your HEDT choice vs the 3900x is soo slim. On the other I wouldn't go x399 platform either.

Okay... thanks.

What's your problem with x399?

not sure why you want to limit yourself to intel.
my 200$ R3600 runs ~50GB/s for ram with just dual channel..

Yes my $200 9600KF rig does about 50GB/s with about 40ns latency (dual channel)
I am interested in maximizing memory throughput with this new build, across all 4 channels. The RAM considerations will be just as important as the processor, to an extent.
Just something a little more high end to satisfy my hardware itch.

 

[thesmokingman]

Okay... thanks.

What's your problem with x399?


Yes my $200 9600KF rig does about 50GB/s with about 40ns latency (dual channel)
I am interested in maximizing memory throughput with this new build, across all 4 channels. The RAM considerations will be just as important as the processor, to an extent.
Just something a little more high end to satisfy my hardware itch.

x399 with TR1 was very finicky. TR2 is an improvement but it still it's a compromise in varied workloads. TR2 fills the gap between Ryzen and TR3, but really its for those who want pcie lanes and you have to deal with NUMA issues. Thus if I'm going threadripper, its TR3 or bust. I still remember going thru 4 x399 boards when it first came out due to a variety of issues. It left a bad taste... TRX40 on the other hand is rock solid, it just oozes stability.

Btw, you shouldn't limit yourself to only quad memory. Memory speed didn't mean jack to my 7820x when it got beat by a stock 3900x which is only dual channel. Even with the 7820x oc'd to 4.8 it was not even close in multi and the 3900x matched it in single. And we're not even talking about the ludicrous power consumption and stupid heat production by the 7820x! Btw I should add that my 7820x was delidded and it still was a huge pita to cool.

Build: 3970x, dual 2080ti, 8TB m.2 RAID = Render Monster

I'm building a render machine for work on a variety of applications. It will be an investment in reducing completion times in rendering and content creation workloads. This is a build for an old college buddy who works in the industry. On to the component list. Also, going to start with two...

hardforum.com

 

[EarthDog]

First of all the build is just for fun I will likely sell later, but I want to build out a specific workhorse for video rendering and advanced work loads. I'm curious to what you guy's think of my potential CPU choices - because that will obviously determine the trajectory of the build. I was thinking a DDR4 platform, newer, faster, but also more expensive. However, some of the older hardware appears to be desirable as well. My only pre-requisite is NOT mainstream sockets AND quad channel memory. I need all the bandwidth I can get out of all four channels. I will go DDR3 if the better CPU choice dictates that. I have not made my mind up yet, so let me know what y'all think. I plan on a liquid cooling solution and moderate overclocking so the CPU MUST have an unlocked mutli.

INTEL ONLY.

Intel BX80633I74930K Core i7-4930K Hexa-Core Processor: $250.00 (QUAD channel, DDR3) LGA 2011

Intel BX80648I75930K Core i7-5930K 3.5GHz 15MB Cache Hexa-Core Processor $210 (QUAD channel, DDR4) LGA 2011

Intel BX80673I77800X Core i7-7800X 3.5 GHz Hexa-Core Processor $350 (QUAD channel DDR4) LGA 2066

Intel BX80671I76850K Core i7 6850K Hexa-Core 3.6GHz $240 (QUAD Channel DDR4) LGA 2066

Intel BX80613I7990X Core i7-990X $140 (Triple Channel DDR3) LGA 1366

EDIT: My target is six cores or up.

Funny...these are barely faster than your current CPU especially the 4930K and 5930K. The 990x is slower than your CPU because its so damn old/IPC is so much lower.

Is memory bandwidth really a consideration here that quad vs dual makes a difference? Last I recall (you would want to research this) memory bandwidth (dual versus quad) makes little difference in video rendering (Cinebench R20 for example). I don't know if that is The Gospel, but I'd certainly research it before you use it as a determining factor. I'd focus on more cores/threads than I would quad channel RAM...

Assuming dual vs quad means little in rendering, consider looking at mainstream AMD Ryzen platforms and their higher core count... For $350 you can get a beast of a CPU... additionally, an X470/X570 board and some dual channel RAM.

You're addicted to memory bandwidth and latency.............ironically(?) it really doesn't matter much for most performance metrics (some it can respond well).

