Building a Dual-CPU Behemoth from Used Server Parts, ft. CaseLabs & Old Xeons

**Benchmarking GTA 5 at 1080p**

When it comes to benchmarking GTA 5 at 1080p, Intel i5 CPUs are not exactly known for their performance. In fact, they're positioned far down at the bottom of the chart, far away from any other option. This is because GTA 5 just doesn't like this combination of hardware, and you'd be much better off buying a different processor altogether.

For example, if you were to upgrade to an i3 high-end or even an i5/R5 model, such as the 2600 or 86 out of K, you would likely see significant improvements in performance. This is because these processors are not only more powerful but also better suited for gaming tasks.

However, this build is clearly not meant for gaming, and it's not even recommended to use it for that purpose. In fact, it may be better to use a second system specifically for gaming or disabling one of the CPUs while playing 1440p to avoid pushing the load onto the GPU.

Even with 1440p, the results are underwhelming, with the Intel i9-2970X 2x2 build still struggling to reach 60 FPS average. This is compared to the AMD Ryzen 7 1700, which takes the lead at just 75 FPS average. The fact that the Ryzen 7 1700 performs better despite having fewer cores and threads highlights the importance of frequency in this benchmark.

In contrast, the Intel i9-9900K and Ryzen 7 9700K perform much better, with the latter taking around 30 seconds per turn to complete a single turn in Civilization 6. This shows that frequency is indeed an important factor in these benchmarks, as higher frequencies provide a significant performance boost.

The same story repeats itself across various games tested, including Total War: Warhammer and GTA V. The Intel i9-2970X 2x2 build consistently performs poorly, often landing at under 60 FPS average or even worse in some cases.

**The Build's Limitations**

Despite its limitations, the build does have a unique advantage - it's suitable for workstation tasks, such as encoding and video compression. In this regard, the Intel i9-2970X 2x2 build performs remarkably well, leveraging its multiple cores to compress files quickly and efficiently.

However, when it comes to handbrake, an older system with overclocked 8086 CPUs was used in the past, which is now outdated compared to modern builds. The current setup, while still quite capable, relies on software optimization and clever usage of resources to deliver good results.

**Conclusion**

The Intel i9-2970X 2x2 build is not a recommendation for gaming or high-performance workloads. However, its unique configuration can be repurposed for workstation tasks, making it a decent choice for encoding, video compression, or other resource-intensive applications.

As the author suggests, further customizing this build could lead to some exciting modifications, such as liquid cooling systems or creative enclosure designs. With future updates and expansions planned, there's always room for improvement and innovation in this project.

Lastly, the origin of the "South China Gold" name remains a mystery, leaving viewers curious about its meaning and significance. Despite this, the build stands out as an interesting example of workstation engineering, showcasing the capabilities and limitations of modern processors in various workloads.