Upgrade for Work Station- Please suggest

It depends on what you do, your cpu is still pretty good I had the same one for a while. If you really would like to upgrade just get another matching tri channel memory kit and something like a gtx 1060

In what way is it not meeting your needs? Those software are quite varied in resources used. Ram may not be needed if you aren't using what you have. Check your ram usage in task manager every so often when working.

Other than max, the others are cpu based rendering and you already pretty much have the best for that platform. If you wanted to improve there, it would be quite a big upgrade with mobo + cpu + ram and possibly windows.

For viewport performance, you'd want a newer quadro. I wouldn't really go with gtx unless gpu rendering is involved.

hardtech,

How many systems and what is the total budget?

The LGA1366 platform such as i7 X980 was an excellent one, but my first thought is to replace the systems with Xeon E5-1600 or 2600 series first version CPU's. This provides not only more modern processors, but faster DDR3 RAM, up to 8-core CPU's, the disk system is SATA III 6GB/s, there's USB 3.0, and etc.

The key would be to find a seller with several identical systems, for example:

HP Desktop PC Z420 Xeon E5-1620 (3.6 GHz) 8 GB 250 GB HDD Windows 10 Pro 64-Bit > Newegg, $335 each

I have am HP z420 with the E5-1620 and for comparison:

Core i7 980X 3.3 /3.6GHz : Passmark average CPU rating = 8946 / Single Thread Mark = 1453
Xeon E5-1620: 3.6 /3.8GHz: 9094 / 1931

The benefit is in the much higher single-thread performance and I used the z420 / E5-1620 for 2D and quite large 3D models.

To the above system, add RAM to 16GB, a 120-128GB SSD for OS /Programs, a WD Blue 1TB for storage, and a Quadro K620 2GB.

Another example, in which the buyer chooses the components:

Build Your Own HP Z420 Workstation QC CPU Windows 7 Pro Save A Lot of Money > $402-$1,250 / A system with a Xeon E5-2680 8-core @ 2.7 /3.5GHz / 16GB RAM / Quadro K4000 / 1TB costs $725. In another auction be the same seller, an E5-1620 / 16GB / K4000 1TB costs $654

< That kind of thing.

Cheers,

BambiBoom

CAD / 3D Modeling / Graphic Design:

HP z420 (2015) (Rev 3) > Xeon E5-1660 v2 (6-core @ 3.7 / 4.0GHz) / 32GB DDR3 -1866 ECC RAM / Quadro K4200 (4GB) / Samsung SM951 M.2 256GB AHCI + Intel 730 480GB (9SSDSC2BP480G4R5) + Western Digital Black WD1003FZEX 1TB> M-Audio 192 sound card > 600W PSU> > Windows 7 Professional 64-bit > Logitech z2300 speakers > 2X Dell Ultrasharp U2715H (2560 X 1440)
[ Passmark Rating = 5581 > CPU= 14046 / 2D= 838 / 3D= 4694 / Mem= 2777 / Disk= 11559] [6.12.16]

Analysis / Simulation / Rendering:

HP z620 (2012) (Rev 3) 2X Xeon E5-2690 (8-core @ 2.9 / 3.8GHz) / 64GB DDR3-1600 ECC reg) / Quadro K2200 (4GB) + Tesla M2090 (6GB) / HP Z Turbo Drive (256GB) + Seagate Constellation ES.3 (1TB) / 800W > Windows 7 Professional 64-bit > HP 2711x (27" 1980 X 1080)
[ Passmark System Rating= 5675 / CPU= 22625 / 2D= 815 / 3D = 3580 / Mem = 2522 / Disk = 12640 ] 9.25.16
[Cinebench R15: OpenGL= 115.78 fps / CPU = 2199 cb / Single core 131 cb / MP Ratio 16.84x

