New Intel Xeon chip compatibility w/ SC1430

Question

I originally ordered an SC1430 with the base 1.6GHz E5310 processor with the expectation that I would upgrade the processor at a later time. Well, the new Intel Xeon chips are out and I received an E5420 (2.5GHz) thinking it would be a great replacement. Unfortunately, the new processor doesn't work. The computer turns on but doesn't even get to the BIOS boot section. Any ideas if the new processors are compatible? The new and old are both socket 771 and from what I've read they *should* be compatible... Cliff.

Dennis Smith · Answer

chelsel,   The E5420 is not supported on the 1430, however the E5355 (2.66GHz) is.  Along with the E5345(2.33), E5335(2.0), E5320(1.86), E5310(1.6).

chelsel · Answer

well, that's not cool... but thanks for the reply. Any ideas why it wouldn't work, the MB should support a 1333 FSB and the power requirements of the chip. Any hope for an update to the MB firmware?

rick5127 · Answer

Yes I am interested too... I was expecting the new Harpertown at 1333 to be compatible....   Hate to have to get rid of this thing already...     Message Edited by rick5127 on 01-05-2008 12:48 AM

Dennis Smith · Answer

This system does support the 1333FSB, as the E5355, E5345, and  E5335 are all 1333.  The E5420 is just not listed as a supported processor.

bkp_duke · Answer

I've asked an Intel engineer about this directly and the response I got was the following: 1) the new 45nm 1333FSB CPUs are compatible in terms of VRM spec (both 65nm ad 45nm are VRM spec 11.1) 2) the new 45nm 1333FSB CPUs are compatible in terms of chipset 3) the BIOS currently does NOT include the microcode necessary for the CPUs to be recognized when installed. Anyone want to petittion Dell to start work on the microcode update for these CPUs? I would love to drop a pair of these into my SC1430, for just the power savings alone.

rick5127 · Answer

Well I waited quite a while now for some Dell person to do something.. guess not. Guess I will just dump this machine on Ebay and go looking for a penryn board...

bkp_duke · Answer

Agreed.  It is disappointing that the chipset supports 45nm quads, but Dell has neglected to released a BIOS update with supporting microcode.   Supermicro, here i come . . .

chelsel · Answer

I too am quite disappointed. I would have expected better support from Dell. The machine isn't even a year old and I have no upgrade path. Not a great impression for Server support from Dell.

chelsel · Answer

Not to beat a dead horse, but I just got a phone call from Dell asking if I wanted to renew my support contract on this SC1430... fat chance... with the kind of support I've gotten on this system, HP is getting my business from now on. I just placed an order for 8 high-end HP servers.

bkp_duke · Answer

I have a 45nm S771 quad en-route to test definitively if this system supports 45nm right now or not.  Will post my findings.

bkp_duke · Answer

I can now report, officially, that 45nm CPUs do not work.   Can we get a BIOS update Dell?

Penny Pincher P · Answer

Apparently it doesn't support the later 65nm 50xx series CPUs either, what a crock!!!

OvoiDs · Answer

Sorry to dig up that topic, but I'm owning too a SC1430, and I thought I could upgrade to E/X54xx xeon processor familly. Has Dell worked-up a bios-update yet ? If not, this is really disappoiting indeed. ... You might think it's an old machine now and it would be useless, but I would really appreciate being able to upgrade ...

Thanks for your (hypothetic) replies.

BotMan · Answer

Some sc1430 motherboards will only support dual core CPUs (the early rev MoBos) while newer ones will support 53xx Quad Cores. Would it be nice if we could install 54xx CPUs? Yes of course. Unfortunately these systems are too old for the newer-ish CPUs. I upgraded a couple of mine to 53xx quad cores and they are working perfectly.

The 5300 series chips are readily available through the usual aftermarket/used sources and can be found for really low prices.

Randy

theflash1932 · Answer

An SC1430 will probably NEVER run a 5400-series processor.  Aside from the fact that the spec sheet does not list 5400's (intentional, because they won't work), the SC1430 is the same generation, same BIOS, same chipset, etc. as the 1950/2950 ... not all revisions of that server supported the 5400-series procs either.  They came in three revisions:  I, II (5300-series support), and III (5400-series support).  Although they all shared the same BIOS code/files, ONLY the III revision could take a 5400-series processor.  So, even if Dell had issued a BIOS update after 2007 (the latest for the SC1430), it would surely have not added support for the 5400-series processors, as it would have needed a motherboard update first (not likely something they ever considered for this server - in fact, I don't believe the 1900 even got the board upgrade for 5400 procs).

PowerEdge Hardware General

New Intel Xeon chip compatibility w/ SC1430

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