I bought this $9000 CPU for $999 😁
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Check out the Micro Center Custom Builds Showcase: micro.center Buy a Seasonic Ultra Titanium Power Supply: On Amazon: geni.us On NewEgg: lmg.gg Intel CPUs were at one point the go-to for nearly every market segment, with powerful products for gamers, datacenters, and content creators alike. AMD has dethroned them, and that’s led to some strangely cheap products popping up on Ebay… like this 28 core Xeon. Buy Intel Xeon Platinum 8176 CPU On eBay (PAID LINK): ebay.us On Newegg (PAID LINK): geni.us Purchases made through some store links may provide some compensation to Linus Media Group. Discuss on the forum: linustechtips.com ►GET MERCH: lttstore.com ►SUPPORT US ON FLOATPLANE: floatplane.com ►LTX EXPO: ltxexpo.com AFFILIATES & REFERRALS --------------------------------------------------- ►Affiliates, Sponsors & Referrals: lmg.gg ►Check out our podcast gear: kit.co ►Private Internet Access VPN: lmg.gg ►Our Official Charging Partner Anker: lmg.gg ►MK Keyboards: lmg.gg ►Nerd or Die Stream Overlays: lmg.gg ►Official Game Store: nexus.gg ►Amazon Prime: lmg.gg ►Audible Free Trial: lmg.gg ►Our Gear on Amazon: geni.us FOLLOW US ELSEWHERE --------------------------------------------------- Twitter: twitter.com Facebook: @LinusTech Instagram: @linustech Twitch: twitch.tv FOLLOW OUR OTHER CHANNELS --------------------------------------------------- Mac Address: lmg.gg Techquickie: lmg.gg TechLinked: lmg.gg ShortCircuit: lmg.gg LMG Clips: lmg.gg Channel Super Fun: lmg.gg Carpool Critics: lmg.gg MUSIC CREDIT --------------------------------------------------- Title: Laszlo - Supernova Video Link: youtube.com iTunes Download Link: itunes.apple.com Artist Link: soundcloud.com Outro Screen Music Credit: Approaching Nirvana - Sugar High youtube.com Monitor And Keyboard by vadimmihalkevich / CC BY 4.0 geni.us Mechanical RGB Keyboard by BigBrotherECE / CC BY 4.0 geni.us Mouse Gamer free Model By Oscar Creativo / CC BY 4.0 geni.us CHAPTERS --------------------------------------------------- 0:00 Intro 0:55 Backstory 1:42 The server hardware cycle 2:46 Our CPU 3:01 Server CPU "classes" 5:18 Summary so far 5:58 Installation begins 6:08 C621 Motherboards 6:37 Socket design and coolers 7:20 gaming 8:30 Clock speeds and per-core boosting 9:08 Linus has a eureka 10:04 What this CPU isn't good for 10:43 What this CPU IS good for
The video opens with the creator recounting a striking find in the used hardware market: a 28-core Intel Xeon Platinum 8176 that he purchased on eBay for $999, a small fraction of its original price. He explains how this reflects a broader shift in the CPU market, where older enterprise hardware becomes affordable as data centers refresh, and describes the lifecycle pattern that drives cheap, powerful components into refurb shops and auction sites. The host clarifies the three main classes of server CPUs seen on the secondary market: fully validated retail chips with warranty, lower-cost production samples, and engineering samples that may require careful compatibility checks. He emphasizes the risk and potential reward of buying engineering samples, noting that some chips may work identically to retail parts while others may have quirks that limit their usefulness. The discussion moves into the practicalities of obtaining such a processor, including how ES chips can report as engineering samples yet still perform like retail parts, and how the eventual goal is to assemble a compatible system that can reveal the chip’s true capabilities. By the end of this segment, the host sets expectations for testing, noting that several factors like motherboard compatibility and cooler choice will influence the final outcome.
Topics · technology · hardware · data-centers · pc-building
Questions answered
- What is an engineering sample Xeon 8176 and why does it matter for second-hand buyers?
- An engineering sample Xeon 8176 is a pre-release Intel CPU marked as confidential for engineers to develop compatible hardware. It may be sold before the official launch and can behave like a retail part, but it might have limited compatibility or require specific motherboards and cooling solutions. For buyers, ES chips offer a potential bargain if they perform like retail units, but they carry risks related to compatibility and warranty.
- Why did the presenter consider buying this chip a good deal despite its age?
- The presenter notes that the secondary market can offer substantial savings when large data centers refresh to newer hardware, flooding the market with older, still capable CPUs. For a price around $999, a 28-core Xeon can be obtained, which is compelling for enthusiasts who want substantial multi-core performance at a fraction of the original cost, provided compatibility is managed.
- What are the main challenges when using an engineering sample in a consumer-class motherboard?
- Main challenges include potential compatibility issues with older or non-targeted motherboards, possible differences in clock speeds, and the need for the correct cooling solution. Some ES chips may boot and run like retail parts, while others may refuse to POST on certain boards, necessitating careful hardware pairing and testing.