MP 7,1 "QS" CPUs really that bad?

[flyproductions]

Well i've been reading alot her in some threads and watching some YT-videos about using Engineering- and Qualification Samples (mostly from China) in the 7,1.

Conclusion was, that ES are to avoid at all costs. But not really the same for QS. While here most of the opinions tend to summarize that they are "not worth the risk", there are some (even reputable) Tech-Youtubers, claiming them to be de facto identical to the final product and – for the somehow a little adventurous – a nice way to save a lot of money.

So now, a few years down the road, question is, what are the experiences of the "brave" who tried them. Have there been some/alot of issues or did they just do the job?

Also, even as common knowledge is...

Just look for the S-Spec inscription on the lid. S-Spec part number for the W-3245:

ES/QS: QQVU
Production: SRFFD

...i have seen al lot if not most of the QS-listings as this one showing markings like SRFFF on the HS while the listing clearly states "QS". Is the pic just not showing what is actually sold or how does this go together?

Am really curious to know more about the QS-topic as around 700 Euros for some 28-core-xeons whould make it way more attractive to get some 8-core and upgrade it than paying fortunes for some better equipped machine.

 

[tsialex]

You are looking a different processor than what I wrote about, W-3245:

W-3245
ES/QS: QQVU
Production: SRFFD

This is the S-spec for W-3275:

W-3275
ES/QS: QQVW
Production: SRFFF

 

[flyproductions]

You are looking a different processor than what I wrote about, W-3245:

W-3245
ES/QS: QQVU
Production: SRFFD

This is the S-spec for W-3275:

W3275
ES/QS: QQVW
Production: SRFFF

Sure! But i was looking at the format of the labeling in general, mainly the first two digits, estimating QQxx is for ES/QS while SRxxx is for retail. So the pic in the auction seems to show some retail-part while the offer is clearly stating "QS".

 

[tsialex]

Sure! But i was looking at the format of the labeling in general, mainly the first two digits, estimating QQxx is for ES/QS while SRxxx is for retail. So the pic in the auction is showing some retail-part while the offer is clearly stating "QS".

Chinese sellers are known to remark the heatspreader from ES to QS and QS to retail, so this is not reliable anymore - they remark chips that cost cents, imagine what they do with 3 to 4 digits ones.

 

[flyproductions]

Chinese sellers are known to remark the heatspreader from ES to QS and QS to retail, so this is not reliable anymore - they remark chips that cost cents, imagine what they do with 3 to 4 digits ones.

So the whole QS/retail-thing is still chinese lottery? Couldn't even find one single recent pricing for a reliably real retail part, W-3275M, to compare.

 

[avro707]

It is a bit of a lottery in having to trust what they are selling is not faked.

 

[AndreeOnline]

It should be pretty straightforward to find out what's what, since I believe there are several users here that have upgraded to QS/ES. Let's see if we can get them to come out of the woodwork and share their experiences.

Many sellers explicitly describe these products as: "GPU-Z might report the CPU as 'engineering sample'..." or similar.

Then there is the matter of W3275M (support 2TB RAM) vs W3275 (support 1TB RAM). It's the 1TB version that can be found for $750, I believe. The 2TB seems to go for $990.

I've considered testing one of these CPUs myself. But I would only do it if/when I commit to keeping the Mac Pro for myself.

 

[flyproductions]

It is a bit of a lottery in having to trust what they are selling is not faked.

Don't know, if QS/ES has even been a topic for the 5,1/X56xx-CPUs. But if, then i just "won" the lottery then. I have my CPUs as well as all my memory for the 5,1 from China and can say no bad thing. One CPU with a missing contact pad has been replaced no questions asked. And all the rest is running flawlessly for years now.

From the email contact i have a feeling of these guys fearing nothing more than bad ebay-feedback.

In case of the Xeon Ws, might be one idea, just to wait a bit...until the retail parts start to get butchered from servers and drop in price. ...just like the 56xx did.

But i really don't get the point of remarking parts to retail and then selling them as QS.

 

[flyproductions]

It should be pretty straightforward to find out what's what, since I believe there are several users here that have upgraded to QS/ES. Let's see if we can get them to come out of the woodwork and share their experiences.

Just that was my intention to start this thread! 😉

Sure there's a lot of talking in different threads for the topic. But most of it is too old respective too close to 2019 to represent any "long term"-experience.

Many sellers explicitly describe these products as: "GPU-Z might report the CPU as 'engineering sample'..." or similar.

As far as i got from Youtube and a clear statement of INTEL itself in the first place, anything that is not a production retail part is "seen" as and therefor reported by tools like CPU-Z as "Engineering Sample".

