Core i3 530 vs. 550 for silence

Taxcheat · Post by **Taxcheat** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 3:14 pm

I can get the i3-550 for $105 at a local Microcenter. The 530 seems discontinued and is only available in outlets for $140ish, the 540 is $115. What's the best pick for a silent NAS project? Usually, slower/quieter is cheaper, but not here.

Supermicro X8SIE/X8SIL Bios options are limited, so I'm not sure there's enough flexibility to undervolt the 550. These appear to be the only relevant choices:

CPU Ratio. This feature allows the user to use the CPU clock multiplier to multiply CPU speed
in order to enhance performance.

Turbo boost

C-State package limit setting
If set to Auto, the AMI BIOS will automatically set the limit on the C-State package
register. The options are Auto, C1, C3, C6 and C7.

C1 Auto Demotion
When enabled, the CPU will conditionally demote C3, C6 or C7 requests to C1 based
on un-core auto-demote information. The options are Disabled and Enabled.

C3 Auto Demotion
When enabled, the CPU will conditionally demote C6 or C7 requests to C3 based
on un-core auto-demote information. The options are Disabled and Enabled.

quest_for_silence · Post by **quest_for_silence** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 1:52 am

Taxcheat wrote:Usually, slower/quieter is cheaper, but not here.

The 550 is as cool/quiet as the 530 is.

Erelyes · Post by **Erelyes** » Sat Feb 05, 2011 4:28 pm

The 550 is really the same processor as the 530. It's just binned higher (better quality), hence why they clock it a little higher.

If you got a 550 and underclocked it to 530 speeds they would be indistinguishable in performance and power usage. The 550 would be marginally more reliable longterm.

tim851 · Post by **tim851** » Sat Feb 05, 2011 5:41 pm

Erelyes wrote:The 550 is really the same processor as the 530. It's just binned higher (better quality), hence why they clock it a little higher. (...) The 550 would be marginally more reliable longterm.

No. It's simply market segmentation. When CPU families reach the limits of their design, individual CPUs get tested to see if and how they work at fringe frequencies. But Intel has no such issues. As evidenced by the enormous overclocks that each and every Core-type processor has achieved in the last 4 years, Intel's design is operating nowhere near its limits.

cdonc · Post by **cdonc** » Thu Feb 24, 2011 12:34 am

Just a small bump, but do you guys mean that the 550 has the watt usage as a 530/540? And equal low heat that the 530

quest_for_silence · Post by **quest_for_silence** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 1:19 am

cdonc wrote:Just a small bump, but do you guys mean that the 550 has the watt usage as a 530/540? And equal low heat that the 530

No, it's a far hotter critty which cannot be compared to the 530...

...sorry, couldn't resist (MikeC has just already told you about this argument): Core i3 530/540/550/560 have quite exactly the very same thermal envelope.

Generally speaking (and to be more precise), in current Intel line-ups there isn't any difference providing the CPUs come from the same series AND batch (but taking precautions in that sense today mostly concerns Bloomfield i7s and/or the OC scene, not for sure the more mainstream/efficient dual cores Clarkdales).

ces · Post by **ces** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 5:11 am

Why would you not buy the least expensive Sandy Bridge from Microcenter?

ame · Post by **ame** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 7:01 am

ces wrote:Why would you not buy the least expensive Sandy Bridge from Microcenter?

I think he already owns or has his mind set on supermicro mobo.

EDIT: valid recommendation BTW

ces · Post by **ces** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 9:13 am

ame wrote:
ces wrote:Why would you not buy the least expensive Sandy Bridge from Microcenter?
I think he already owns or has his mind set on supermicro mobo. EDIT: valid recommendation BTW

I didn't notice the reference to supermicro. But the 2 core Sandybridges are just days away... and so much more energy efficient ans powerful..... that if he is that interested in energy deficiency... he will be filled with regret and stuck with a system he will resent in a few months if he takes the Clarkdale route he is on.

ame · Post by **ame** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 9:20 am

ces wrote:
ame wrote:
ces wrote:Why would you not buy the least expensive Sandy Bridge from Microcenter?
I think he already owns or has his mind set on supermicro mobo. EDIT: valid recommendation BTW
I didn't notice the reference to supermicro. But the 2 core Sandybridges are just days away... and so much more energy efficient ans powerful..... that if he is that interested in energy deficiency... he will be filled with regret and stuck with a system he will resent in a few months if he takes the Clarkdale route he is on.

Yeah man, your probably right. too bad OP is from 17-Jan and I bet its a working machine by now..

Taxcheat · Post by **Taxcheat** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 11:16 am

ame wrote: Yeah man, your probably right. too bad OP is from 17-Jan and I bet its a working machine by now..

Yup. The system is here:
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=61358

I went with a Xeon L3406. The reason for the Supermicro board was ECC. I can't say whether the Xeon vs. i3 was the right choice since I haven't tried the i3, but the 3406 was only about $60 more. This wasn't meant to be a sane project.

ame · Post by **ame** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 11:28 am

Yeah, I've seen that one. I remember thinking the Nexus case looks exactly like a painted coolermaster 690 with a couple of mods. Nice.

Core i3 530 vs. 550 for silence

Core i3 530 vs. 550 for silence

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Re: Core i3 530 vs. 550 for silence

Re: Core i3 530 vs. 550 for silence

Re: Core i3 530 vs. 550 for silence

Re: Core i3 530 vs. 550 for silence

Re: Core i3 530 vs. 550 for silence

Re: Core i3 530 vs. 550 for silence

Re: Core i3 530 vs. 550 for silence

Re: Core i3 530 vs. 550 for silence