HP Z440 - Upgrade CPU for Gaming

[timwithtots]

Hello,

I have a Z440 workstation running a Xeon E5-1630 v3 CPU. I'm looking to switch over to the best Intel CPU option if I wanted to use this for a gaming rig. I no longer need this machine for work and I'm ready to repurpose it. I've recently upgraded the GPU from a GTX1080 to a RTX 3060ti and the CPU seems to be a bit of a bottleneck on performance.

Current general config is:

• 96GB of RAM (confirmed proper DIMM locations for 96GB RAM configuration via user manual)
• Installed dual fan cover over the RAM slots
• Installed front chassis fan

If anyone can provide a few upgrade options for better / best performance it would be much appreciated.

[NonSequitur777]

@timwithtots,

Welcome to our peer-to-peer HP Community Forum!

Based on actual HP System Z440 Workstation UserBenchMark results, the best processors for an HP Z440 Workstation as fitted with an HP Wellsburg motherboard (SSID: 212B), would be an Intel i7-6850K,* Xeon E5-1660 v4, or a Xeon E5-1650 v4.

[EDIT:] Based on this link, possibly even an i7-6900K and the i7-6950X.

Hope this was helpful.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[timwithtots]

If I'm reading over the link in your response correctly, does this mean the Intel Core i7-5960X will be compatible as well?

[NonSequitur777]

@timwithtots,

Affirmative: https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/65606688:

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[NonSequitur777]

@timwithtots,

And btw, here is an HP Z440 Workstation fitted with the 'hypothetical' i7-6950X (10-Cores, 20-Threads, 3.00 GHz up to 3.50 GHz): HP Z440 Workstation Performance Results - UserBenchmark:

And evidence of the i7-6900K (8-Cores, 16-Threads, 3.20 GHz up to 3.70 GHz) compatibility as well: HP Z440 Workstation Performance Results - UserBenchmark:

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[timwithtots]

Thanks a bunch! I've been tinkering with this as well, trying to compare best bang for my buck on these CPUs, but I wanted to make sure I was checking out the proper ones. The biggest hurdle I seem to have at the moment is the overall cost. As you know, I'm working with an older MoBo so a lot of the available new stock seems to be a bit steep for the age of them. Supply and demand I suppose.

There's always the used market, which I'm considering if they're cheap enough to take the risk, but either way I seem to be a bit limited and have to weigh the pro's and con's. 

Here's what I've found so far. I'd love to hear your thoughts on these if you don't mind investing a bit more time on this topic 🙂

• i7-6850K - $130 new | $40 used
• i7-5960X - $54 used
• i7-6900K - $160 new
•  i7-6950X - $170 used | New is $300 but I feel like I'm treading water at that point to start looking at a new desktop.

[NonSequitur777]

@timwithtots,

I don't know if you knew, but I've been upgrading legacy HP desktops for a while now.  As a matter of fact, perhaps I am going to purchase an HP Z440 Workstation as a future upgrade project. You can purchase a 'barebone' model for $90 or less, and they have become very popular indeed: HP Z440 DDR4 Workstation 700w PSU Barebones No CPU/RAM/HDD/GPU | eBay.

Upgrading legacy HP desktops has been my hobby -passion if you like, such as this HP EliteDesk 800 G5 SFF upgrade project: Solved: Upgrading HP EliteDesk 800 G5 SFF Part II - Page 6 - HP Support Community - 8720291, which I was able to upgrade with the most powerful Intel 9th gen processor: the i9-9900KS.  Obviously, this was totally an enthusiast upgrade project, and the processor alone, with tax, cost me about $400, but it was worth-it to me.

Anyway, in my opinion, based on my HP Z440 Workstation research, it would be defensible to upgrade your Workstation.

There appears to be plenty of life left in this Workstation!

All right, this is what I would do: buy an Intel i7-6900K which you can purchase for just $100 via eBay from a trusted PRC Seller, or for $125 from a trusted US Seller, if you don't mind spending a smidgen more of your hard-earned cash.

The difference in performance between an i7-6950X and an i7-6900K is negligible, only about 1%.

Hope this was helpful.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[timwithtots]

@NonSequitur777

You've been ridiculously helpful and I sincerely appreciate your assistance on this! I decided to move forward with the i7-6900K and I'll let you know how things go.

[NonSequitur777]

@timwithtots,

You are very welcome -looking forward hearing from you again!

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[timwithtots]

@NonSequitur777

CPU arrived and installed/booted without issues! Thanks again for all the help and your insight throughout this process. 

I also decided to return my 3060ti and purchase a 3070 after I found the 3070 on sale and it only cost an additional $40. That said, I ran the new benchmark test and it seems the testing numbers/results increased significantly but the results still seem to indicate my machine is performing below expectations. I'll have to dig a bit on this to figure out what's going on. Below is a link to my results if you're interested.

https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/67177359