EDIT: That said, I think the clear winner here is the 6850K. No point in the 7 series as IPC didn't change much, just clocks for $100 difference. The other three are simply too slow to be worth it........even for fun. I'd rather render on your 6c/6t or buy mainstream AMD than go out and buy a system under a false(?) pretense of quad channel memory making a difference.

 

[Waldorf]

Especially once you are limited to the cpu for actual tasks.
who cares about a 6 lane hwy when there only 3 cars.

 

[Zyll Goliat]

First of all the build is just for fun I will likely sell later, but I want to build out a specific workhorse for video rendering and advanced work loads. I'm curious to what you guy's think of my potential CPU choices - because that will obviously determine the trajectory of the build. I was thinking a DDR4 platform, newer, faster, but also more expensive. However, some of the older hardware appears to be desirable as well. My only pre-requisite is NOT mainstream sockets AND quad channel memory. I need all the bandwidth I can get out of all four channels. I will go DDR3 if the better CPU choice dictates that. I have not made my mind up yet, so let me know what y'all think. I plan on a liquid cooling solution and moderate overclocking so the CPU MUST have an unlocked mutli.

INTEL ONLY.

Intel BX80633I74930K Core i7-4930K Hexa-Core Processor: $250.00 (QUAD channel, DDR3) LGA 2011

Intel BX80648I75930K Core i7-5930K 3.5GHz 15MB Cache Hexa-Core Processor $210 (QUAD channel, DDR4) LGA 2011

Intel BX80673I77800X Core i7-7800X 3.5 GHz Hexa-Core Processor $350 (QUAD channel DDR4) LGA 2066

Intel BX80671I76850K Core i7 6850K Hexa-Core 3.6GHz $240 (QUAD Channel DDR4) LGA 2066

Intel BX80613I7990X Core i7-990X $140 (Triple Channel DDR3) LGA 1366

EDIT: My target is six cores or up.

Well you can get much cheaper 6 core Xeons(20-50$) for X58 platform instead of paying 140$ for I7-990X and also it will OC easily IF you have decent mobo same things goes for X79 or even X99 platform but on this platforms you need to know difference between locked&unlocked Xeons and how can you OC locked Xeons via BCLK there are also some hacks on X99 platform that can force CPU to works on turbo speeds on ALL cores....

 

[thesmokingman]

Well you can get much cheaper 6 core Xeons(20-50$) for X58 platform instead of paying 140$ for I7-990X and also it will OC easily IF you have decent mobo same things goes for X79 or even X99 platform but on this platforms you need to know difference between locked&unlocked Xeons and how can you OC locked Xeons via BCLK there are also some hacks on X99 platform that can force CPU to works on turbo speeds on ALL cores....

Those Xeons are ridiculously slow now. Hell an 85 buck Ryzen 1600AF is just as fast or faster.

 

[Zyll Goliat]

Those Xeons are ridiculously slow now. Hell an 85 buck Ryzen 1600AF is just as fast or faster.

Well OP was asking for this particular platforms and he never mention AM4&Ryzen.....also SOME of those Xeons are still very competitive today IF you know how to OC them properly and not paying a lot for them they could be still GREAT choice for some people.....

 

[EarthDog]

Yeah, there are many faster options available for the money, but I think he just wants to ogle at quad channel RAM. I'm not sure if he cares about fastest for the money or just wants to play with more RAM channels. We can point him in the best direction if we learned that purpose.

Well OP was asking for this particular platforms and he never mention AM4&Ryzen.....also SOME of those Xeons are still very competitive today IF you know how to OC them properly.....

True. But I'm not sure a 6c/12t X58 CPU even when overclocked to its limits is faster than that 6850K.. Take a quick look here: https://www.anandtech.com/show/7003/the-haswell-review-intel-core-i74770k-i54560k-tested/6

It can't keep up with 4c/8t CPUs...Imagine 50% more cores/threads...

Really... this goes to what I said above. We don't know the OP's purpose. Myself and some others take it to get the fastest for the money (due to the quad channel request/verbiage), but he may not give a hoot, or may just want what he listed.....because storm-chaser reasons. Hopefully he clarifies and we can help out better.

