Mac Pro with Westmere x5690 (3.46GHz)

[Tutor]

... .

So possibly these 5680 and 5690s were installed in servers that never sold? I can't imagine these guys giving warranty on them otherwise.

Or maybe they lied, hard to say without word from seller.

Since Adventis' business appears to be focused on selling servers to IT departments, for those of you who aren't satisfied with your purchase of X5690(s) or X5680(s) from Aventis because the CPUs that you received appear to have been previously thermal pasted, why don't you just ask Aventis (or if no full refund is forth coming from Aventis, then seek recourse from Paypal) for a full refund, claiming that the CPUs weren't as advertised. Aventis offers a "30 days money back [guarantee], buyer pays return shipping." However, I suspect that MVC's guess is spot-on: "these [Aventis] 5680s and 5690s [that were previously thermal pasted] were installed in servers that never sold" or installed in servers simply for testing them.*/ If the ones that I purchased were previously "used" in that fashion, I, personally, have no problem with that because I'd prefer that the components that I purchase have been individually tested as being in working order and I like having a 30-day money back guarantee and a one year limited warranty on a part that isn't being manufactured any longer. But I also do recognized that personal preferences do differ.


*/ Seller's Return policy details:

"Buyer is responsible for return shipping costs and insurance, in case of RMA, Warranty Repair or Refund. Please call for an RMA number prior to return shipping. An RMA number is required for all returns. Items without an RMA number on the box will be returned to the buyer. All our products are tested and built to custom specifications. Products returned for refunds (for any reason) will be subject to a 15% restocking fee in addition to shipping costs." [Emphasis Added.]

Contrast that with Ebay's return policy:
"DIDN’T GET WHAT YOU ORDERED?
Get the item you ordered or get your money back with the eBay Money Back Guarantee
If the item isn’t exactly what you ordered, eBay covers your purchase price plus original shipping on virtually all items." [Emphasis Added.]

 

[Tutor]

Originally Posted by Macshroomer -
Like I said, it seems fine. I just think saying something is new is a real fine line, one usually expects factory packaging and associated documentation and such.

I'm wondering if you get that, when you buy them in bulk?

If you visit CPU World and look at most of the recent and modern CPUs, you'll see that Intel sells them boxed (mainly for parts sale directly to individual consumers) and in OEM/trays (mainly for sale to intermediaries to use as parts in systems they construct for resale) [See, e.g., http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Xeon/Intel-Xeon X5690 - AT80614005913AB (BX80614X5690).html ;"CPU part numbers
AT80614005913AB is an OEM/tray microprocessor
BX80614X5690 is a boxed microprocessor"] ]. OEM/tray parts don't come with any documentation to pass along to the ultimate purchaser. At best, they come wrapped in plastic bags, that together with the CPU inside, will fit in a plastic tray that looks like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/INTEL-100-C...375?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item233fca46d7 .

Because of their volume and Spartan packaging, OEM chips sell for a bit less than the boxed version of the same chip on a chip by chip basis. And each of you who has directly purchased OEM chips had been a beneficiary of that price reduction. If you want to pay more for that box and a set of documentation that I've yet to find useful, you are welcomed to do so after getting your refund. But as MVC points out, "I can't imagine these guys giving warranty on them otherwise [i.e., without Adventis first testing them]." Thus, even though my recollection is that all of my X5690's which I purchased from Adventis appeared to have what I consider to be factory sealing and (and I didn't notice any paste residue on any of mine), I'd rather that mine had been tested individually first by Adventis before being sold to me. But most importantly to me is that they work as I expect.

 

[Larry-K]

Originally Posted by Macshroomer -

Like I said, it seems fine. I just think saying something is new is a real fine line, one usually expects factory packaging and associated documentation and such.

Thus, even though my recollection is that all of my X5690's which I purchased from Adventis appeared to have what I consider to be factory sealing and (and I didn't notice any paste residue on any of mine), I'd rather that mine had been tested individually first by Adventis before being sold to me. But most importantly to me is that they work as I expect.

Hi Tutor,

I purchased the chips with a certain amount of trepidation, but at $650 for a pair I'm not getting too bent out of shape if they're not the pristine beauties I had imagined. I actually have hairs on mine embedded in the paste residue, so unless a Costa Rican Clean room is a big departure from what I've seen here in the states, I'm going to assume they at least sat in some machine, running or not, for a while, and were hopefully, extracted carefully, if perhaps, not too hygienically. My biggest gripe is that I have to clean them up a bit before insertion.

I'm not even going to assume that Aventis isn't telling the truth, they list everything as being used or refurbed unless clearly marked otherwise, which it is.

I'm still gonna pop 'em in. I don't know what the results of long-term overclocking would be, other than a massive failure of some sort, but as long as they fire up and do their job, I'll put 'em to work.

But since Aventis is just down the street from you, if you get a chance maybe you could ask them WTF?

 

[Tutor]

Hi Tutor,

... . My biggest gripe is that I have to clean them up a bit before insertion.

