Recommendations for 6950x upgrade

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mhaskell

[H]ard|Gawd
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Jul 11, 2000
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Hi All, I am looking at upgrading my current workstation with a X99 MB and the 6950x.

I need a mix of high single core performance for applications like Solidworks that don't use multi cores efficiently, and high core count for CFD simulations and renderings.

Currently have a 3930K that has been clocked at 4.4ghz for the past 4 years, if I can get another 4 years out of the 6950x I will be very happy. Current video card is a firepro W7000, which I will continue to use until the next generation cards come out.

Since Broadwell-E is so new I am having trouble researching motherboards that will hopefully let me run the 6950 at 4.2-4.3ghz. My local microcenter has the CPU in stock for $1,599 but I am not sure which motherboard to pair with it just yet.

Should I wait for computex to end and more reviews to pop up?

Edit: forgot to mention I have an Intel 750 PCIE SSD I want the new motherboard to be compatible with.
 
I know the EVGA X99 boards, with a BIOS update, support the new chips. With the X99 Classified's removable 3rd BIOS, you can send EVGA a request for a new BIOS and not have to deal with a Haswell chip to update the board.

However, from the reviews I've seen thus far you are going to need a really, really good (yeah, really really, like Shrek said) watercooler setup to keep the 6950X under 90C above the 4.1/4.2GHz mark.
 
arestavo said:
I know the EVGA X99 boards, with a BIOS update, support the new chips. With the X99 Classified's removable 3rd BIOS, you can send EVGA a request for a new BIOS and not have to deal with a Haswell chip to update the board.

However, from the reviews I've seen thus far you are going to need a really, really good (yeah, really really, like Shrek said) watercooler setup to keep the 6950X under 90C above the 4.1/4.2GHz mark.
Click to expand...

I have been running a corsair H100 for the last 4 years, and it has never missed a beat. I plan on using the 280mm version H115i for the 6950x.
 
GothamsReckoning said:
Did you consider perhaps going the route of a Xeon such as the E5-1660 V1/V2 or the E5-1680 V2 as a drop-in upgrade to your current LGA2011/X79 platform? Going to LGA2011-3 means you will need a new cpu, motherboard, and DDR4 memory.
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I did look at the older Xeons and the newest V4 variants. I need the higher single core performance (4+ ghz) of an over clocked i7 for some of my applications that don't use multi cores effectively.

My current CPU/motherboard/RAM have been great for the past 4 years, but I think the change to a 6950x is enough of a performance increase that it is time to sell the parts and upgrade.

I need to upgrade my motherboard to the X99 to use my 750 SSD as a boot drive as well.
 
I personally have an ASUS X99-E WS 3.1 with a 5960X running at 4.6GHz, 64GB RAM, Dual Titan X video, and an Intel P3608 and Samsung P951 NVME. Most current BIOS supports Broadwell-E. I recently upgraded from an MSI X99A series as I needed more PCIE lanes. The ASUS is rock solid and I would definitely recommend it for the type of work you are doing.
 
mhaskell said:
I did look at the older Xeons and the newest V4 variants. I need the higher single core performance (4+ ghz) of an over clocked i7 for some of my applications that don't use multi cores effectively.

My current CPU/motherboard/RAM have been great for the past 4 years, but I think the change to a 6950x is enough of a performance increase that it is time to sell the parts and upgrade.

I need to upgrade my motherboard to the X99 to use my 750 SSD as a boot drive as well.
Click to expand...

The E5-16XX series is multiplier unlocked (my backup rig is running a 1650V2 @4.5GHz) just so you know.
 
I'm going to be using my i7-6950X in my ASRock X99E-iTX system until all refresh boards are out. I'm also a little unsure about what board I'll be going with, but I'm leaning toward the new Rampage V Edition 10 due to it's Alpine Ridge controller, decent audio and no PLX chips. If something workstation-y arrives from someone else, I'll consider it as well...;)

As for the i7-6950X, it's an awesome chip that when overclocked to 4.2-4.3GHz will be in the performance realm of a 16-core Xeon, but maintain very high single-threaded performance as well. I'm looking forward to playing with mine (when I find time to install it).;)
 
I stopped by Microcenter last night and picked up the 6950. also picked up the MB, memory and cooler.
  • 6950x
  • Sabertooth X99 USB 3.1
  • 128GB Crucial Ballistix DDR4 2400
  • Corsair H115i
  • Intel 750 PCIE SSD
  • Reuse Firepro W7000 until the next gen professional cards are out

Going to set it up and run some stability and benchmarks next week. Its been four years since I built my 3930K system (which has been 100% solid), so I need to do some relearning!
 
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