 

[storm-chaser]

ual makes a difference? Last I recall (you would want to research this) memory bandwidth (dual versus quad) makes little difference in video rendering (Cinebench R20 for example). I don't know if that is The Gospel, but I'd certainly research it before you use it as a determining factor. I'd focus on more co

Funny...these are barely faster than your current CPU especially the 4930K and 5930K. The 990x is slower than your CPU because its so damn old/IPC is so much lower.

Is memory bandwidth really a consideration here that quad vs dual makes a difference? Last I recall (you would want to research this) memory bandwidth (dual versus quad) makes little difference in video rendering (Cinebench R20 for example). I don't know if that is The Gospel, but I'd certainly research it before you use it as a determining factor. I'd focus on more cores/threads than I would quad channel RAM...

Assuming dual vs quad means little in rendering, consider looking at mainstream AMD Ryzen platforms and their higher core count... For $350 you can get a beast of a CPU... additionally, an X470/X570 board and some dual channel RAM.

You're addicted to memory bandwidth and latency.............ironically(?) it really doesn't matter much for most performance metrics (some it can respond well).

EDIT: That said, I think the clear winner here is the 6850K. No point in the 7 series as IPC didn't change much, just clocks for $100 difference. The other three are simply too slow to be worth it........even for fun. I'd rather render on your 6c/6t or buy mainstream AMD than go out and buy a system under a false(?) pretense of quad channel memory making a difference.

Actually my focus can be on whatever part of the system I want it to be on. If I want to maximize system memory performance that is what I AM GOING TO GEAR THE SYSTEM TOWARDS. AND THAT IS REALLY THE BOTTOM LINE.

I'm just gauging interest in a new build... these are all considerations I am taking very seriously but I want to be clear: this PC will in no way be the same animal as my recently assembled 9600KF X6 5.0GHz rig. In terms of usage case, they are worlds apart. I will however, evaluate CPU performance with a number of popular benchmarking tests in an effort to gain some perspective on it's performance potential. Horses for courses... I also don't need the technology to be "cutting edge" but I do agree with you that the 6850K is the clear winner from that pack. And just one tech tip - you just need to focus less on being judgmental (as usual) and more energized on the essence of exactly what I am trying to capture here. Horses for courses my friend, horses for courses.

Especially once you are limited to the cpu for actual tasks.
who cares about a 6 lane hwy when there only 3 cars.

Right, this build is all about maximizing memory throughput, so we will be addressing those "bottlenecks" that you speak of, to the best of our ability. Matter of fact, that's a crucial goal of the new build. Unfettered performance, that's what were after!

And I want to emphasis one more point. We are measuring system performance relative to it's CLASS, and not necessarily to hold to the benchmark standard of the most recent tech. So if we do go with a DDR3 kit and CPU, we will be evaluating the system based on how it performs relative to other tech from that time period.

 

[EarthDog]

you just need to focus less on being judgmental (as usual) and more energized on the essence of exactly what I am trying to capture here. Horses for courses my friend, horses for courses.

...and you should read my next/latest post before saying such things..

Your 'essence' is unclear here (to at least me - we see different answers and suggestions because we arent clear on the essence). You mention rendering and want quad channel out of the gate so we went core heavy and explained quad didnt matter much (in case you were not aware) and other options.

Right, this build is all about maximizing memory throughput, so we will be addressing those "bottlenecks" that you speak of, to the best of our ability. Matter of fact, that's a crucial goal of the new build. Unfettered performance, that's what were after!

And I want to emphasis one more point. We are measuring system performance relative to it's CLASS, and not necessarily to hold to the benchmark standard of the most recent tech. So if we do go with a DDR3 kit and CPU, we will be evaluating the system based on how it performs relative to other tech from that time period.

So, unfettered performance.... in a quad channel world....and has to be good at rendering? Does it matter amd or intel?

 

[storm-chaser]

You're addicted to memory bandwidth and latency.............ironically(?)

lol earthdog… forgive me for wanting a low latency system
forgive me for wanting another system that has huge memory throughput

Yes, forgive me to for wanting a system with an advanced memory subsystem.

In case you didn't get the memo, we are posting in a pc - performance related forum.

 

[thesmokingman]

Yea but quad channel is slower than Ryzen dual channel. That's why Intel had to cut their HEDT prices in HALF.