HP z420 (2013)(Revision 2) > Xeon E5-1620 four core @ 3.6 /3.8GHz > 24GB DDR3 ECC 1600 RAM > Quadro 2200 (4GB) > Intel 730 (480GB) > M-Audio 192 soundcard Linksys WMP600N WiFi
[Passmark system rating = 4403 / CPU = 9280 / 2D= 797 / 3D= 3481/ Mem= 2559 / Disk= 4498

Cheers,

BambiBoom

Thanks . Any way could you suggest me the upgrade for the existing model. Like what RAM should I choose, What is triple channel and dual channel ( does it mean I have to put same ram model in 3 slots/ 2 slots)... Which are the new graphics card that are supported for this model....

hardtech,

On Passmark, the most similar system to yours is: i7-975 / Gigabyte X58A-UD7 / 12GB / Quadro FX 1800 / Kingston 240GB SSD:

System: 2203
2D: 5902
3D: 589
Mem; 1859
Disk: 1755

CPU: Checking Passmark baselines, the CPU with the best performance on the Gigabyte X58A-UD7 (349 tested) is the Xeon W3680 which is 6-core @ 3.33 /3.6GHz. The i7-980X is quite good with a top CPU mark (10th place) of 11843 overclocked to 4.6GHz. The second place goes to the i7-990X which is 12268 which is also at 4.5GHz. But, a workplace system is best not overclocked for stability.

When upgrading a Precision T3500, which is also LGA1366, I made a list of contenders for CPU. This is list includes the clock speeds, Passmark average CPU mark, and prices from a year ago:

LGA1366 CPU’s:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_Xeon_microprocessors
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_list.php
http://ark.intel.com/products

4-Core: Passmark CPU Average Ebay_12.13.15

_W-3500 series / 45nm / 8MB cache / 130W / 24GB > 800,1066 / HT

I. W3520
II. W3530 2.8 / 3.06GHz _5372 [5587 actual] _$11 > $65
III. W3540 2.93 / 3.2 _5492
IV. W3550 3.06 / 3.33 _5761
V. W3565 3.2 / 3.46 _6083
VI. W3570 3.2 / 3.46 _6261 _$25 > $50
VII. W3580 3.33 / 3.6 _6586 _$50 > $95

_X-5500 series (8MB cache / 45nm / 95W_ 2009)

I. X5550 2.67 / 3.06 _5422
II. X5560 2.8 / 3.2 _5442
III. X5570 2.93 / 3/33 _5638 _$14 > $45
IV. X5590 3.33 / 3.6 _9216 _$37 >

_W-5500 series (8MB cache / 45nm / 95W_ 2009)

I. W5580 3.2 / 3.46 (130W) _5718 _$21 > $50
II. W5590 3.33 / 3.6 _6314 _$32 > $200

_X-5600 series 32nm/ 8MB/ 95W_ 2011)

I. X5647 2.93 / 3.2 _5996
II. X5667 3.07 / 3.46 _4655 _$16 > $40
III. X5672 3.2 / 3.6 _5148 _$45 > $87
IV. X5677 3.46 / 3.73 (130W)_7046 _$33 > $80
V. X5687 3.6 / 3.86 _7217 _$70 > $130


6-Core

X-5600 series 32nm / 12MB / 95W_2011)

I. X5660 2.87 / 3.2 _7587 _$68 > [$100] > $180
II. X5675 3.07 / 3.46 _8584 _$78 > [$112] > $215
III. X5680 3.33 / 3.6 (130W) _9011 _$113> [$140] > $274
IV. X5690 3.47 / 3.73 (2011) _9216 _$182 >[$220] > $291

_W-3600 series / 32nm / 12MB / 130W > 24GB >

I. W3670 3.2 / 3.46 (1066) _6261 _$90 > $160
II. W3680 3.33 / 3.6 (1333) _9398 _$140 > $208
III. W3690 3.47 / 3.73 _9703 _$160 > $400

From this,list, it's possible to choose according to the needs of the system. My recommendation is to consider W3680 and W3690 for 6-core and X5677 and X5687 for 4-core. The "W-" series is a bit better performing at the same speed than the "X-" series which can be used in dual configurations.

