Can Dell Precision T3500 supports intel core i 7 and core i 7 extreme processors?

ehsanelahi

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We have 4 T3500's all with the W3503 Intel Xeon 2.4GHz Dual Core Processor. They all have the copper heatsinks. After a lot of research I found that they can be upgraded to any of the W35XX processors (just a question of what we want to pay). When I checked out the W3520, I found out that it was identical to the i7 920 processor.
Has anyone upgraded a T3500 with an i7 processor?
 
Solution


ehsanelahi,

OK, sorry, I assumed that someone with four Precision T3500's would be using them as workstations. A gaming use has a different focus.

Firstly, I still haven't seen any T3500's with i7's. The original sales literature doesn't mention them as being sold with i7's but the spec sheet lists compatibility with 6-core processors and the X58 list shows all those fast i7's.

If i7 works, I would...
ehsanelahi,

Yes, You may change a Dell Precision T3500 to an Intel i7 of the 9XX variety.

An easy way to find out this information is to discover from the specifications sheet >

http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/products/precn/en/q2wk6_dell_precision_t3500_spec_sheet.pdfhttp://www.dell.com/downloads/global/products/precn/en/q2wk6_dell_precision_t3500_spec_sheet.pdf

> that the T3500 uses the Intel X58 chipset, supporting Xeon 5600-series, then go to the Intel ARK site and select "Compatible Products". See>

http://ark.intel.com/products/36785/Intel-X58-Express-IO-Hub#@compatibility

Which lists all the CPU's that work with the X58.

As for i7's, the situation is complicated as I've not been able to find a used T3500 with an i7. Doing a search for "Dell Precision T3500 i7" produces a number of results, but checking in detail, they are all actually W-series Xeons.

My thought is that it may depends on the ability to use ECC RAM.

Still, there are some good options. If you're on a budget, the Xeon W3570 four core is still a respectable 3.2 / 3.46GHz and seems to sell for around $90-120. (7.14.)

The Xeon W3580, 4 core 3.33 /3.6 about $140-180.

It's a pity if i7's don't work as a quick look on Ebay at the fastest i7 CPU's for the X58- is the i7 990X, (Extreme) 6-core /12 thread @ 3.46 / 3.73GHz. It scores 8808 on Passmark at No. 57- still fast by current standards. There don't seem to be any 6-core Xeons for the X58. The i7 990X appears to be in the $400-600 range on Ebay.

Still a good number of options. As you have 4 systems, you can of course, make one an F1 racer, then a couple of sport coupe, and a station wagon for example for 2D.

Dell Precisions are excellent systems- beautifully made and ultra-reliable. The TX500 series was an excellent one- very good performance. I was very near to buying a used T7500 with the outstanding 6-core X5680, but I got a very good price on a new Z420 I didn't buy the T7500. I still use my 2008 T5400 though to sit in the corner and render.

Cheers,

BambiBoom

HP z420 (2014) > Xeon E5-1620 quad core @ 3.6 / 3.8GHz > 24GB ECC 1600 RAM > Quadro 4000 (2GB)> Samsung 840 SSD 250GB /Western Digital Black WD1003FZEX 1TB> M-Audio 192 sound card > AE3000 USB WiFi > HP 2711X, 27" 1920 X 1080 > Windows 7 Ultimate 64 >[Passmark system rating = 3923, CPU=9139 / 2D= 839 / 3D=2048]

Dell Precision T5400 (2008) > 2X Xeon X5460 quad core @3.16GHz > 16GB ECC 667> Quadro FX 4800 (1.5GB) > WD RE4 500GB / Seagate Barracuda 500GB > M-Audio 2496 Sound Card / Linksys 600N WiFi > Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit >[Passmark system rating = 1859, CPU = 8528 / 2D= 512 / 3D=1097]

2D, 3D CAD, Image Processing, Rendering, Text > Architecture, industrial design, graphic design, written projects
 

ehsanelahi

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its ok bambiboom you shared a perfect information but as you mention above Xeon W3570 four core is still a respectable but my question is that, if i make one t3500 as a gaming pc with core i 7- 950 or Xeon W3570, what processor you preferred more for mid range gaming or high end gaming with put in a decent graphic card??
 


ehsanelahi,

OK, sorry, I assumed that someone with four Precision T3500's would be using them as workstations. A gaming use has a different focus.

Firstly, I still haven't seen any T3500's with i7's. The original sales literature doesn't mention them as being sold with i7's but the spec sheet lists compatibility with 6-core processors and the X58 list shows all those fast i7's.

If i7 works, I would say for gaming to find an i7 975 X (Extreme) which at 3.33/3.6GHz is the fastest 4-core. On Ebahh US these appear to cost about $150-190 (7.14) The 6-core is not necessary as games are almost all single threaded. The i7-960 is 3.2 / 3.46 and less expensive- about $100. But, I would only buy any i7 if the seller agrees to a return if it doesn't work.

Really though the Xeon W3570 should be excellent. The difference between 3.2 / 3.46 and 3.33 / 3.6 is probably not noticeable and it will be more reasonably priced than anything with "Extreme" on it- probably $40-50 more reasonable.

Also, if your Precisions have ECC RAM, you'll have to change to non-ECC if an i7 will work, but the latency of non-ECC is much better. ECC is usually CAS 13 and non-ECC can be CAS 9.

