Upgrading graphics card on Z800

[Tyran-nosaurus_]

Hi Scott,

The next thing I'm looking for in my upgrade project is a PCIe SSD. Thanks for the discussion of that.

I am still being a worry-wart about processor compatability. I got a good price on two new X 5580 processors. I had hoped to find the transitional QuickSpecs you mentioned for the Z800. After spending about an hour and a half with the HP Workstation rep on the phone, we could never come up with any other rev of QuickSpecs for Z800. He did say that his spare parts list for the AS# of my motherboard included the X 5580. As well, PartSurfer for the specific model no. of my box lists it as processor option, as does v.2 of QuickSpecs (April, 2009). So, I purchased the X5500's. Hope they work . . .. Your comments would be welcome.

I have no problem with the power requirement. I can afford the 1110W power supply.

The big question is cooling. I would like to go with the option of the liquid cooling system that HP offers for the Z800. The prices are lower than for two of the "high performance" heatsink/fan assemblies. Also, liquid cooling reduces the no. of fans by 2, and I am pretty sensitive to noise. Again, your comments are welcome.

Thanks in advance.

My best,

Walter

[DGroves]

if watercooling is available get it,  it will lower the  system noise. the cooling remains about the same as with air

as i recall watercooling option also covers the 130 watt cpu's

the w prefix on the 5580 stands for "workstation"

it's the fastest multi core cpu made for the v1 z800

and yes, it does have dual QPI links for use in dual cpu motherboards

Letter Prefix:

W= Workstation  (high wattage,  with highest Mhz)
X = Performance (high wattage)
E = Mainstream (rack mount)
L = Power Optimized (low wattage)

[SDH]

Walter,

The W5580 is a 130W processor, while the X5550 is a 95W as is the faster X5560 and X5570.  If I understand your post you ended up buying two X5550.  Maybe you have a typo in there.... I'm going to assume so and that you bought two of the X5580.  That also is listed in my v4 of the Z800 QuickSpecs.  If not, why did you not get the fastest of the 95W (X5570)?

I have no advice on watercooling.  The way a HP motherboard knows it has a Performance heatsink/fan was deduced to be by the presence of a ground jumper from pin 1 to 5 at the plug of the fan.  If the water cooling is rated for 130W then the fan for each HP water cooler will have that, and the HP specs will say so.

I find the stock cooling fans quiet enough as is, be they 95W or 130W rated.

[SDH]

Walter,

Here is another previously unfound QuickSpecs for your v1 Z800.  This one adds another W version processor, even faster, also running at 130W max TDP and this is the first time I knew that had been officially supported by HP.  That means this will run on all the v1 and v2 Z800s:

http://jp.ext.hp.com/lib/products/workstations/personal_ws/z800/pdfs/z800_qs_091215.pdf

This QuickSpec is version 11, from  12/09 and thus you can know that the transition time from v1 to v2 Z800s has not yet arrived.

This faster W version processor is W5590 at 3.33 GHz, also 130W max TDP, and likely is the fastest HP ever certified for the v1 era of Z800 hardware.  There was only one sSpec code for this processor, SLBGE, and current prices on eBay including shipping are under $25.00 USD each.  Never buy a "Q" sSpec code processor.... it is a "qualification" test run version.  I prefer to buy used processors from an established USA eBay seller.  Price new at introduction was $1600.00 EACH.

[Tyran-nosaurus_]

SDH,

Thanks very much for your response!

I did, in fact, get the W 5580. Must've been a typo. I've been aware lately that the 5590 is the top dog. I guess there was confusion on my part  at the time I was ordering, or it may have been related to availability. One factor was that the only early v. of QuickSpecs I had listed only the W 5580. I'll just have to live with not having the fastest there is/was!

The water-cooling topic you bring up is food for thought. All I know about the HP liquid cooling system if from images. As you my know, the system comprises two heat-transfer blocks with pumps on top, connected to a radiator with tubing, and a wire harness. the radiator is cooled by the two cooling exhaust fans in the upper rear of the box. The harness has plugs for the pumps, like for the heatsink/fans. There are also two larger plugs, located near the rear fans. The big question is this:

MIGHT THE LIQUID COOLING SYSTEM NOT BE COMPATIBLE WITH THE V.1 BOARD? COULD I ADD A JUMPER TO THE PLUGS?

Thanks very much for your time and effort! Please keep those comments coming in!

[Tyran-nosaurus_]

SDH,

Thanks for the key version of QuickSpecs! I'm really surprised that the people at HP Workstation technical assistance don't know how to get at these documents.

My best,

Walter

[DGroves]

LIQUID COOLING WAS AVAILABLE FROM THE FIRST RELEASE OF THE Z800 SERIES

all z800 systems v1/v2 can use it.

as i stated before the only change on the v1/v2 boards was the bios (bootblock code) and the I/O chip revision

the early v1 board had a  lower revision than the later v2 boards and the revision has some changes to the chip

you might want to read this thread

http://andybrown.me.uk/forum/index.php?topic=103.0

from what i remember the pumps connect to the cpu fan headers, and the radiator fans connect to the 

same  fan jacks currently in use for the 2 rear fans

[SDH]

Walter.... I know DGroves is right on.... get that liquid cooling system going.  It makes sense..... there would be two cooling fans for the radiator you'll be screwing onto the back of the workstation, and I assume also use of the two 5-pin headers that the heatsink's fans originally would be plugged into.  I bet the HP engineers use those connectors to spoof the motherboard into thinking it has two "Performance" heatsinks/fans plugged in.

And yes you can spoof the motherboard by adding a ground jumper from pin 1 to pin 5 if you are using a "Mainstream" heatsink/fan.  That would be unwise with the nice hot processors you've got unless you monitor them closely for your type of workstation use.

I did not know of the official HP support for the W5590 until just now.... I hammered at Google from different angles and it finally released that gem.  I have never seen a processor that was supported officially by HP ever become unsupported on earlier or later (v1 or v2) versions of a workstation.

Here are a few added links:

https://streaminglearningcenter.com/articles/liquid-cooled-hp-z800-workstation-test-drive.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wd-aXQoLzU   (this is a long one....., and a bit scattered)

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c01829154

[Tyran-nosaurus_]

DGroves,

Awesome!

[Tyran-nosaurus_]

SDH,

Thanks a lot!!!!!! You Rock!