Be sure to update BIOS and check that the CPU cooler is a healthy one.

GPU: It's possible to use any modern GPU as long as the power supply is adequate. It's a bit difficult to suggest a GPU without knowing the programs and use more specifically. The Quadro FX1800 on the Gigabyte X58A-UD7 has a 2D of 589 and 3D of 625 with an I7-975. This is an area of great potential for improvement. The highest 2D score on the Gigabyte X58A-UD7 is 963 using a GTX 970 followed by GTX 690. The GTX 580 is very good at 904 and the 3GB one is very good for video editing. Highest 3D = 10895 with GTX 980 Ti, followed by GTX 1070 scoring 9689. There was no GTX 1060 tested, but for a new consumer card that might be a very good choice based on the reasonable cost and comparatively modest power requirements.

If the systems need a Quadro, if there is appreciable 3D modeling, consider a used K2200 (4GB) - of which the average Passmark 3D is 3474 , K1200 (4GB, 4X Displayport) with 2953, or K620 (2GB) at 2283. We use all workstation cards in our systems, Quadros: K4200, K2200, 4000, K600, FX4800, and Firepro V5900 and V4900.

RAM: The LGA1366 chipset is X58 which is triple channel and can use up to 24GB DDR3-1333. Triple channel means that best results will be to fill each 3-module channel with a set of three identical module. The best configuration will be 6X 4GB- or 6X 2GB with all slots filled with the same module. I have two LGA1366 systems and the RAM is all Samsung DDR3-1333.

Disk: the disk subsystem could be greatly improved by the addition of a PCIe 6GB RAID. In the Precision T5500 listed at the bottom, adding a used PERC H310 ($50) alone changed the disk score from 1940 to 2649. An LSI 9240 or 9260 would be good ones also.

Cheers,

BambiBoom

LGA1366 systems:

Dell Precision T5500 (2011) (Revised) > 2X Xeon X5680 (6-core @ 3.33 / 3.6GHz), 48GB DDR3 1333 ECC Reg. > Quadro K2200 (4GB ) > PERC H310 / Samsung 840 250GB / WD RE4 Enterprise 1TB > M-Audio 192 sound card > Logitech z313 > 875W PSU > Windows 7 Professional 64> HP 2711x (27", 1920 X 1080)
[ Passmark system rating = 3844 > CPU = 15047 / 2D= 662 / 3D= 3550 / Mem= 1785 / Disk= 2649] (12.30.15)

Dell Precision T3500 (2011) (Rev 2) Xeon X5677 4-core @ 3.46 / 3.73GHz > 12GB (6X 2GB) DDR3-1333 ECC > Quadro 4000 (2GB) > PERC 6/i + Seagate 300GB 15K SAS ST3300657SS + WD Black 500GB > 525W PSU> Windows 7 Professional 64-bit > 2X Dell 19" LCD
[Passmark system rating = 2751> CPU = 7236 / 2D= 658 / 3D=2020 / Mem= 1875 / Disk=1221]

hardtech,

Upgrading the existing or changing system is a complicated equation. The principal factor is how far the performance needs to improve. I'm a big fan of LGA1366 and the components are inexpensive, but I'm in the process of changing the office Dell Precision T5500 (2X Xeon x5680 6C@3.33/3.6GHz/ 48GB DDR3-1333, Quadro K2200, Samsung 840 /WD RE4) for an HP z620 with 2X Xeon E5-2690, 64GB, Quadro K4200 + Tesla M2090, Samsung SM951 M.2 + 2X Seagate Constellation ES.2

The T5500 is an excellent system with 100% reliability, and the PERC H310 RAID controller gives it a 6GB/s disk system, but looking to the future as the demands of 3D modeling and CPU and GPU rendering have increased so far. Most important in 3D modeling having the higher CPU single-thread rating of Xeon E5- the X5680 is 1562 and the E5-2690 is 1878, plus a native DDR3-1600, SATAIII, and USB 3.0produce a better performance in every department. My 160MB Sketchup models are sluggish even on the HP z420 with an E5-1660 v2 6C@3.7/4.0GHz.

