Intel XEON E5450 processor: an overview, features, description and reviews

Server processors are of little interest to owners of personal computers, because the crystals of this segment have a completely different task, connected with mathematical calculations and working with databases. Unrealistically overpriced and its own platform in the bargain completely relieve the potential buyer from thinking about buying and installing processors from the corporate segment.

In fact, the manufacturer of computer equipment is simply not interested, so that ordinary users set themselves server solutions, because this will undermine the company's policy and suspend sales of new equipment. In this article the reader will get acquainted with one interesting representative of the corporate segment, which can compete with expensive crystals. It's about the XEON E5450 processor. Overview, specifications, description and feedback of users will help the reader to better know the representative of the corporate segment.

Specifications

The processor is designed to install in the socket socket 771, which is reserved by the manufacturer of Intel for multiprocessor platforms. For XEON E5450 performance characteristics are slightly different from Pentium 4 chips and their analogs intended for installation in socket 775. Four cores implemented separately on one platform (like Core Quad) operate at 3 GHz. The bus operating frequency corresponds to 1333 MHz.

Of the indicators, only the amount of the processor's memory cache is allocated, it is 12 megabytes (for the second level). Support for a 64-bit platform, heat dissipation of 80 watts and support for all the instructions necessary for the operation of the server complement the general idea of the XEON E5450 chip.

Processor Features

The reader has already noticed several cardinal differences between the representative of the server platform and the processors intended for installation in a personal computer. The crystal with four cores operates at a frequency of 3 GHz, while the home representative, even in the top version, is limited to a 2.9 GHz threshold. Interesting and the performance of the bus - 1333 MHz for most users of a personal computer is achieved only by overclocking. And then in most cases the frequency threshold is 1066 MHz.

Pleases and heat, which does not exceed 100 watts. Naturally, the user may want to overclock the Intel XEON E5450 processor. Surprise enthusiast will not be the limit, when he without problems will pass the psychological barrier and stop at 4.1 GHz. However, before overclocking, you need to solve the problem with cooling, because the crystal has a temperature limit (70 degrees Celsius), after which automatic protection works, and the server processor is turned off.

Comparison with analogues

Naturally, all users with impatience want to compare the server chip with some famous product. For example, XEON E5450 vs Core Quad Q6800. At least, all users of the platform on socket 775 consider the Q6800 processor as the benchmark for performance, which fits well with the "price-quality" criterion. However, experts in the field of IT technology recommend enthusiasts to raise the bar much higher and look for comparison representative Intel Core I5.

Yes, the server processor of the past generation, without much labor in performance, will leave behind not only all the multi-core AMD representatives, but also its older Core I3 counterparts. It is this feature of the crystal that attracts many users who have long wanted to increase the performance of their computer, but do not have enough money to switch to a new platform.

Professional use

Crystal Intel XEON E5450 will be useful first of all to experts in the field of video processing and creating models in 3D. The processor power is enough for the most difficult tasks. If you compare with other processors on the socket 775 platform, then the performance gain can be estimated as follows:

• Pentium 4 platform with one core is 20 times slower;
• Dual core dual core processor is 15 times lower;
• A Core 2 Duo crystal with a core frequency of more than 2.6 GHz is slower than the XEON E5450 by a factor of 10;
• The Core Quad representative with 4 cores is 5 times inferior to the server representative.

Performance measurements were carried out by experts with the help of applications for processing and encoding video in FullHD format. Well-known programs Sony Vegas and Pinnacle Studio. There is no doubt that in the processing of 3D-objects the difference in performance will not differ much.

Potential in gaming applications

Many enthusiasts believe that for the XEON E5450 processor games will not become a stumbling block. After all, the server chip proved itself worthy in working with resource-intensive applications. This is true, but there are several points that should be paid attention to fans of dynamic modern toys. First, to quickly exchange information between the application and the processor, it is necessary to make the RAM work at the same frequency as the crystal (1333 MHz). A weak point in the system can become a video adapter, the capacity of which simply does not suffice for the full operation of the entire system.

For a gaming computer based on a server processor, experts set minimum requirements for video cards: Geforce GTX 580 and Radeon HD 5970. Graphical accelerators with lower performance will slow down the entire system. Do not forget about the hard drive. It's time to build gaming platforms based on solid state drives SSD.

