Very basic Xeon questions

[snoberg]

I'm building a server using a SuperMicro X8ST3-F motherboard, which accepts a single LGA 1366 socket CPU. I'd like to use ECC RAM, so I'd like to get a Xeon. Builds that I've looked at on the web use the Xeon W3550.

I'm a little worried about power usage. The W3550 is a quad-core, single 130W TDP. I don't mind spending a little more if I get that back in electricity savings in the next 6 years that this server will hopefully be in use.

My newbie questions:

Can I use a Xeon E5530 (80W TDP) instead, since the socket is the same?

Are the clock speeds comparable? That is, is a 2.4GHz E5530 faster than a 2.4GHz W3503?

 

[SockMan!]

I don't see a compelling reason to buy an E5530 (Nehalem) when you can get the E5620 (Westmere) for less money. The motherboard should be able to handle either unless it has an ancient 2 year old BIOS.

 

[Spooony]

That's a single server board cpu that. You can't pair it up with another Xeon. May I ask for what purpose will you be using it?

 

[snoberg]

Right. I don't want to pair it up with another Xeon. I just want to have a single quad-core CPU. This will be a RHEL6 file server in a SuperMicro SC846 E16-R1200B chassis, probably with a 3Ware 9750-4i.