My suggestion would be to take the value of the current system plus the upgrade budget plus a bit more and consider a used proprietary Xeon E5 system. That could arrive with the target CPU and then the RAM, GPU, and disk upgraded while continuing working on the current system. Then selling the current system recoups that value. With careful shopping, the overall cost could be similar or say similar +$150, but the cost/performance is much better and the potential for the future much better. If you upgraded the current system, that is likely to be near it's limit and run out of steam in two years, whereas the upgraded system might run well for 4 or five years and have a higher residual sales value, making the E5 system much better in cost /year.

As for a suggested specification,consider a Dell Precision T3600 or HP z420 with an E5-1650 6C@3.2/3.8GHz / 16GB DDR3 1600 / Quadro K2200 (4GB) / Samsung 850 Evo 250GB + WD Blue 1TB. Those systems will not necessarily need a RAID controller as they are already SATAIII 6GB/s and have onboard RAID.

Example, after an exhaustive 2-minute search:

HP Z420 WORKSTATION Computer 500GB 8GB XEON E5-1650 V2 (HEXA-CORE) W/HT #30592# > $350

That is a particularly nice one in that it's an E5-1650 v2 and those are 3.5/3.9GHz with a Passmark single-thread rating of 1947- very good. The i7-980X rating is 1453. The finished system might be $800-900 and the performance of the current i7-980X system upgraded could never be anywhere near the E5-1650 v2 HP.

Cheers,

BamibBoom

hardtech,

I would be pleased to provide a components list for a new system. However, I first will need to know the price limit and the place from which the parts are purchased. A system at UK / EU prices can be more than 1.5X as expensive as the same system in the US. Working with 3D CAD requires a good CPU and very good GPU.

Also:

1. What is the 3D CAD software used?

2. Do you use Revit?

3. Are you using CPU or GPU rendering- very important.

As for your upgrade questions:

RAM: The limit for RAM speed using LGA1366 CPU's is DDR3-1333. Faster RAM will work, but the higher rating is wasted as it will run at 1333.

Disk: In general, and SSD will improve speed opening, saving and copying files. For your system, I'd suggest a PCIe RAID controller to convert the disk system from 3GB/s to 6GB/s.

GPU: For a 3D CAD GPU, more memory and CUDA cores are an advantage and a good budget is important. I use only workstation cards- NVIDIA Quadro, but many users, especially those doing GPU rendering have GTX GPU's. I'd say the GTX 1070 would be a very good GPU.

CPU: You didn't enquire about the CPU, but if you are retaining the Ggigabyte X58A-UD7motherboard, it will have to be an LGA1366 i7. If the motherboard is v1.0 it can be a 45nm and if v2.0, it can be a 32nm one. As you have an i7-980X, your motherboard is V2.0. I have a Dell Precision T3500 and a T5500 and both of these use 32nm Xeon X5600 series (X5680 and X5677). The current i7-980X is the same as Xeon W3680 except for being able to use ECC RAM and the top of the range in i7's will be the i7-990X which is 3.47 / 3.73- the same as Xeon W3690. On Passmark, the average CPU mark for i7-980X is 8946 with a 1454 single-thread mark and for the i7-990X, the rating is 9214 with a 1517 single-thread. As the i7-990X costs $200-300 in the US, I don't feel that a 990 is a good investment. I bought E5-2690 8C@2.9/3.8GHz which were $2,050 when new, for $154 and $152. The average CPU mark is 14291 with an 1873 single thread. Keep the CPU and invest in a better GPU.

Cheers,

BambiBoom