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4117
Aurora R1, CPU Upgrade Options
Hi,
I run as my desktop and household server an Aurora R1 with the following specs:
- Core i7 920 processor @ 2.66GHz. This is original, and has the liquid cooler
- 24GB DDR3 RAM
- Upgraded graphics card, disks (9TB of SSDs)
- USB3 via PCI
The machine does pretty much everything we ask of it and apart from the original graphics card dying hasn't missed a beat. I really don't want to do a major hardware upgrade if I can avoid it.
I recently upgraded to Windows 10, build 1903, and it was "almost" trouble free. The issue I have is with VMWare:
- Windows 10, build 1903 won't allow any VMWare version earlier than 15.1 to run
- VMWare 15.X needs at least a 2010-era CPU (Xeon 5600 / Core i7-970 or later)
The obvious solution is to try and source a "moderate" upgrade processor, but I really want to avoid any incompatibility issues or "rolling upgrades" if possible.
Please can anyone advise me:
- What is the highest Xeon or Core i7 processor which should be directly compatible with the existing socket, motherboard and cooler?
- Are there any known "gotchas" I need to look out for
Thanks
Andrew
AAA737flyer
757 Posts
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November 6th, 2019 03:00
To address your question directly:
What are the system requirements of the latest version of VMware workstation?
System Requirements:
VMware recommends the following: 64-bit x86 Intel or AMD Processor from 2011 or later. 1.3GHz or faster core speed. 2GB RAM minimum/4GB RAM recommended.
The Core i7-990X Extreme Edition was a 64-bit hexa-core microprocessor introduced by Intel in early 2011. The i7-990X was manufactured in 32 nm process based on the Westmere microarchitecture.
This chip is available in used condition from several vendors:
https://www.amazon.com/Intel-Core-i7-990X-Extreme-Processor/dp/B004NRQDQQ
You need to have BIOS A11 installed.
https://www.dell.com/support/driver/us/en/19/DriversDetails?productCode=alienware-aurora&driverId=9DCY7
Then install chip, and AIO cooler, check all fasteners and connections, restart computer and allow system to install 990x. Computer will shut down and restart about three times and take a couple of minutes to complete as I recall.
No special items or concerns other than install A11 firsts, install 990x, and allow system to do its job.
As for the Xeon. The X5675 would work.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yo3uaZCFybw
speedstep
9 Legend
9 Legend
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47K Posts
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November 5th, 2019 08:00
Absolutely no point whatsoever in upgrading 1st gen Core processor. xeon processors are not supported.
Systems using Intel processors based on the 2010 Westmere micro-architecture. For example, Xeon 5600, Xeon 3600, Core i7-970, Core i7-980, and Core i7-990.
Precision T3500 with XEON 5670 would be the upgrade.
https://www.amazon.com/Intel-SLBV7-2-93GHz-Socket-LGA1366/dp/B004EET1J4
https://www.dell.com/downloads/global/products/precn/en/q2wk6_dell_precision_t3500_spec_sheet.pdf
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
8 Wizard
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17K Posts
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November 5th, 2019 08:00
I still have a working Aurora-R1 as well, but mine has an Intel i7-930 & 12gb ram
Like the Area-51-R1, it’s MB is based on Intel-X58 Chipset. LegacyBios (non-UEFI) Limited to Sata-II/300 SSD speed. No native USB-3.0. These first Intel core-i7 chips were Enthusiasts-class in 2010, but now-days ..., I’ve seen faster Intel-i3 (using much lower watts). Thanks Science .
I’m not sure I understand VMWare v15 needing Gulftown or better Intel-i7 processor (all of a sudden ?) , but only they know for sure ... if that new hard-limit on CPU is real, and why it exists.
If you want to run a Xeon, you should get a different machine (different MB that supports those nicer processors).
Edited
speedstep
9 Legend
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47K Posts
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November 6th, 2019 04:00
The 900 series GEN1 I7 chip costs as much as an entire system with windows 10 that would be much newer GEN4 like a 9020 mini tower or Precision T1700 Mini Tower. Upgrading such an old non uefi system is a waste of money.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Refurbished-Dell-Precision-T1700-Workstation-i5-4570-3-20GHz-8GB-256GB-SSD-Win-10-Pro-1-Yr-Wty/770124547
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
8 Wizard
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17K Posts
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November 6th, 2019 08:00
Nothing wrong with using available machines to keep costs down. But this is a heavy-task.
Might be time to upgrade hardware. If not a custom build, maybe a good deal on an off-lease Precision Workstation (with nice Intel, maybe a Xeon ... and 32gb ram ) . If it’s a Dell, should come with Windows-10 Pro 64bit license.
Install some SSD, and clean install Windows and VMWare.
Techgee
2 Intern
2 Intern
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590 Posts
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November 6th, 2019 11:00
@andrewkjohnston,
I'm still running an older HEDT Dell X58 chipset as well. 6 cores at just under 4 GHz with a ThrottleStop OC, 48 GB RAM. ~3 TB of M.2 NVMe SSDs at ~1700 MB/s. Can run Windows 10 off any of 3 Samsung NVMe SSDs - native boot with the 950 PRO, using Clover to chain boot UEFI with the rest. Have USB 3.1 Gen 2 running at ~800 MB/s. My NVMe/USB setup elsewhere on this site here.
The fastest Xeon - a W3690, 3.46 GHz hex-core (same performance as fastest i7, an i7-990X - but less $) - that works in a X58 (without overclocking) is available for like ~$80 on places like ebay. I put together a full list of CPUs here that also should apply to the Aurora R1 (I doubt you'll have any Turbo or other CPU issues with the Aurora.)
Techgee
2 Intern
2 Intern
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590 Posts
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November 6th, 2019 12:00
According to VMware's Workstation Player site here, following are explicitly supported:
Systems using Intel processors based on the 2010 “Westmere” micro-architecture (e.g. Xeon 5600, Xeon 3600, Core i7-970, Core i7-980, Core i7-990)
So, you should be fine with either a Xeon W3690 (or any Xeon W36xx) or i7-990X.
Techgee
2 Intern
2 Intern
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590 Posts
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November 6th, 2019 14:00
Assuming the Aurora R1 is Dell motherboard 0H869M, on userbenchmark.com I see two Aurora R1 benchmarks running a Xeon W3690:
Benchmark 1
Benchmark 2
So, this Xeon should work.
Similarly for a slightly "slower" Xeon W3680 (i7-980X equivalent):
Benchmark 3 - Note the nice overclock ("turbo") to 4.4 GHz.