Xeon e5440 is a server-based processor solution.to create high performance computing systems. The review of this model of the central processor, its characteristics, and also responses of owners about this semiconductor chip will be further considered in the article.
The main application of the Xeon 5440 CPU isservers. Moreover, the processor, in fact, is a very versatile solution and can be used both in an entry-level computer system and as part of a high-performance network computer of the middle and even premium classes. In the first case, only one such chip is used, in the mid-level server - 2, and in the premium computer 4 such processors should be installed at once, and this is the maximum configuration allowed for this CPU model.
BOX is the most common inPrice lists are a possible version of a complete set of Xeon 5440. The characteristics of the CPU itself in this case were listed on the cardboard box. The chip itself was in a protective packaging made of transparent plastic. The manufacturer also included in the delivery list the proprietary cooling system (it included cooler and thermal grease), a warranty card and, of course, a user manual. Rarely in commercial offers could meet the option delivery TRAIL. It lacked a proprietary cooling system, and for this reason it had a much lower cost.
Harpertown is the codename of the architecture,which is the basis of Intel Xeon 5440. The characteristics of this processor unit indicate that it consists of four full-fledged physical cores. They are made according to the standards of 45 Nm process technology. Support for proprietary logical multi-core technology in this chip is missing. As a result, at the software level, we get all the same four logical flows of information processing.
Unlike modern CPUs,In this server product, neither the north bridge of the system logic set nor the integrated video card was part of the silicon chip. And if the lack of the latter is not so critical for a high-performance computing system because only a discrete graphics card is needed in such a situation, then a separate north bridge significantly reduces the speed of the PC because the data exchange with the RAM is not that fast.
There is no support for this CPU.proprietary technology from Intel, as TurboBust. Accordingly, the clock frequency does not change during the operation of the computing system, it is not affected by the temperature of the semiconductor chip, nor the level of complexity of the executed code. The actual bus frequency for this processor unit corresponds to 333 MHz (the effective value is 1,333 MHz), and the multiplier is fixed by the manufacturer at 8.5. As a result, in the nominal mode, this processor can only operate at a frequency of 2.83 GHz.
Another significant disadvantage in comparison withmodern processor devices, is the organization of cache memory in the Xeon 5440. The latest generation of CPUs are necessarily equipped with a cache system of 3 levels. Such an organization of fast memory can significantly increase the speed. In this CPU, there are only 2 cache levels.
The first has a volume of 256 kb, which are divided into 464 kb each. A specific segment can directly interact with a specific code processing block. In addition to this, these 64 KB are divided into segments of 32 KB each. One of them stores data, and the second - the code.
The second level consists of 2 clusters of 6 MB each.That is, the total size of the second-level cache is 12 MB. It should also be noted that each of the clusters can only exchange information with a specific pair of cores.
The third level cache, as noted earlier, is not present in this processor unit.
The Xeon 5440 processor did not have an integrated RAM controller. As noted earlier, this component of the computing system was part of the chipset.
Three series of chipsets released Intel for the LGA771 processor socket:
G3X.
G4x.
P4X.
All of them were sharpened by the use of DDR2 standard memory. The recommended frequency of the modules is 1066 MHz. The maximum amount of RAM for a single-processor configuration is 16 GB.
Значение потребляемой мощности установлено manufacturer at around 80 watts. Taking into account the fact that the cache memory includes only 2 levels, and the crystal was manufactured using the 45 nm technology, we obtain full compliance with the technical characteristics of the CPU and its thermal packet.
The maximum temperature value of the silicon base for this processor unit is 67 0C. In the nominal mode, this chip operates in the temperature range from 40 to 55 0C. That is, from the standpoint of the temperature regime, this CPU has a really substantial margin of safety.
A modest processor solution from the standpointincrease in performance is the Xeon 5440. Overclocking it is possible only by increasing the performance of the system bus on the motherboard. His CPU frequency multiplier is blocked at 8.5. The nominal frequency of the system bus in this case is equal to 333 MHz or effective 1333 MHz. In the case of overclocking, as practice shows, these values can be increased with air cooling, respectively, to 410 MHz and 1640 MHz. Taking into account the CPU multiplier 8.5, we get a real 3.5 GHz or a 20 percent performance boost.
The order of acceleration in this case consists of the following stages:
The frequencies of all components of the computer system are reduced (for this you can use the BIOS or specialized software), except for the system bus.
Then the system bus frequency increases incrementally. At the same time, it is necessary to control the fact that the frequency of the rest of the PC components has not gone beyond what is permitted (for example, for RAM).
After each increase in the frequency of the system bus, the computing system is tested for stability using special software.
Later on, after reaching the stability limit, the voltage on the CPU increases, and after that, a test of stability is performed.
Later, the frequency of the system bus and the voltage on the CPU increase in stages. When the voltage reaches 1.35 V, the maximum frequency of the processor will be obtained.
Сравнение в номинальном режиме Xeon 5440 vs Core i5 3rd generation will show the unconditional and complete superiority of the latter. If you align the values of the clock frequency of both chips and compare their performance, the difference will be about 20-30 percent. As an example, the table below will show the results of synthetic testing in the AIDA64 package of the considered CPU with i5-3750K.
Subtest name | E5440, points | i5 - 3750K, points | Difference, points | Percentage difference |
CPU QUEEN | 30612 | 34103 | 3491 | 11,4 |
CPU PHOTO | 5903 | 14314 | 8411 | 142,5 |
CPU ZLIB | 183,7 | 234,6 | 50,9 | 27,7 |
CPU HASH | 2330 | 2924 | 594 | 25,5 |
FPU VP8 | 4301 | 5543 | 1242 | 28,9 |
FPU JULIA | 9871 | 17717 | 7846 | 79,5 |
In most tests, the difference betweenconsidered by the CPU and a representative of the modern generation of processor devices does not exceed 30%. The only exceptions in this respect are CPU PHOTO and FPU JULIA. In this case, a substantially redesigned architecture makes itself felt and provides a solid performance boost.
Initially, Intel Xeon 5440 was ratedmanufacturer 700 dollars (option configuration TRAIL) and 735 USD in the performance of BOX. But such price tags were relevant for the first quarter of 2008. Now, this chip, as shown by the test results, is completely outdated. In the new state it is no longer possible to buy it for the reason that it has long been discontinued, and its stock has long been sold out. But in the used state such a processor unit can be purchased at various online auctions. In this case, its price will not exceed $ 50, which fully comply with its specifications.
Quite worthy processor device forof its time was the Xeon 5440. It could be in the amount of from 1 to 4 pieces in the composition of server computers. In this case, one CPU was the basis of entry-level computing systems. If there were 2 or 3, this was a middle class server. And four of these microprocessors allowed to create high-performance premium-level servers.
As part of the gaming personal computer couldused Xeon 5440. Video card in this case must be discrete and very productive. The owners of such a microprocessor device in their reviews on the entire global web at the moment accentuate precisely this.
The still valid chip is the Xeon e5440.Its hardware characteristics still allow to solve any problems. What can it be like server software, and any toy. In the latter case, the settings may not be the maximum, but such software on such computer hardware will surely work. So this processor device even today is universal and allows you to solve a wide range of tasks.