Then there is the matter of W3275M (support 2TB RAM) vs W3275 (support 1TB RAM). It's the 1TB version that can be found for $750, I believe. The 2TB seems to go for $990.

I would "get along fine" with the 1 TB version. Who in the world "needs" or even can make real use of more than 1 terabyte of RAM in some workstation-/desktop-computer? In the end, it's just the same as for the 128 GB with the 5,1: People are willing to sacrify not only lots of money but even performance for unneeded capacity...just to show some "impressive" "About this Mac"-screenshots in forums. 😉

I've considered testing one of these CPUs myself. But I would only do it if/when I commit to keeping the Mac Pro for myself.

Yes, aside from the fact that i do not even allready own a 7,1 (still waiting for prices to drop "a little"), i would too. But even 700 Euros are a bit of cash, just for "testing".

The general question is, which is the best way to go: Buying the 7,1 with the "desired" processor allready in it and pay a bit more. Or by a "cheap" base configuration and upgrade "to the max" with some QS-CPU. IMHO, the most unattractive option would be, to buy the base configuration and upgrade with some usual retail-CPU, which still cost a fortune for what i was able to find out.

 

[AndreeOnline]

Yes, aside from the fact that i do not even allready own a 7,1 (still waiting for prices to drop "a little"), i would too.

What is your motivation for getting into the 7.1?

There are still use cases, but it's pretty late in the game with the Apple Silicon writing all over the wall.

 

[tsialex]

Don't know, if QS/ES has even been a topic for the 5,1/X56xx-CPUs. But if, then i just "won" the lottery then. I have my CPUs as well as all my memory for the 5,1 from China and can say no bad thing. One CPU with a missing contact pad has been replaced no questions asked. And all the rest is running flawlessly for years now.

From the email contact i have a feeling of these guys fearing nothing more than bad ebay-feedback.

In case of the Xeon Ws, might be one idea, just to wait a bit...until the retail parts start to get butchered from servers and drop in price. ...just like the 56xx did.

Xeons W were not a server CPU, but a workstation one, so, you won’t see a X56xx drop. Basic supply and demand.

But i really don't get the point of remarking parts to retail and then selling them as QS.

Money…

 

[opeter]

I fully agree with AndreeOnline, it is simply not worth it at the end of 2024. But is is your money... you should know, what you want.

 

[flyproductions]

Money…

Yes, sure! ...but if one takes the "effort" of remarking parts, then why not also just sell them as such?

Would get him even more money!

 

[flyproductions]

What is your motivation for getting into the 7.1?

There are a few...

I just like "old school" modular desktop computers, where things can be easily fitted to needs and upgraded with time.

I like all things "in the box" instead of a lot of external clutter all over the desktop.

I like re-using things i'm using in my current system and payed a lot of money for also in my new computer. ...as there are a Radeon RX 6800, a 4-slot PCIe 3.0 NVMe switched adaptor with 6 TB of storage on it, .

I like to have macOS as well as Windows running on the same machine.

I like the beautiful work of engineering art, this thing is.

...and finally i don't like Apple's increasingly glueing and soldering anti-repair-anti-customer-policy of all the recent years.

There are still use cases, but it's pretty late in the game with the Apple Silicon writing all over the wall.

Yes! But there are not a lot of years ahead "in the business" for me anymore. And after that it will be more for amusement.

Just look at it as one of the nicer "hackintoshes". 😉

 

[avro707]

Don't know, if QS/ES has even been a topic for the 5,1/X56xx-CPUs. But if, then i just "won" the lottery then. I have my CPUs as well as all my memory for the 5,1 from China and can say no bad thing. One CPU with a missing contact pad has been replaced no questions asked. And all the rest is running flawlessly for years now.

Because those were already old and easily available and cheap it didn’t matter so much.

Xeon W3275M however was a damn expensive CPU that was hard to find so unscrupulous sellers can make $$$ selling the sample CPUs as the final production model.

My replacement for the Mac Pro 7,1 will be Lenovo PX.

 

[Regulus67]

Greg Gant, just posted a video using a QS CPU. He has an excellent upgrade blog, and I like his videos 👍

 

[flyproductions]

Let's see if we can get them to come out of the woodwork and share their experiences.

So even some well known experts did, just as if they had seen this thread! 🤩

The Definitive Mac Upgrade Guide doing some extensive testing with a 16-core QS CPU.

Of course this is nothing of a warranty for long term use. But results look promising for a 200 $ part.


Edit: Ahh, just crossposted! 🤪

 

[Regulus67]

Edit: Ahh, just crossposted! 🤪

That was some timing 😂