Can i put a Xeon E5-26XX v4 CPU in a E5-26XX v3 socket? For a lenovo RD350

[tJuggernaut29]

I have a Lenovo ThinkServer RD350 with a E5-2630 v3 cpu in it

 

Questions:

Can I put a v4 cpu in a v3 server? It is the same socket, LGA2011-v3 for both v3 and v4 cpu, but will I need a BIOS update or anything?

 

Current CPU is 85W, can I put a 135W CPU in it? Specifically a E5-2698 v4 or similar.

 

The product page says "Up to 105W CPU", but i dont know if that is for the configs it was sold in, or if that is all the mobo supports

 

 

Here is the exact model number of my server, and config it was sold with

 

Here is my current BIOS info

 

Here is the product page of my server

https://lenovopress.lenovo.com/tips1282-thinkserver-rd350

 

Here is the info on the CPU I have

https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Xeon+E5-2630+v3+%40+2.40GHz&id=2386

 

Here is the info on the CPU I want to upgrade to

https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Xeon+E5-2698+v4+%40+2.20GHz&id=2806 

 

Thanks!

[Zando_]

10 minutes ago, tJuggernaut29 said:

Can I put a v4 cpu in a v3 server? It is the same socket, LGA2011-v3 for both v3 and v4 cpu, but will I need a BIOS update or anything?

Depends what BIOS it had, and OEMs can put funky limits in there so unless someone has tested it already, you'd have to do so. It should be capable of supporting v4 CPUs, it uses chipset C610 which is the server equivalent of X99, and that works with both Haswell and Broadwell 2011-3 chips, so I don't see why this wouldn't. 

 

For the power question... no idea. It should work if the motherboard has the proper power delivery for 135W, I doubt they'd build a board so close to the limit (so there should be headroom). That's probably just what they sold and built their thermal solution around, so at most the new Xeons might run hotter. If it's just the CPUs then PSU limits shouldn't be an issue either. 

 

So I guess uh... try it. If the Xeon you want is expensive, look for the cheapest v4 available and try that just to see if a v4 chip will run. 

[An0maly_76]

Tread carefully, you're not only limited by chipset support, but further by what Lenovo might have limited it to. Ask me how I know.

 

I do think you should not exceed 105W, as that is likely what the motherboard and PSUs can handle.

 

ADDED:  @tJuggernaut29

 

Not sure if you noticed, on the page you posted, there's another page referring to a v4 version's specs. Updated 2018, it MIGHT be for NEWER versions of this model. It's not as straightforward as what I found for the M71E I have, but there's some good info if you dig for it.

Edited October 25, 2022 by An0maly_76
Revised, more info

[An0maly_76]

After digging through these pages a bit more, I found the Processor Options section for the v4 version. Doesn't go that high (tops out at E5-2660 v4), so looks like you can put a v4 in it, just not the one you want. I'm not sure I'd try the one you want unless you can get the processor cheap. The 2660 seems pretty stout anyway.

 

https://lenovopress.lenovo.com/lp0091-thinkserver-rd350-e5-2600-v4#processor-options

Edited October 25, 2022 by An0maly_76
Revised, more info

[tJuggernaut29]

Update on this

I agree with what yall have said about only going 105W max

 

I ordered a E5-2660 v4 used from amazon of all places. Will be here next week and will update how it goes.

 

I am also looking at getting the second heatsink and fans to run dual cpu since it supports it. will see how the cpu upgrade goes first.

[tJuggernaut29]

update on this:

got the E5-2660 v4 cpu. it did in fact NOT work. (for this lenovo RD350 v3 server)

 

ordered a E5-2660 v3 cpu and works great

[jfenwick14]

On 11/29/2022 at 1:03 PM, tJuggernaut29 said:

update on this:

got the E5-2660 v4 cpu. it did in fact NOT work. (for this lenovo RD350 v3 server)

 

ordered a E5-2660 v3 cpu and works great

Did you try updating the bios?

 

I saw that your bios is on version 1.33 and looking at the bios version log it doesn't look like broadwell support was added until version 3.32. if you download the read me on Lenovo support page. I am in the same sport you are and wanted to ask before I got a v4 processor and it not work.

 

https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/downloads/ds102451-thinkserver-bios-update-bundle-file-thinkserver-rd350-rd450

[jfenwick14]

I went ahead and bought an e5-2660 v4 to try out and it does work. I assume you just need to make sure the bios is updated. I just wanted to post this Incase someone else was in the same position.