An Update to a previous Z620 Upgrades post.

[micahlitt]

 Hello, all this isn't a question more like an update to a previous post and will be updated

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Business-PCs-Workstations-and-Point-of-Sale-Systems/Used-HP-Z620-Upgra...

and I want to thank Brian1965 and BambiBoomZ for their input and advice. For anyone that cares or has been searching the webs here is my current experience with the Z620 Workstation. I know used Zxxx stations have increased, at least on eBay so hopefully, this post helps. 

Part 1:

After testing a bunch of hardware and replacements here is what I have done. 

• Replaced E5-2620 V2 to E5-2667 V2
• Replaced Quadro M4000 to Radeon Pro WX 2100
• Replaced Z620 Air cooler for Z420 liquid AIO *
• Installed PCI-e WiFi Adapter @ slot 1 **

Other Parts Tested:

• PCIe Lycom w/ ADATA SX8200 Pro 1TB @Slot 4
• USB 3.0 Wifi Adapter dual-band

Current Setup:

• OS Fedora 32 Workstation
• E5-2667 V2 w/ 32gb RAM
• Intel S3500 600GB (OS boot drive) SATA
• Samsung Evo 860 SATA 1TB
• WD Black Enterprise 1TB 
• Radeon Pro WX 2100 @ slot 2 (Used for GPU pass-through)
• Quadro K600 @ slot 5 (Main Video Device)

Purpose:

Use the system as a workstation, GPU pass-through using w/VFIO for CAD learning light gaming, TensorFlow testing, multiple VM's for pen-test. 

WiFi: 

This was my main concern because without changing my current network situation I can only use WiFi. I initially read a post on the forum about the system not being able to use a PCIe adapter for WiFi but after looking at the manual for Zx20 workstations and going over the PCIe section slots 1 and 4 can be used for PCIe LAN connections. My Linux OS with a USB WiFi that I previously tested ran into driver issues as it had to be added into the kernel and it would often cause system errors. It had no issues when used with a Windows 10 host except it would notify me that it would be better used when connected to USB 3 despite already being connected to USB 3. The upgrade to PCIe Wifi connection also increased WiFi speed from 160-180Mbp/s to 240-280Mbp/s and closer to my connection's limit. Despite OS issues, the hardest part was finding a Wifi USB/PCIe adapter that was compatible with Linux (I know there are quite a few that are compatible I was looking for something that is specific for my usage).

CPU and RAM:

I chose the E5-2667 V2 (being one of the suggestions) and not the E5-2690/95. I also considered the E5-2697 and I am still considering the switch but resale value on this CPU isn't so hot (as its temps) at the moment. I am continuing to monitor other sellers. 

Having experience with AIO coolers from previous overclocked computer builds I always preferred them over air cooling. I currently have no interest in overclocking this system and using a customized liquid cooler setup but I wanted a cooler and less noisy solution (more on noise issues later) and until reading other user posts about cooling did not consider that an enterprise system would/could use AIO's and didn't bother until I read this post (linked). 

I was not actively monitoring the CPU temp when using the air cooler with the E5-2620. With the E5-2667 V2 Air Cooler idle and start temps were 59c and operating temps at 65-70c and the fan kept the system cool at 75-80c when compiling a large program (80 minutes compile-time) @ 100% CPU usage. With the liquid cooler, idle temps are in the low to mid 40c, operating temps at high 40s to mid 50's. Temps were mid 70's when compiling the same program stated earlier. Also, the CPU switch improved compile-time and cut ~20 minutes of compilation. 

Storage Drives (NVME):

I will start this with the NVME drive. I originally did not plan to use the NVME drive as a boot device and still do not plan on using it for that purpose. What I wanted to achieve was the best I/O for VM's especially when using multiple VM's. The steps I took were:

• Install Windows 10 VM on a different drive (Samsung) w/ the Linux as the host. 
• PCI passthrough the NVME and use CrystalDiskMark to test speed. Theoretical Read and write limit @ 3500MB/s and 3000MB/s Reached 3440 Read and 2400 write on an empty drive using PCI passthrough.

 Note: Using the default settings with CrystalDiskMark wrote 199GB to drive***. I tested this using CrystalDiskInfo to check drive usage. I find the software reliable enough because it matches the information I received when testing my Intel SSD's using Intel's latest SSD software and latest firmware upgrades to my S3500 SSD (2x). The ADATA NVME currently has 1200+GB (closer to 1300) written after a week of use and testing drive speed, VM installation, and usage. I removed the drive as I am reconsidering my usage and storage allocation.

I will continue this post with more SSD info, testing the NVME as a boot drive and VFIO experiences with GPU passthrough. 

*https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Business-PCs-Workstations-and-Point-of-Sale-Systems/Successful-Low-Cos...

** https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Business-PCs-Workstations-and-Point-of-Sale-Systems/HP-Z620-What-Wirel...

*** This will be re-verify this on my next post as I'm going off by memory but I do recall it being a large chunk.

[JaredXP]

Can you run the command:

inxi -Fxz

In the terminal and post the output for the Network section, in particular. I say this due to there being unofficial open source drivers for some cards.

For your particular use case, if you want to use another wifi adapter, I would recommed his one:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VEEBOPG/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeAS...

[micahlitt]

I no longer have the USB wifi adapter if you needed the information on that. Here is the USB adapter that I used.

https://www.amazon.com/Techkey-1750Mbps-1300Mbps-Antennas-Wireless/dp/B07PKMFPF7/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1...

Here is a screenshot of the info you requested.

img

Intel also provides a firmware for it for Linux users:

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000005511/network-and-i-o/wireless-networki...

BTW this is off a CentOS 8 Install using Kernel 4.18... I ran into an issue with Fedora 32 a few hours after the top post and I was unable to access the full log(s).

As for the Alfa Wi-Fi that you provided, I did consider purchasing that item to replace the item listed above but I already have the Panda Wireless PAU06 as a backup and for network testing at the moment. It would be nice to have dual band for testing, did you it work OOTB with Ubuntu?

Panda Wireless PAU06