• Some users have recently had their accounts hijacked. It seems that the now defunct EVGA forums might have compromised your password there and seems many are using the same PW here. We would suggest you UPDATE YOUR PASSWORD and TURN ON 2FA for your account here to further secure it. None of the compromised accounts had 2FA turned on.
    Once you have enabled 2FA, your account will be updated soon to show a badge, letting other members know that you use 2FA to protect your account. This should be beneficial for everyone that uses FSFT.

What to do w/X99 system?

M

Mloot

Limp Gawd
2FA
Joined
Apr 29, 2003
Messages
431
My daily driver has been a Chinese x99 setup, with a 14-core xeon and 64gb of memory.

For most of my needs it does everything well, but it won't be supported in Win 11. To that end, I am replacing it with a 7950x rig. I really only need one desktop, and the rest of my use cases are covered by my laptop.

It seems like such a waste to toss out the xeon system, but I don't really have any ideas on what to do with it, so I pose this question to you. What would you do in my place? TIA
 
I just put my x99 5960X system on Ebay. Sold quick enough for $150. Put the money to a new GPU.
 
I have 5 X99 22core systems running BOINC, project SiDock, medical research. Windows 11 most certainly can be installed, just not the standard way.

The 7950X is a great upgrade though! If you don't already have the CPU, check the for sale thread for the well priced 9950X3d listed there.
 
Last edited:
Have a HP Z640 w// dual E5-2690v4 (picked up on CL for $90, and added a second 2690v4)
Still very useful for MT workloads where it falls somewhere in between a 7900X and 7950X
Never hurts to have another machine to run encoding jobs, host VMs, etc.
 
10esseeTony said:
I have 5 X99 22core systems running BOINC, project SiDock, medical research. Windows 11 most certainly can be installed, just not the standard way.

The 7950X is a great upgrade though! If you don't already have the CPU, check the for sale thread for the well priced 9950X3d listed there.
Click to expand...
That’s really impressive — running five X99 22-core systems for BOINC and medical research is some serious dedication! Thanks for confirming that Windows 11 can be installed with a workaround; that clears up a lot of confusion. And yes, the 7950X definitely looks like a solid upgrade path — I’ll take your suggestion and check out that 9950X3D listing in the for-sale section. Appreciate the tip!
 
The concern is , one day MS may break those workarounds for Wndows 11, stopping updates from being installed at all or just bricking your install. So do not use it for anything important or at least have backups.

or get a hand on Win 11 IoT Ent / LTSC, as it has on requirements like your normal Windows 11 does.
 
MrGuvernment said:
The concern is , one day MS may break those workarounds for Wndows 11, stopping updates from being installed at all or just bricking your install. So do not use it for anything important or at least have backups.

or get a hand on Win 11 IoT Ent / LTSC, as it has on requirements like your normal Windows 11 does.
Click to expand...
so what youre saying is: "dont stay on legit versions, pirate ltsc instead"...
theres no legit way for normal consumers to run ltsc and there has been no indication from ms that 23h2 is going to stop working, or that they will disable bypassed machines.
 
MrGuvernment said:
The concern is , one day MS may break those workarounds for Wndows 11
Click to expand...

That's unfounded fearmongering. And why would worrying about what they *might* do in the future stop you from doing something *today*?

MrGuvernment said:
stopping updates from being installed at all or just bricking your install.
Click to expand...

The idea that Microsoft is just going to "brick" your computer one day because you used a bypass has absolutely zero precedent. For example, when 24H2 introduced the new SSE4.2 requirement that cut-off Core2Quad-era CPUs, it didn't brick Windows 11 installs on Core2Quad CPUs, it just prevented any update after 23H2 from installing. Maybe one day they will introduce even stricter hardware requirements that cut-off even more CPUs from future versions, but that would not stop you from using 25H2 right now and for the foreseeable future.

Updates install fine on bypassed versions, although you generally need to do a bypass again when you install a new once-per-year feature update (this does not apply to 24H2 -> 25H2 if you use the enablement package). Of course you wouldn't have to worry about feature updates with the "IoT" version as you'd just be permanently stuck on an old version.
 
Last edited:
Sell it or find someone to give it to. 64GB 14-core Xeon is a good Linux box. On that note I should offload my old X79 rig, or at least the board, proc and ram. PSU probably ought to get recycled & I'm keeping the case. It's a Fractal Define XL with lots of drive bays. I don't build jumbo towers anymore so I like to keep my old cases around for file servers.
 
I've been wondering something similar..

I've been wondering about doing the turbo boost unlock on mine. I dont know why...challenge i guess.

But I have an x99 with 2696v3 xeon acting as a do everything server. Proxmox with a truenas vm, ubuntu with security cameras and even a windows vm
 
1. Sell it. Prices for parts are crazy high due to AI. It's still a good system.

2. I'd use it as a multi-purpose server.

3. Keep it as a backup and a test bench. You never know when you need to troubleshoot something.
 
GotNoRice said:
That's unfounded fearmongering. And why would worrying about what they *might* do in the future stop you from doing something *today*?



