LGA 775 & 771 support interoperability across systems
LGA 775 & 771 support interoperability across systems
I need to understand if it’s worth getting another compatible CPU to fully upgrade the dual-CPU motherboard from the past (which uses DDR2). This would turn a donated board into a backup DC/server for a small non-profit, and more importantly, what will the search for a second CPU involve.
Background: A local entrepreneur donated retired hardware from his office to my church; I manage IT. One item stands out – an old HP XW6600 workstation with all working components except possibly a corrupt Windows Vista boot drive. It has 16GB DDR2 RAM but lacks a second CPU socket. I currently run a single Xeon E5405. Meanwhile, I have many Core2 Duo and Core2 Quad chips available thanks to the donation. If I can restore this machine fully, I plan to install Ubuntu Server 22.x and use the cockpit package for remote management. My main questions: Can I fit an LGA775 chip into an LGA771 socket? If so, what modifications would be needed? Should I fill both sockets with Core2-based chips instead of mixing types? Would it be cheaper to buy a new LGA771 Xeon rather than spend the low price on a used one? Any advice or insights would be appreciated.
It seems you're unsure about compatibility, as only certain models work with specific chipsets.
You can modify one version of the 771 chip to make it 775 by rotating it and adjusting the registration pin (carving out the pin and adding an sticker). This method seems to work only in one direction unless a different sticker is used. The specific 771 model costs around $20 and likely has higher pricing compared to others. The core2 quads, if they’re premium, can handle running 10 at a relaxed speed. Notes added by Bombastinator on August 26, 2022.
To run dual CPUs on this board, aim for a Xeon E54xx or better, preferably a matching E5405. That’s the key detail I was looking for. Edited August 26, 2022 by Vader_Zim
It’s likely more affordable and simpler. That single chip that got ported to 775 actually ran a bit faster than the top core2quad without overclocking—it was closer to two dual-core units with extra cache. You might find details by searching Google with the term “core2 quad sticker.” Updated August 26, 2022 by Bombastinator