"Black Knight" Xeon X5680

[asand1]

I was recently given an Asus Sabertooth X58 motherboard and Case by a friend. After a bit of research i found that Xeons are a native CPU option for this LGA1366 board and I just couldn't argue with a $14 CPU pricetag. I went to Ebay and picked up an E5640 Xeon, 24 gb of RAM, and a Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus.  The CPU works great, but the RAM does not work because it is Buffered ECC. I now have 8gb of DDR3 1333 desktop RAM running in it.

 

[Xanthe_2871]

What a handsome machine!

[asand1]

Just now, Xanthe_2871 said:

What a handsome machine!

Before it was given to me it was described as a "Transformers" machine. I think it more resembles a knights helmet. I think I will call it the Black Knight.

[shadowbyte]

nice!

those X58 board are hard to find these days

[Xanthe_2871]

1 minute ago, asand1 said:

Before it was given to me it was described as a "Transformers" machine. I think it more resembles a knights helmet. I think I will call it the Black Knight.

That seems like a fitting name. Black Knight.

[asand1]

1 minute ago, shadowbyte said:

nice!

those X58 board are hard to find these days

Thank you. 

[asand1]

2 minutes ago, Xanthe_2871 said:

That seems like a fitting name. Black Knight.

I changed the thread Title, it was your comment that made me step back and take a look at it.

[asand1]

I installed Windows 10 last night and was surprised with an activated install, the PO must have been running 10 as well.

[Trav_X]

Nice build, can't argue with getting a nice PC at that budget. Personally love all Xeon's, they are just so cheap on eBay and are so powerful for their price compared to consumer grade stuff. Awesome build, can't wait to see what you add into it.

[asand1]

I currently have an i7 2600 in a locked OEM board with 16gb of ddr3 and a GTX 960.

 

Would anyone like to talk me out of buying another GTX 960, an X5680, and two more sticks of 4gb, and swap it all into the Black Knight.

[simson0606]

16 hours ago, asand1 said:

I currently have an i7 2600 in a locked OEM board with 16gb of ddr3 and a GTX 960.

 

Would anyone like to talk me out of buying another GTX 960, an X5680, and two more sticks of 4gb, and swap it all into the Black Knight.

nope, do it!  (although maybe sell your 960 and try to get something a bit more beefy)

[asand1]

3 hours ago, simson0606 said:

nope, do it!  (although maybe sell your 960 and try to get something a bit more beefy)

I was thinking the SLI 960s would satisfy my SLI lust and be a decent stop-gap until I get something like a 1070.

[asand1]

Just a quick CPUz after my first OC attempt on the E5640.

http://valid.x86.fr/sun241

 

 

 

[asand1]

Change of plans. As cool as the Case looks, it has poor ventilation and awkward mounting for drives. I will use the same case i used in a friends build, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147244, I will also pick up an X5680 Xeon and used Kraken X61.

 

[asand1]

I went ahead and ordered an X5680. Here it is installed and running at 4.3Ghz at 61*.

 

[asand1]

Black Knight is now assembled in his almost complete state. Installed is the X 5680, CM 212 Hyper+, GTX 960, and 16GB DDR3 1600Mhz RAM.

[asand1]

I bought a used NZXT Kraken x61 and was up till 3AM installing it. I was wondering why it was so difficult fitting it into the case but then checked specs on the case and cooler. Apparently the case supports 240mm coolers, while the cooler is 280mm. I was able to front mount the rad, in a pull configuratio, but I had to remove my HDD cage.

 

 

[Heesleemer]

dem cables doe

[asand1]

1 hour ago, Heesleemer said:

dem cables doe

Oh yeah, I'm still waiting on my modular PSU and I need to relocate the drives before I worry about cable management.

[nofxz]

3.5 inch hard drives are overrated. Manage a small ssd instead of hording.

[asand1]

19 hours ago, nofxz said:

3.5 inch hard drives are overrated. Manage a small ssd instead of hording.

No thanks. My SSD is too small, and my HDD is still new.

[asand1]

I removed the 5.25" bays by drilling all the rivets out, and then drilled four holes into the bottom the the cage to mount my HDD. I then secured the HDD into the cage and remounted the cage with its four screws and eight pop rivets. The SSD is still laying in the bottom of the case until I get my new PSU with straight SATA connectors. 

[_blackknight_]

Hello fellas

[asand1]

Finally got around to overclocking the Xeon X5680. Speed Step off, Vcore 1.3v, BCLK 167, 24x, everything else on and Auto, 4Ghz at 51c.  This was my initial first step in the OC process. I'll use it for a while to test stability in everyday use.

[asand1]

Bclk is now at 169 and 25x. Running at 4.225GHz @1.35v. Temps are hovering around 52c.