Intel Xeon 5440 processor: review, specs and reviews

Xeon 5440 is a server processor solution for creating high-performance computing systems. An overview of this model of the central processor, its characteristics, as well as owner reviews about this semiconductor chip will be further considered in the article.

CPU device niche

The main area of ​​application for the Xeon 5440 CPU is servers. Moreover, the processor, in fact, is a very universal solution and can be used both in the entry-level computing 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 a mid-level server - 2, and in a premium computer 4 such processors should be installed right away, and this is the maximum configuration allowed for this CPU model.

Possible types of trim levels. What did the manufacturer include in them?

BOX is the most common option in the price lists for the Xeon 5440. In this case, the characteristics of the CPU itself were indicated on a cardboard box. The chip itself was in a protective package of transparent plastic. The manufacturer also included in the delivery list a proprietary cooling system (it included a cooler and thermal grease), a warranty card and, of course, a user manual. Less often in commercial offers, one could find the TRAIL delivery option. It lacked a proprietary cooling system, and its cost for this reason was much lower.

Silicon crystal architecture

Harpertown is the code name for the architecture that underpins 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 of the technological process. 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 information processing flows.

Unlike modern central processors, this server product did not include a north bridge of the system logic set or an integrated video card in the silicon crystal. 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 such a situation, then a separate north bridge significantly reduces PC performance for the reason 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 computing system; neither the temperature of the semiconductor crystal nor the level of complexity of the code being executed affects it. The real bus frequency for this processor device 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 organization of cache memory in the Xeon 5440. Recent generations of CPUs are necessarily equipped with a cache system of 3 levels. This organization of fast memory can significantly increase performance. In this CPU, there are only 2 cache levels.

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

The second level consists of 2 clusters of 6 MB. That is, in total, the 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 certain pair of computing cores.

Layer 3 cache, as noted earlier, is missing from this processor device.

RAM. RAM controller

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 by Intel for the processor socket LGA771:

• G3X.

• G4X.

• P4X.

All of them were sharpened for the use of memory standard DDR2. The recommended operating 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 power consumption is set by the manufacturer at around 80 watts. Given that the cache memory includes only 2 levels, and the crystal was manufactured using 45 nm technology, we get full compliance with the technical characteristics of the CPU and its thermal package.

The maximum temperature of the silicon base for this processor unit is 67 ⁰ . In the nominal mode, this chip operates in the temperature range from 40 to 55 ⁰ . 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 standpoint of increasing productivity is the Xeon 5440. Overclocking is possible only by increasing the speed of the system bus on the motherboard. The CPU 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 case of overclocking, as practice shows, these values ​​can be increased by air cooling to 410 MHz and 1640 MHz, respectively. Given the CPU multiplier of 8.5, we get real 3.5 GHz or a 20 percent increase in speed.

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

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

2. Then, the frequency of the system bus increases incrementally. At the same time, it is necessary to control that the frequency of the remaining components of the PC has not gone beyond what is permitted (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 after that a stability check is performed.

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

Tests

Comparison in the nominal mode of the Xeon 5440 vs Core i5 of the 3rd generation will show the unconditional and complete superiority of the latter. If we align the clock speeds 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 CPU under consideration with the i5-3750K.

Test Results in AIDA 64

In most tests, the difference between the CPU under consideration and the representative of the modern generation of processor devices does not exceed 30%. The only exceptions in this regard are CPU PHOTO and FPU JULIA. In this case, the substantially redesigned architecture makes itself felt and provides a solid performance boost.

Cost

Initially, the Intel Xeon 5440 was priced by the manufacturer at $ 700 (TRAIL configuration option) and at $ 735 in the performance of the BOX. But such price tags were relevant for the first quarter of 2008. Now, this chip, as shown by test results, is completely out of date. In the new state, it is no longer possible to buy it for the reason that it has long been discontinued, and stocks have long been sold out. But in second-hand condition, such a processor device can be purchased at various online auctions. In this case, its price will not exceed $ 50, which is fully consistent with its specifications.

Reviews

The Xeon 5440 was quite a worthy processor device for its time. It could be included in the amount of 1 to 4 pieces in server computers. At the same time, one CPU was the basis of entry-level computing systems. If there were 2 or 3, it was a middle class server. And four of these microprocessors made it possible to create high-performance servers of a 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 precisely on this that the owners of such a microprocessor device focus their attention in their reviews on the entire global web at the moment.

Summary

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