planeace222 :
Hello everyone!
I have been looking for workstations as you can find some really good deals on ebay for refurbished or used ones. I am considering a precision T3xxx or T5xxx or an HP z800 series computer to use for photo and video editing, gaming, and average daily use at home. If I run games, I would like to hold the server on my rig to allow better connectivity for my game party so multiple cores would be a necessity. I am looking for the best deal, and dont want to spend more than $600 total including a new PSU. A video card is not in the budget as I can fetch one any time. However, what PSU would be compatible? Would a normal atx psu like a corsair work?
Thanks ahead of time!
planeace222,
Our office currently uses a Dell Precision T3500 and T5500 plus three HP's: two z420s, and a z620.
I'm not certain of the motive behind a new PSU. The z800 is 850W and proprietary- it's configured as a kind of drawer and an odd shape like an arrow. It's therefore not a candidate for replacement if the goal is to have more power. Anyway, 850W can run two 140W CPU's and two 150W GPU's- whatever that could fit in the box.
You will need a GPU on some level for any of these systems. For 2D, a $35 Quadro FX3800
While I like the LGA1366 platform and have had excellent results and perfect reliability, for your $600, higher performance, future upgrade, potential, and residual value is possible with a Xeon E5 system. These can use 8-core processors in place of the 6-core limit on LGA1366, have SATAIII 6GB/s instead SATAII 3GB/s disk systems., and USB 3.0 instead of 2.0. Importantly today, these have UEFI BIOS and that allows the use of M.2 drives- AHCI and the Samsung 950 Pro NVMe that has a Legacy BIOS. The best CPU for your use would be an 8-core as Adobe peaks efficiency at 5-6 cores. How about:
Build Your Own HP Z420 Workstation 8C CPU No OS Save A Lot of Money > $599
That's a listing that allows CPU, RAM, drive, and GPU options. For the $600, the system has an E5-2680 8C @ 2.7 /3.5 GHz (that cost $1,550 new) 16GB of RAM, a 1TB HD, and Quadro K2000. Not very gaming oriented, but will be better than any LGA1366 given the relative single-thread performance. The highest single-thread performance for a 6-core LGA1366 processor is the W3690 6C @ 3.47 /3.73GHz with a Passmark score of
1563, while the E5-2680 makes
1685 with 4 additional threads- and there is also DDR3-1600 (instead of 1333), the SATAIII and USB 3.0 helping the other subsystems. the PSU is 600W and that is rated to use 140W CPU and two 150W GPU's. Adobe CS and CC applications do not recognize multiple GPU's. The GTX 1080 uses 206W and the minimum PSU is quoted as 520W, and one of those should cover any of your uses.
As mentioned, we have two z420's, one is E5-1620 4-core and other is E5-1660 v2 6-core and these are very quiet and have been ultra-reliable.
Another:
T3600 DELL PRECISION T3600, MT, XEON E5-1660 6 CORE, 3.3GHZ, ECC DDR3, 16.0GB > $461
That has the very good E5-1660 6C @ 3.3/.3.9GHz -Passmark single-thread performance is
1988 which is very good by today's standards, 16GB RAM, and the GPU and drive is not mentioned.
Lenovo ThinkStation S30 Xeon E5-1660 Six 6 Core 3.33GHz 16GB 500GB USB3.0 NO OS > $329 or offer
Another tactic is to buy a very basic configuration and upgrade, which allows choosing a better CPU:
HP Z420 Workstation 3.60Ghz QC Xeon E5-1620 16GB RAM 500GD HDD Quadro FX580 > $292 or offer
Make an offer, sell the E5-1620 for $60 and the price net is more in the $260 range. Buy a Xeon E5-2690 8C@ 2.9/3.8GHz (single thread = 1873) for $170 , a Samsung 850 EVO 120GB for $90, WD Blue 1TB, $50 and a GTX 750 Ti for $70 = net, about $640 and ready to go.
The cost may go over $600, but in my view, it's worth stretching a bit to have a system usable for all functions for quite awhile- buy a GTX 1060 in a few months, with better performance and upgrade potential that can be used over a longer period.
Cheers,
BambiBoom
All of these systems were purchased as open box or used and extensively upgraded for 3D CAD, graphic design, rendering, analysis /simulation, and etc:
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
2D, 3D CAD, Graphic Design:
HP z420 (2013)(Revision 2) > Xeon E5-1620 four core @ 3.6 /3.8GHz > 24GB DDR3 ECC 1600 RAM > Quadro 4000(2GB) > Samsung 840 (250GB) WD Black 1TB > > M-Audio 192 soundcard > Linksys WMP600N WiFi
[Passmark system rating = 3815 / CPU = 8985/ 2D= 767 / 3D= 2044/ Mem= 2523 / Disk= 2986]
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]
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