When I move my CPUs around from machine to machine, I clean them with isopropyl alcohol and swabs or pads. It takes me only a minute or two to removed the old Arctic Silver to clean a CPU and the alcohol dries in a minute or two. The same time interval and technique applies to cleaning a GPU's processor (when I upgrade the cooler or switch to liquid cooling), except that its processor is affixed to the GPU card.

I'm not even going to assume that Aventis isn't telling the truth, they list everything as being used or refurbed unless clearly marked otherwise, which it is.

I have no reason to doubt anyone's claim that their CPU(s) had thermal paste on it/them. My only concern would be why? If it was either to test the CPU and/or to test a system or to complete a system that wasn't sold I'd have no worry. 99% of servers cannot be over clocked and Aventis sells mainly servers. The 1% of servers that can be over clocked are almost exclusively made by Supermicro and they have "DAX" as a part of their model no. Aventis markets itself as a seller of HP and Dell systems, not Supermicro systems. The overclockable servers support only Sandy/Ivy Bridge (and later) CPUs and thus no Xeon server can be extremely over clocked because one can over clock Sandy and Ivy Bridge Xeon CPUs by, at most, about 7.55%. So there are no overclockable servers to speak of that allow overclocking of Nehalem (X55xx) and Westmere (X56xx) Xeon CPUs (including their single processor versions (X36xx). Extreme over clocking involves going in the neighborhood of around 40% or higher and applying excessive Vcore (4.5 or higher) amounts. Nehalems and Westmeres were the last Xeons of that breed. Also, it's important to keep in mind that most desktop systems sold by most name brand computer makers (like Dell , Supermicro, Tyan and HP) aren't overclockable, even they they may have non-Xeon CPUs such as overclockable i7 CPUs because their bios doesn't support over clocking. By and large, it's mostly the self-built systems that can be over clocked significantly and those made by the few system builders that support the enthusiast market. So buying i7 and pre-Sandy Bridge Xeon CPUs from individuals usually carries the greater risks arising from extreme over clocking.

I'm still gonna pop 'em in. I don't know what the results of long-term overclocking would be, other than a massive failure of some sort, but as long as they fire up and do their job, I'll put 'em to work.

CPUs that have been extremely over clocked run much slower than even the next lower level processor of their family (e.g., a 5690 that performs slower than a 5680 at the same task) and may have many stability issues such as excessive overheating and erratic fluctuations in performance.

But since Aventis is just down the street from you, if you get a chance maybe you could ask them WTF?

Aventis is located in a suburb of Atlanta, GA (Marrietta, GA) which is about a two hour and a half hour drive for me from just aside of Birmingham, AL. I'll try to remember to let them know about your concerns, but it'd be best coming from the dissatisfied purchaser him/herself.

 

[pertusis1]

FWIW, I got two 5690s from Aventis. Mine were either very well cleaned, or are new. No paste or other residue. I haven't installed them yet - still waiting on my Arctic paste.

 

[Larry-K]

When I move my CPUs around from machine to machine, I clean them with isopropyl alcohol and swabs or pads. It takes me only a minute or two to removed the old Arctic Silver to clean a CPU and the alcohol dries in a minute or two. The same time interval and technique applies to cleaning a GPU's processor (when I upgrade the cooler or switch to liquid cooling), except that its processor is affixed to the GPU card.

I have no reason to doubt anyone's claim that their CPU(s) had thermal paste on it/them. My only concern would be why? If it was either to test the CPU and/or to test a system or to complete a system that wasn't sold I'd have no worry.

My biggest concern is that a lot of the remaining paste is near the edges, so hopefully none migrated down near the contacts. I can clean these, but they're just stuck in small pieces of foam.

Frankly, if they were attempting subterfuge, I would expect a more elaborate effort.

 

[drewsof07]

FWIW, I got two 5690s from Aventis. Mine were either very well cleaned, or are new. No paste or other residue. I haven't installed them yet - still waiting on my Arctic paste.

You should be able to see wear marks on the underside of the cpu contacts from the socket pins if your chip is used.

 

[Macshroomer]

FWIW, I got two 5690s from Aventis. Mine were either very well cleaned, or are new. No paste or other residue. I haven't installed them yet - still waiting on my Arctic paste.

How were they packaged?

By and large, it's mostly the self-built systems that can be over clocked significantly and those made by the few system builders that support the enthusiast market. So buying i7 and pre-Sandy Bridge Xeon CPUs from individuals usually carries the greater risks arising from extreme over clocking.

Which is why I am inclined to stick with what I have and run with it. I got a reply and they seem willing to offer an RMA. I just want to know what the actual new ones should have shipped in, the more details they can add to the auction items they are selling, the better, namely telling prospective buyers that these are not in retail, single unit Intel packaging.

You should be able to see wear marks on the underside of the cpu contacts from the socket pins if your chip is used.

In consideration of selling it and upon close inspection, the original processor I pulled out had no marks whatsoever, so that may not always apply....

 

[pertusis1]

How were they packaged?

Like so.

 

[Tutor]

How were they packaged?

Like so.

So were mine.

 

[Macshroomer]

How were they packaged?

Like so.

Thanks, mine was the same but no sticker, what box?

 

[pertusis1]

Thanks, mine was the same but no sticker, what box?