The idea that Microsoft is just going to "brick" your computer one day because you used a bypass has absolutely zero precedent. For example, when 24H2 introduced the new SSE4.2 requirement that cut-off Core2Quad-era CPUs, it didn't brick Windows 11 installs on Core2Quad CPUs, it just prevented any update after 23H2 from installing. Maybe one day they will introduce even stricter hardware requirements that cut-off even more CPUs from future versions, but that would not stop you from using 25H2 right now and for the foreseeable future.

Updates install fine on bypassed versions, although you generally need to do a bypass again when you install a new once-per-year feature update (this does not apply to 24H2 -> 25H2 if you use the enablement package). Of course you wouldn't have to worry about feature updates with the "IoT" version as you'd just be permanently stuck on an old version.
Click to expand...

They are setting the ground work to do it one day, now if they do it or not, another story.....

And for sure, why worry about the future, do what you want now while it works, but also be sure you have backups incase that day comes, we know MS history with updates bricking even legit devices, I could certainly see one day they release an update that breaks unsupported installs and MS will then just say "Too bad, warned you"

If you proceed with installing Windows 11, your PC will no longer be supported and won't be entitled to receive updates. Damages to your PC due to lack of compatibility aren't covered under the manufacturer warranty. By selecting Accept, you are acknowledging that you read and understand this statement.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...irements-0b2dc4a2-5933-4ad4-9c09-ef0a331518f1
Click to expand...
 
MrGuvernment said:
They are setting the ground work to do it one day, now if they do it or not, another story.....
Click to expand...

What is "it" that you think they are going to do?

MrGuvernment said:
we know MS history with updates bricking even legit devices
Click to expand...

What "history" is that exactly? Windows 98 era? Modern windows updates have a built-in rollback process if anything goes wrong. I have not had a Windows Update "brick" anything in 20+ years.

MrGuvernment said:
I could certainly see one day they release an update that breaks unsupported installs and MS will then just say "Too bad, warned you"
Click to expand...

But now you're back to just throwing out random theories with zero precedent. There would be an insane amount of collateral damage if they did that. Even someone with a brand-new computer might have a specific reason for enabling CSM to use an older add-on card or something. Microsoft isn't trying to play the role of hardware police, running around yelling "got ya!". They know that the restrictions in-place are already enough to stop non-enthusiasts, and they have no good reason to piss-off enthusiasts/influencers.

That disclaimer you quoted has been in-place since Windows 11 was released over 4 years ago. Update behavior at this point is well known.
 
zandor said:
Sell it or find someone to give it to. 64GB 14-core Xeon is a good Linux box. On that note I should offload my old X79 rig, or at least the board, proc and ram. PSU probably ought to get recycled & I'm keeping the case. It's a Fractal Define XL with lots of drive bays. I don't build jumbo towers anymore so I like to keep my old cases around for file servers.
Click to expand...
I have a X58, X79, X99 and now a TR3 3960X system all sitting underneath a table in their cases w/all parts just collecting dust. Everything a top notch component for its day, all worth the tiniest fraction of their original cost, all of which hold significant sentimental value to me but I basically am not touching them while I think my wife gets angsty about this stuff collecting.

I think I need to make some hard calls and just donate this stuff to some local charity.
 
sphinx99 said:
I have a X58, X79, X99 and now a TR3 3960X system all sitting underneath a table in their cases w/all parts just collecting dust. Everything a top notch component for its day, all worth the tiniest fraction of their original cost, all of which hold significant sentimental value to me but I basically am not touching them while I think my wife gets angsty about this stuff collecting.

I think I need to make some hard calls and just donate this stuff to some local charity.
Click to expand...
yeah, but think about how much space it takes compared to all those decorative throw pillow thingies? How many of those do you have?
 
sphinx99 said:
I have a X58, X79, X99 and now a TR3 3960X system all sitting underneath a table in their cases w/all parts just collecting dust. Everything a top notch component for its day, all worth the tiniest fraction of their original cost, all of which hold significant sentimental value to me but I basically am not touching them while I think my wife gets angsty about this stuff collecting.

I think I need to make some hard calls and just donate this stuff to some local charity.
Click to expand...
On the one hand, I support the downsizing plan as I also need to cut some of my excess "old PC"-collection. On the other... I donated, threw away, and sold some parts from 90's and early 00's era builds that I wish I held onto since they're now outrageously priced or unobtainable. Worse, I have extra regret in giving some of that stuff to the local Goodwills and other supposed "charities" that really went to crap in the past decade and treat their staff like shit. If I end up donating anything again, I'll just do the freebies section here or maybe like a homelab group.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top