Harpertown Xeon BSEL Upgrade (E5450)
Harpertown Xeon BSEL Upgrade (E5450)
Hello everyone, I'm looking for advice on BSEL settings for my Harpertown Xeons. Specifically, I want to understand how BSEL 0, 1, and 2 would affect the FSB, PCI-e, and RAM timings on these chips. My system uses a G41 chipset with DDR3 RAM (1333MHz currently installed). I've never overclocked via BSEL before, but I've tried setting points 1 and 2 without much success. Only setting point 1 worked, but no noticeable improvement. I haven't posted about this yet.
I found some guidance from XeonTux, though it hasn't been updated recently. My motherboard is an Optiplex 380 with a BIOS update for proper Xeon support. The specs include an Intel Xeon E5450 CPU at 3GHz, running on a DDR3 kit (4-2 MHz). I'm using a 6GB RAM module (both 1333MHz) and a Zotac GTX 960 4GB GPU. The PSU is a stock Optiplex 330, which I plan to upgrade to a Silverstone SFX 450W.
I've also replaced the case with an Optiplex 330 from a previous project and swapped the front fan with a Noctua NF-B9. My rig has run well for months, with only minor BSODs related to incompatible PCI Wi-Fi cards. I tested a USB wireless adapter from TP-link and it worked perfectly.
I considered putting a 750ti Low Profile card in my system, but it didn't fit well. After some adjustments—cutting parts of the CPU heatsink and adding support brackets—I finally got everything to work. The PCI-e extension was installed, and I upgraded the PSU for better performance. I also replaced several components like capacitors, ferrite coils, and transistors to improve stability.
The process was challenging, but it paid off. Now I have a functioning system that meets my needs. If anyone has insights or experiences with BSEL on these specific configurations, I'd appreciate your help!
Hahaha, I’m not suggesting it, but seriously, I’ve spent four years working on TVs—tube models, capacitors, all those shocks. Microwaves, sound systems, and various components. I’m pretty sure of my skills, though others shouldn’t try this. I really focus on following instructions closely. If I leave the power supply open for better airflow, it won’t overheat much, but that defeats the point of sealing the case. I’ve stress tested it and noticed minimal ripple, even when hot. It performs better than many 350W PSUs under similar conditions. This feels more like a fun project than a practical fix. When I started the Frankensteining, I chose the Silverstone PSU. Before that, I used a 500W unit outside the case to power everything. The Silverstone ST45SF is almost here—probably arriving Friday. Shipping in Brazil takes forever, but I ordered it 17 days ago. If nothing goes wrong in the next few days, I should be fine.
It seems you've worked with E5430 boards before. To change the clock speed from 1333 to 1600 MHz, just cover one pin with tape. I’ve included a picture of what I initially thought was the right pin—though I made a mistake. You actually need to cover a pin higher up; there’s a red arrow pointing to the pin above the tape that should be covered (it’s not row G, it’s row H).
I also noticed from the Dell guide you linked that your Optiplex 380 board supports only certain CPUs, and there isn’t a 1600FSB chip listed. Your experience with stability is solid: increasing from 2.6GHz to 3.2GHz on your E5430 was smooth, but jumping from 3.33GHz to 4.0GHz on the X5470 wasn’t stable at 1.2V. You were considering a voltage adjustment, even having silver liquid solder ready, but you ended up selling your T7400 and losing some LGA771/775 parts.
Based on the G41 chipset details, it seems limited to a maximum FSB speed of 1333Mhz. I’ll aim to extract the most performance from this CPU using setFSB and check stability. Appreciate the guidance!
I'm looking for premium or overclock-capable BTX motherboards. Feel free to swap the socket if needed—I've got a solid CPU lineup already. My NAS has an i5-2300, and I'm planning to upgrade to a Xeon with ECC storage eventually. While there are better options out there, I really enjoy this Optiplex build and it fits perfectly in my laptop bag. Maybe later I'll manage to source standard ATX boards for a smoother upgrade path. It's a bit of a niche project; most people at LAN events bring polished, high-end rigs. I started with a black finish, skipped clear coat, and embraced the worn look—it gives it a 'used but loved' vibe. When I think about finishing it, I'll add a clear coat to preserve that character. It adds a unique 'sleeper' feel to the build. Thanks for taking the time to read this! PS1: I'm not sure if "microBTX" is the right term, but my board looks like it's been through something. PS2: Tron emoji approved 😄 PS3: SFX approved 🎉 PS4: Disappointing, but still better than Xbone.
I've never encountered a BTX motherboard in person... It seems much harder to disassemble your unit and relocate the I/O and PCIE back section for an ATX build compared to finding a solid BTX board, which isn't exactly simple.
I've noticed quite a bit of laughter around. The design looks impressive. It's a much superior choice compared to ATX; all parts are positioned near their controllers. The layout makes cable management simpler for the motherboard and accessories. Also, something I wanted was included before I even heard about BTX – the graphics face outward, so a card with a striking shroud (like the 6970 from XFX) would actually show its full appearance, letting you appreciate it completely. (I know reversed ATX models exist now, but they weren't back then.) Unfortunately, for me at least, it wasn't widely accepted by users and soon manufacturers stopped offering it. Even though the theory suggests it could lower costs for makers, the best BTX boards I found were the Dell Optiplex 980 or HP Compaq 6200 (which have exclusive power connectors – not too much of a hassle). There might be Lenovo or IBM server boards out there, but I didn't search much. I also discovered an AMD BTX board, the Optiplex 580 with an AM3 socket. Perhaps if I switch to Zen architecture, I could use a 580 and replace my 1090T. Converting from ATX to BTX is challenging – it demands some changes in reinforcements and a lot of soldering for I/O connections, making cable routing difficult on most boards. Mini ITX would be more manageable, as it could reuse the existing I/O space, just needing a larger PCIe extension.
Yes, you can apply the mod to your dual e5430. Just connect one pin from row H to your CPU as needed.