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  1. #1

    Question Upgrade Dell PowerEdge 860's CPU

    I've got a Dell PowerEdge 860. (spec sheet)

    The CPU is a Pentium D 925 3ghz CPU. It's hot, powerhungry and slow.

    I see that this server used to ship with a Xeon 3000 series or Pentium D CPU.
    That means it's socket 775.

    Does that mean I can drop in any socket 775 CPU and it should work?
    Is taking off the cooler and swapping the CPU similar to doing it on a desktop/laptop? (nothing special I should be warned about)

    I've got a Core2Duo E5700 3.0GHz that performs 87% better.

    I've got a bunch of Socket 775 CPUs I'd like to try. Let me know...

    BTW I've already maxed out the RAM with 4x DDR2 2GB Non ECC RAM (works fine).
    Last edited by Lop3; 06-11-2014 at 06:34 PM.

  2. #2
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    You should have no issue dumping in a faster 775 CPU. I replaced a dual core Xeon with a X3360 without issue. Just make sure you do a latest bios.

    FYI - there are *2* gens. I've always had 2nd gen units, FWIW. Dont know about first.
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  3. #3
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    We've put Xeon X3220s, Q6600, Q6700 in these Gen 1 and Gen 2 with no problems

  4. #4
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    E5700 is 800FSB and will be fine in any poweredge 860, anything with a 1066FSB will also be okay. e.g X3220/Q6600 as Chris mentions.

    A 1333FSB you might however struggle with.

  5. #5
    Brilliant, thanks your your replies guys.
    So I guess the Dell motherboard will detect the CPU FSB (800 or 1066) and run accordingly?

    How can I tell if my unit is 1st or 2nd gen?

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Lop3 View Post
    Brilliant, thanks your your replies guys.
    So I guess the Dell motherboard will detect the CPU FSB (800 or 1066) and run accordingly?
    What do you plan to use that one for? It is quite old server. If anything breaks, the replacement parts would be expensive and/or hard to find.
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  7. #7
    Dougy: the X3360 is a 1333 FSB part. So did the dell manage to run at 1333FSB so you got the full 2.83ghz or just 1066, so 2.26Ghz?

    HostColor: I'm planning to claw my way into a data center I picked the server up for $50. Once I'm in and can make get some steady business going using my server I'll be happy to invest in some newer hardware. This is Africa.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Lop3 View Post
    HostColor: I'm planning to claw my way into a data center I picked the server up for $50. Once I'm in and can make get some steady business going using my server I'll be happy to invest in some newer hardware. This is Africa.
    Fair enough! Where are you based out of?
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    Cape Town, South Africa

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dougy View Post
    Just make sure you do a latest bios.
    .
    This is very important to have proper functioning servers after upgrading the CPU. The earlier PE860s from Dell do not support the more recent Xeon CPUs for that socket.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Lop3 View Post
    Brilliant, thanks your your replies guys.
    So I guess the Dell motherboard will detect the CPU FSB (800 or 1066) and run accordingly?

    How can I tell if my unit is 1st or 2nd gen?
    There would be a II in a circle on the top left - at least in the USA. You can see it in this pic: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-PowerEd...item1c3e673ce2

    And re; your other Q - it ran it at full speed.
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  12. #12
    Interactive: thanks!

    Thanks for the info Dougy

    Mine is 2nd gen BTW.

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    You can also keep in mind you can use socket 771 CPUs in the 775 socket if you use a mod sticker you can get Xeon X5470s on ebay for ~$100 as well as the 771 to 775 mod sticker for less than $5. It's a good cheap upgrade if you are looking for fast cheap processors. Keep in mind you may have issues with X38, X48, Q35, or Q45 chipsets but as long as you are using a server grade motherboard you shouldn't have an issue.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Incero-Joe View Post
    You can also keep in mind you can use socket 771 CPUs in the 775 socket if you use a mod sticker you can get Xeon X5470s on ebay for ~$100 as well as the 771 to 775 mod sticker for less than $5. It's a good cheap upgrade if you are looking for fast cheap processors. Keep in mind you may have issues with X38, X48, Q35, or Q45 chipsets but as long as you are using a server grade motherboard you shouldn't have an issue.
    Now that.. that's ballsy.
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    If you are looking for more information about the mod there is a whole post about it on the OverClock.net forum I think it's "LGA775 Support For LGA771 Xeon CPUs" there is a lot of good information regarding it. I'm not going to post a link as I don't know what WHT's policy is regarding other forums.

    It's pretty simple if you don't mind cutting the socket to remove the keys and other than that it's just a matter of making sure all the triangles line up. I did it with an old Q6600 board I had and it brought some life back into the old girl.

    One thing of note is to make sure not to under spec the heatsink, most 1U heatsinks are less than 100W TDP rated so you may not want to go for the fastest chip possible as it may run hotter than expected.
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  16. #16
    Thanks guys. Today I got around to attempting the upgrade.

    I've tried 2 different 3ghz 1333 Xeon 771 CPUs with the mod stickers. I've tested both CPU's in other 775 motherboards (G41 and G31) after doing the socket mod.
    I can't get it to post with these CPU's.
    The board is still posting with the crappy Pentium D 3ghz dual core.

    I've got a PowerEdge 860 2nd gen with the latest BIOS: A05

    I've also got a 771 Xeon quad 1.86ghz 1066 CPU I'm going to try now.

  17. #17
    The dell also won't accept a 771 Xeon quad 1.86 1066 CPU.

    I wonder if the A05 BIOS has blocked 771 Xeons to encourage people to buy entirely new dell servers.

  18. #18
    What a piece of junk. At least my Pentium c2d 5700 3ghz dual core works in it. (800FSB)

  19. #19
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    I would never try a socket mod on a server. I find it reckless. So I won't be of much help at all to you here.

    You should have no issue dumping in a faster 775 CPU. I replaced a dual core Xeon with a X3360 without issue. Just make sure you do a latest bios.
    This might have been in a R200.

    I forget now
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  20. #20
    Dougy: Thanks for the reply. I mistakenly thought you used a 771 CPU.

  21. #21
    Well at least I've gotten a decent upgrade out of the experience
    http://www.cpu-world.com/Compare/310...ore_E5700.html

  22. #22
    Quote Originally Posted by Dougy View Post
    You should have no issue dumping in a faster 775 CPU. I replaced a dual core Xeon with a X3360 without issue. Just make sure you do a latest bios.

    FYI - there are *2* gens. I've always had 2nd gen units, FWIW. Dont know about first.
    Hi Dougy,

    I was trying to use a X3360 with a poweredge 860 ii without success. The bios is the latest A05.

    Please advise if possible.

    Thanks

  23. #23
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    Quote Originally Posted by Reach Media View Post
    Hi Dougy,

    I was trying to use a X3360 with a poweredge 860 ii without success. The bios is the latest A05.

    Please advise if possible.

    Thanks
    I can't help but wonder if I did it in a R200. It's been so long I don't recall.
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  24. #24
    Quote Originally Posted by Dougy View Post
    I can't help but wonder if I did it in a R200. It's been so long I don't recall.
    Yeah .. I think its a R200. I've got a spare one lying around. Will try on it.

    Thanks

  25. #25
    Yup just to update R200 works beautifully with x3360

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