Intel Xeon 5440 Processor: review, specifications and reviews

The Xeon 5440 is a server-based processor solution for building high-performance computing systems. Overview of this model of the CPU, its characteristics, as well as feedback of owners about this semiconductor crystal will be further considered in the article.

Niche processor device

The main application of the Xeon 5440 CPU is the servers. Moreover, the processor, in fact, is a very versatile solution and can be used both in the entry-level computing system and in the high-performance network computer of the middle and even premium classes. In the first case, only one such chip is used, in the middle-level server - 2, and in the bonus computer, 4 such processors should be installed at once, and this is the maximum configuration allowed for this model of the CPU.

Possible types of complete sets. What did the manufacturer include in them?

VOCH - this is the most common option in the price lists of the Xeon 5440 configuration. The characteristics of the CPU in this case were indicated on a cardboard box. The chip itself was in a protective package of transparent plastic. Also in the list of supplies the manufacturer included a proprietary cooling system (it included a cooler and thermal paste), a warranty card and, of course, a user's manual. Less frequently, in commercial offers, one could meet the TRAIL supply option. It lacked a proprietary cooling system, and the cost of it for this reason was much lower.

Architecture of a silicon crystal

Harpertown is the code name for the architecture that underlies the Intel Xeon 5440. The characteristics of this processor device indicate that it includes four full-fledged physical cores. They are made according to the norms of 45 Nm technical process. Support for proprietary logic multi-core technology in this chip is missing. As a result, at the software level we get all the same four logical streams of information processing.

Unlike modern CPUs, this server product did not include a north bridge of the system logic set in the silicon chip, nor an integrated video card. And if the absence of the latter is not so critical for a high-performance computing system for the reason that only a discrete graphics card is needed in this situation, then a separate north bridge significantly reduces the speed of the PC due to the fact that data exchange with RAM is not so fast.

Frequency

In this CPU there is no support for such proprietary technology from Intel as TurboBust. Accordingly, the clock frequency does not change during the operation of the computer system, it is not affected by either the temperature of the semiconductor crystal or the level of complexity of the executed code. The actual bus frequency for this processor corresponds to 333 MHz (the effective value is 1333 MHz), and the manufacturer's multiplier is fixed at 8.5. As a result, in the nominal mode this processor can only operate at a frequency of 2.83 GHz.

Cache: organization and quantity

Another significant drawback, in comparison with modern processor devices, is the cache memory organization in the Xeon 5440. The latest CPU generations are compulsorily equipped with a cache system of 3 levels. This organization of fast memory can significantly increase the speed. In the considered CPU only 2 levels of cache.

The first has a volume of 256 kb, which are divided into 4 segments of 64 kb. A particular segment can interact directly with only a specific code processing block. In addition to this, these 64 kb are divided into 32 kb segments. One of them stores the data, and the second - the code.

The second level consists of 2 clusters of 6 MB each. That is, the total cache size of the second level is 12 MB. It should also be noted that each of the clusters can only exchange information with a certain pair of computing cores.

The third level cache, as noted earlier, is not present in this processor device.

RAM. Memory Controller

The Xeon processor 5440 did not have a built-in RAM controller. As noted earlier, this component of the computing system was part of the chipset.

Three series of sets of system logic released "Intel" for the processor socket LGA771:

• G3X.

• G4X.

• P4X.

All of them were sharpened for the use of memory standard DDR2. The recommended frequency of the modules is 1066 MHz. The maximum amount of RAM for a single-processor configuration is 16 GB.

Power consumption. Temperature features of the CPU. Energy Efficiency

The value of the power consumption is set by the manufacturer at 80 W. Taking into account the fact that the cache memory includes only 2 levels, and the crystal was manufactured using 45 nm technology, we get a full correspondence of the technical characteristics of the CPU and its thermal package.

The maximum temperature of the silicon substrate for this processor device is 67 ⁰ C. In the nominal mode, this chip operates in the temperature range from 40 to 55 ⁰ C. That is, from the position of the temperature regime, this CPU has a really significant margin of safety.

Overclocking

A modest processor solution from the perspective of increasing performance is the Xeon 5440. Overclocking it is possible only by increasing the speed of the system bus on the motherboard. The CPU's frequency multiplier is locked at 8.5. The nominal frequency of the system bus in this case is 333 MHz or effective 1333 MHz. In the case of overclocking, as practice shows, these values can be increased by air cooling to 410 MHz and 1640 MHz, respectively. Taking into account the CPU multiplier 8.5, we get a real 3.5 GHz or a 20 percent increase in performance.

The order of the overclocking in this case consists of the following stages:

1. Frequencies of all components of the computer system are reduced (for this you can use the BIOS or specialized software), except the system bus.

2. Then the frequency of the system bus increases step by step. In this case, it is necessary to monitor that the frequency of the remaining components of the PC has not gone beyond what is allowed (for example, for RAM).

3. After each increase in the frequency of the system bus, the computer system is tested for stability using special software.

4. In the future, after reaching the stability limit, the voltage on the CPU increases, and then the stability test is performed.

5. Then the frequency of the system bus and the voltage on the CPU are gradually increased step by step. When the voltage reaches 1.35 V, the maximum frequency of the processor will be obtained.

Tests

Comparison in the nominal mode Xeon 5440 vs Core i5 3rd generation will show the unconditional and complete superiority of the latter. If you align the clock values of both chips and compare their performance, the difference will be about 20-30 percent. As an example, the table below shows the results of synthetic testing in the AIDA64 package of the CPU in question with i5-3750K.

Test results in AIDA 64

In most tests, the difference between the CPU in question and the representative of the current generation of processor devices does not exceed 30%. An exception to this plan is only the CPU PHOTO and FPU JULIA. In this case, a significantly redesigned architecture makes itself felt and provides a solid increase in performance.

Cost

Initially, Intel Xeon 5440 was estimated by the manufacturer at $ 700 (option TRAIL) and at 735 USD in the execution of the VOCH. But similar price lists were relevant for the first quarter of 2008. Now this chip, as shown by the test results, is completely obsolete. In the new state, it is already impossible to buy it for the reason that it has long since been discontinued and stockpiles have long been sold. But in a second-hand state, such a processor device can be purchased at various Internet auctions. In this case, its price will not exceed $ 50, which entirely correspond to its specifications.

Reviews

A fairly decent processor for its time was the Xeon 5440. It could be in the number of 1 to 4 pieces in the server computers. In this case, one CPU was the basis of the entry-level computing systems. If there were 2 or 3 of them, it was a middle-class server. And four such microprocessors allowed to create high-performance servers of premium level.

As part of the gaming personal computer, the Xeon 5440 could be used. The video card in this case should be discrete and very productive. It is on this and accentuate the owners of such a microprocessor device in their reviews on the entire global web at the moment.

Results

The Xeon 5440 is still an actual chip. Its hardware characteristics still allow solving any problems. What can it be like server software, and any toy. In the latter case, the settings may not be the maximum, but similar software on such a computer "hardware" will certainly work. So this processor device even today is universal and allows you to solve a wide range of tasks.