Real figures

Naturally, all users, especially fans of resource-intensive modern games, want to see the performance of the XEON E5450 in action. For comparison, two identical platforms were created by enthusiasts: 4GB of Hynix 1333 MHz RAM, MSI G41M-P26 motherboard, Kingston HyperX 120Gb SSD and Gainward GTX 580 video adapter. The platforms differed only in processors. The server chip was mapped to the Core Quad Q6800. In gaming applications GTA5, FarCry4, Witcher 3, Mortal Kombat X, Fallout 4, system performance has increased almost 3 times (from 20-25 FPS to 60-70 frames per second).

Such indicators pushed enthusiasts to the idea of comparing the server solution for the socket 771 platform with a more productive new generation processor - Intel Core I5 2500K. The results were stunning - XEON E5450 lost to the representative of the line of the 1155 socket a total of 5-7%! The weakness of the system, as practice shows, is the amount of RAM - 4 GB is clearly not enough for resource-intensive games.

Physical differences between platforms

The XEON E5450 processor, intended for installation in socket 771, has some differences from the representative of Intel Pentium 4, intended for installation in socket 775. Firstly, we are talking about two contacts that the manufacturer changed places to exclude the interchangeability of processors. The problem is eliminated in several ways: the feet are patched on the motherboard or a special adapter is used to change the socket.

The second trouble is the absence of additional slots on the server processor for installation in the socket 775. The problem is also solved in two ways: the slots on the processor are cut or the limiters on the motherboard are broken. The second way is safer.

Platform compatibility at the software level

Before you start looking for the XEON E5450 processor on the domestic market, you need to understand whether it is compatible with the motherboard that is available to the user. The fact is that Intel, with the release of chips, has created some limitations, which relate not only to the base frequencies of work, but also heat release. All motherboards based on the "P" and "G" chips, as well as the nForce 7 series, support the server processor at the hardware level.

Not all motherboards can "know" the Intel XEON E5450 processor, even if on a hardware level this crystal is supported by a chip. The problem is that some motherboard manufacturers have their own limitation, which they used to save the temperature regime in the system. So, the manufacturers Foxconn, MSI and Gigabyte have limited at the BIOS firmware level the installation of processors with four cores operating at a frequency above 2.66 GHz. Accordingly, before purchasing, users are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the specification of the motherboard on the official website of the manufacturer.

Search for a ready solution

Having received input data on the performance of the server processor Intel XEON E5450, the user will certainly study the offers on the domestic market, and after some time will be disappointed by the lack of new crystals in retail. Yes, the platform is morally obsolete and has long been discontinued, accordingly, the secondary market will find the necessary solution. The cost of this processor varies between 2-4 thousand rubles.

A new crystal can be purchased at foreign online auctions. The cost of such processors is not much different from the proposals in the Russian market, but foreigners offer their products with small modifications. The server processor is already bored for socket 775 and has a corresponding adapter.

Cooling system

It is not necessary to think that the XEON E5450, which is undemanding to power, does not need a decent cooler. The fact is that an economical processor is not only sensitive to overheating, but also capable of shutting down the entire computer when the operating temperature is exceeded. After all, this is a server processor, and it is responsible for the safety of data and its own security, so the user should think about purchasing a decent cooling system.

Experts in the field of IT technologies recommend looking at inexpensive solutions from Intel. All versions of BOX processors Intel Pentium 4 have in the kit a decent cooler, which is designed for cooling crystals with a heat release of up to 125 watts. This solution will be quite enough even for overclocking the crystal to 4 GHz.

Finally

The XEON E5450 server solution is not only an alternative to improving the computer by switching to a new platform. It's more about saving the user's money, because he is offered an unusual solution, which, along with increasing the productivity of the computer, allows you to save a large amount of money. Yes, the transition is not easy and requires physical interventions in the processor. But it is worth it to enjoy the comfortable operation of the system in the next few years, without thinking about a possible upgrade, which requires significant financial costs.

True, many potential buyers will have to do a great job before creating the platform of their dreams. The usual trip to the store is not enough. First you need to make sure the motherboard processor support. Then solve the installation problem, and the improvement of other components of the computer plays an important role here.