The box was generic, with bubblewrap. It certainly was not an Intel box, but it was professionally done. This is what I would've expected for a bulk new processor.

 

[Larry-K]

How were they packaged?

Like so.

You got a yellow sticker? You must be special.

 

[Tutor]

You got a yellow sticker? You must be special.

Hey Larry! I got eight yellow stickers. Two for my MP4,1->5,1 and 6 for three other dual processor systems.

 

[Larry-K]

Hey Larry! I got eight yellow stickers. Two for my MP4,1->5,1 and 6 for three other dual processor systems.

Sounds like they used them all up on you, I guess there's only so many on a roll.

Sounds like I got the hairy, sloppy, slacker, no-sticker guy packaging mine.

I'll put a Trader Joe's sticker on mine if I send them back.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

X5690 for $245 (or less)

Anyone looking for X5690's, there is a really good deal on them from an ebay seller here. Seller also accepts a Best Offer, and seems willing to discount a few bucks.

I'm going to be upgrading a few MP 2009 and 2010 Macs for a client and these will come in handy. Maybe even one for myself!

 

[Macshroomer]

Anyone looking for X5690's, there is a really good deal on them from an ebay seller here. Seller also accepts a Best Offer, and seems willing to discount a few bucks.

I'm going to be upgrading a few MP 2009 and 2010 Macs for a client and these will come in handy. Maybe even one for myself!

Yep, that is a good deal. And if there is a way to gauge if it had been over clocked or not it would make the deal even better, especially considering that the amount of thermal paste on it is about the same that was on my "new" one.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

Yep, that is a good deal. And if there is a way to gauge if it had been over clocked or not it would make the deal even better, especially considering that the amount of thermal paste on it is about the same that was on my "new" one.

I'm guessing since he has a large quantity, that these were workstation pulls of some sort, and unlikely used by individual speed freaks who were abusing them.

Is there even a way to know if a CPU has been abused? Probably not.

Too bad about those "new" ones. If you're going to sell them as new, at least make them look like new!

 

[Macshroomer]

I'm guessing since he has a large quantity, that these were workstation pulls of some sort, and unlikely used by individual speed freaks who were abusing them.

Is there even a way to know if a CPU has been abused? Probably not.

Too bad about those "new" ones. If you're going to sell them as new, at least make them look like new!

I'm sure it's fine, they said they confirmed it was pulled from a new, unused server. It's running cool, that's a good sign....

 

[Macshroomer]

In consideration of selling it and upon close inspection, the original processor I pulled out had no marks whatsoever, so that may not always apply....

Well I'll be dimpled...it does have marks...

 

[audio_inside]

"Matched"?

Some of these vendors offer "matched pairs" of X5680's or X5690's, sometimes at a price premium to single units.

Does "matched" really mean anything with this architecture? Should I be at least making sure the singles I buy are from the same stepping if I'm going to install them together?

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

Some of these vendors offer "matched pairs" of X5680's or X5690's, sometimes at a price premium to single units.

Does "matched" really mean anything with this architecture? Should I be at least making sure the singles I buy are from the same stepping if I'm going to install them together?

"matched" pairs has always meant to be that both CPU's have identical steppings and s-specs. In the case of the x5680/x5690, there is only one stepping, B1. There are two s-specs, but one is a pre-release and starts with a "Q". If you buy single CPU's make sure they say SLBVX (x5690) or SLBV5 (x5680).

 

[audio_inside]

If you buy single CPU's make sure they say SLBVX (x5690) or SLBV5 (x5680).

Thanks, just ordered two SLBVX at less than 250 bucks each from this eBay seller - pulled from a Super Micro server.

 

[tinycg]

My recently purchased a 5.1 2009 upgraded to 3.46 twelve core and the IOH HeatSink is also showing a RED 149 F in iStat. I just have the single HHD right now so all the other temps are lower but my Booster 1 & 2 fans are running a little higher at about 1500 rpm. That's probably because it's a hacked 2009. It might also explain why AHT is showing a PCI fan error(4M0T/1/40000002CI-0).

This will be a DAW computer so the Radeon 5770 will be it.

I haven't experienced any issues so far so I'm not too concerned about this but I think I'll touch bases with the eBay seller about it just in case.

Looking at iStat with an upgraded 12 core 3.3 2009 I also have IOH Heatsink at 149F / 65C - my booster fans are also running around 1700rpm and all other temps look fine. Under load these temps go up but on idle the IOH Heatsink is still red, should I be concerned?

 

[matthewtoney]

Looking at iStat with an upgraded 12 core 3.3 2009 I also have IOH Heatsink at 149F / 65C - my booster fans are also running around 1700rpm and all other temps look fine. Under load these temps go up but on idle the IOH Heatsink is still red, should I be concerned?

I have a pair of X5690's in mine and if I reset the SMC and leave all my fans at default, my IOH Heatsink will also hover around 65C and be in the red with iStat. I have dealt with it by setting the min rpm of my intake/exhaust fans to 850 and that makes all the difference for me - at idle IOH Heatsink is now 56C and my two booster fans at idle are running at 1100rpm.

(Pro is 2009 -> 5,1)