I would like to bump up my EX485's CPU. I think the built in one is a show pig that takes away from the full potential of WHS. I originally ran WHS on a PowerEdge 2900 with 4GB of ram and 2x E5335 Quad core Xeon's and this system ran like a dream! Only downside was that the system was BIG, louder then I wanted and cost $20-25 a month to run.

I like the small case of the EX485 but the CPU's gotta go. Going from 2GB of ram to 4GB of ram with a single core celeron will show little gains if not even reverse gains. IMHO, the best thing to do is to find a DUAL maybe even QUAD core CPU that efficient and is low wattage.

So far what I've seen is that the E4300 and the E5400 work. I've heard people talking about the L3110 low voltage Xeon 45W CPU but no one actually use it, benchmark it and stress test it.

Has anyone tried one of these L3110's? They are a bit on the costly side $389.99 From Newegg.com but if this sucker works and is well within the thermal limits, I'll pop for the extra cost.

What do you guys think?

"Intel Xeon L3110 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 45W Dual-Core Server Processor - Retail"

Dear Tossil:

Better prices on the L3110 are available. Last time I researched I found one as "cheap" as $253; other lower prices were perpetually out of stock. I still plan to do this, and may finally have some time coming up later this month.

Best,
--Ed--

Ed Tittel 2443 Arbor Drive, Round Rock, TX 78681-2160
Bio, resume and list of pubs at www.edtittel.com
Contributing Editor, Tom's Guide
Expert Q'n'A/content for 6 TechTarget.com Web sites

Dear Tossil:
In working with half-a-dozen different CPUs in the AMD-based EX47* models for my Tom's story, I learned that swapping out CPUs on the mini-ITX-sized HP MSS mobos is always a crapshoot. In general, though, I've had pretty good luck with 45 W parts and that's the only reason I'm willing to spend the money (I can't find anybody who'll give me one, not even Intel) on the L3110. I don't think running the FSB at 800 instead of 1333 will be a problem, either--underclocking usually poses none of the issues that overclocking does, and these HP mobos are good about reading SPD values from the RAM and setting FSB speeds in BIOS accordingly.

I'll keep you posted. I plan to order the part today or tomorrow.

--Ed--

Ed Tittel 2443 Arbor Drive, Round Rock, TX 78681-2160
Bio, resume and list of pubs at www.edtittel.com
Contributing Editor, Tom's Guide
Expert Q'n'A/content for 6 TechTarget.com Web sites

A blinking blue status light with no boot-up usually means the motherboard can't recognize the CPU, or perhaps that it might indeed be defective. But because the MSS mobo is so picky, the blinking light only tells you SOMETHING is wrong, not exactly what the problem might be.

Sorry I didn't see your query earlier. It just kind of zoomed past me.
--Ed--

Ed Tittel 2443 Arbor Drive, Round Rock, TX 78681-2160
Bio, resume and list of pubs at www.edtittel.com
Contributing Editor, Tom's Guide
Expert Q'n'A/content for 6 TechTarget.com Web sites

Thanks for sharing that link Marcos. It makes me happy I made the investment in the E5200...well, as soon as my VGA cable arrives and I can unlock it's full potential that is. :)

techaholic said:

jutley said: Thanks for sharing that link Marcos. It makes me happy I made the investment in the E5200...well, as soon as my VGA cable arrives and I can unlock it's full potential that is. :)

Don't forget when I first installed the E5200 it bricked my previous MediaSmart, but the replacement worked just fine, and I also turn off the Smart stepping and now it winds up to the full 2+Mhz that the CPU is capable off.

I returned the E5200 and got a new one today but it still freezes on "2039MB OK".
The Celeron 440 processor works fine...

I searched on Google but I found nothing...

Could it be different BIOS versions causing the problem?

EdTittel said:

This is where things get interesting. The E5200 is a 65W part. The mitec chassis in the MSS is rated for processors up to 45W and works best with those at 35W or lower. I don't have the same level of experience on the Intel (EX48* models) as I do on the AMD (EX47*) models, but I can tell you we saw (here and on Donavon West's and other MSS focused sites/forums) lots of cases where the same processor that worked in one system wouldn't work in another. Based on pure observation (no calculations, nor any ideas how to do them, either) as the TDP for the CPU goes up, the odds also decrease that a given CPU will work for all users.

You may simply have been bitten by the odds. AFAIK, HP only uses one BIOS on the EX48* models they've released to this point.

HTH,
--Ed--

Any luck with the L3110?

I'm running into the same problem as HL981. I tried to upgrade to an E5200, but it hangs at "2039 MB okay."

Ed, did you ever get a chance to try out the L3110? It's pricey, but I could probably talk myself into going for it if it works reliably.

OK, I've finally raised the cash to pay for the L3110, and just ordered it from TheNerds.net for $270, including all costs:
1. CPU $255.99
2. S&H $17.92
3. Expdedite free: $3.99

I did find a discount (code = "couponcraze") that got me $8.00 of the total purchase cost.

I'll report back after I've received the proc and have gone through the install routine.

Now where did I put that Arctic Silver...?

--Ed--

Ed Tittel 2443 Arbor Drive, Round Rock, TX 78681-2160
Bio, resume and list of pubs at www.edtittel.com
Contributing Editor, Tom's Guide
Expert Q'n'A/content for 6 TechTarget.com Web sites