As for the graphics card, it depends on your budget If you have $150 I'd lean to a GeForce GTX 670. In the sort of $80-110 range, I'm a big fan of the GTX 660ti (2GB) and the GTX 580. If you get a 3GB 580, they are excellent video editing cards too. Overall, the 660ti is ptoabably the best cost / performance choice.

Let us know what you end up doing.

Cheers,

Bambiboom

 
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ehsanelahi

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Bambiboom:
I live in pakistan, i heard from many people, core i 7 will works in T3500 with excellent intel x58 chipest, hear mostly heard on very famous classified website OLX, according to you, i go for extreme i7 975 X (Extreme) which at 3.33/3.6GHz is the fastest 4-core is better for gaming rather than core i 7- 950. Its not issue that seller agrees or not to return if it doesn't work.
But my last question:
If core i 7 doesn't work then i will go for Xeon W3570 but it is better for gaming purpose? its seems like a core i 7 based processor like turbo boost technology, hyper-threading technology. And also tell about, what kind of ram use for w3570 ECC or NON ECC.
 
ehsanelahi,

Yes, that others say the i7 works in the T3500 is good to know for certain. For gaming, the i7-975X should be bahut achchha as my friend Masood used to say. For single threaded games, it will be running at 3.6GHz and that is quite good for even a new system. On Passmark, the i7-975X scores 8808 and the Xeon W3570 scores 6509, so the i7-975X has 35% better performance. The Xeon W3503 scores only 1764 so, by the numbers, the i7-975X will improve on that by almost 500%!

For memory, the T3500 can use non-ECC of the 1333 speed and that is faster than ECC of the same speed. The ECC error correcting type must make the parity checks and the latency is usually 13 whereas you can buy non-ECC with a latency of 9. I believe the X58 chipset is triple memory channel (and the T3500 has six RAM slots) so the best results will be to use the RAM in sets of three modules, for example 3 X 4GB =12GB.

Allah ka fazal ho,

BambiBoom
 

ehsanelahi

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BambiBoom:
Hahaha, you are bahut achchha, but my last question, HIS HD Radeon 6790 or HD 7770 can run with 525W PSU, can this PSU handle these graphics card?
By the way, you speak better urdu like "bahut achchha" "Allah ka fazal ho", your friend Masood also very funny using these particular words, I little doubt about, you are Indian, Pakistani or English speaking person. Because i can't stopped himself to ask that kind of questions when I read these words in your answer,
Allah ka fazal ho.
Bahut achchha.
 
ehsanelahi,

You are wise to question the power requirements of the graphics card as some models can use quite a lot. I used a GTX 285 for a short while on my Precision T5400 and that used up to 230W, but the PSU in the T5400 is 875W.

I never see the same numbers twice. PC magazine mentions that the HD Radeon 6790 requires two six pin power connectors and apparently can use a bit more than 200W. However, another site lists the 6970 as using 104W and only 86W from the 7770.- perhaps these are averages rather than peaks. The second review mention that the power supply for a 7770 should be a minimum of 450W. I think that overall, the T3500 should power either the 6950 or 7770. Precisions always seem to have generous power supplies- the big brother to the T3500, the T7500, has a 1000W power supply.

My friend Masood is from Hyderabad, so perhaps the Urdu is a bit different. He was an excellent philosopher and used to say things like, "When you feet are cool your head is cool." I only ever learned perhaps 100 words in Urdu when we worked together in the mid-1980's. I did however learn enough to write the only poem I have ever written in a foreign language:

Bahut achchha
Billi ka bachha


> I may have forgotten but I hope that means"

Very good
Kitten

I always enjoy little looks into other cultures and languages.

Cheers and Allah ka fazal ho!

BambiBoom




 

ehsanelahi

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BambiBoom:
Yeah your are right, it means 'very good'. I really enjoyed while I talking with you as you are using very funny words i.e 'Billi ka bachha' it means 'baby of cat' hahaha, many funny things came in the whole above discussion, introduce himself each other even a your friend Masood. Its my first time to ask some question about hardware on tomshardware. Next time I have any problem about hardware complications, I will contact with you.
But you don't tell me about your self that in what country do you belong?
Cheers and Allah ka fazal ho!
Allah Hafiz.
ehsanelahi
 
Dost suno ehsanelahi,

I also enjoyed our discussion and I'm pleased to help if I can. Really mujheh urdu nahin ati but I'm also glad for a brief moment to use my five words after many years and hope that I didn't say something terrible!

As for myself, I am from a small town in the Mid-West US, studied and lived in England and then worked since 1989 in Los Angeles, California. I had many good friends from India and Pakistan in both England and California. In my opinion, more Americans should take a closer look into other cultures. For one thing, the food is much more interesting!

Cheers,

BambiBoom

 

ehsanelahi

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BambiBoom
I belong to middle class family in Pakistan and decided to go to England (as my favorite country) for study as well as search a suitable job, now I am a student of BS (Communication and Media Studies), what you suggest me about as a brotherhood.
As for tomshardware community, what are the requirements to answering the peoples about their hardware issue like you. Do you receive any salary to answering the people about their issues? Or it is voluntary?
Allah Hafiz
ehsanelahi