[MOD] LGA775 Support For LGA771 Xeon CPUs

TB13 · Oct 6, 2013

Hi everyone! I have been following a thread started a while ago about an awesome mod that is super simple and gives new life to the LGA775 platform. The original thread has become cluttered and the original poster hasn't updated his posts so I figured I would put together all of the findings into one thread to help any one interested. If you are interested in this mod, this is the place to find all the information you need about it!

Overview

This mod is for LGA775 motherboards only! It allows the use of LGA771 Xeon CPU's that are very affordable and powerful in many LGA775 motherboards with a few small modifications to the motherboard and CPU.

How does it work?

We are using a small sticker to flip two pins on the bottom of the CPU, then rotating the CPU to the correct position on in a LGA775 motherboard. If you want a more in-depth explanation, check this thread out: Explanation

Why would I want to do this?

Many people simply do not have the money to dump their old rig and buy a new one. The LGA775 platform has began to show its age in recent games and programs with most consumer processors. LGA771 Xeon processors are very affordable and blow most consumer level LGA775 cpu's out of the water. For example, a Xeon X5460 can be had for around $40. For $40 you can get a quad core CPU with 12mb of cache that runs at 3.16GHz stock. You also must remember that these CPU's were meant for servers, which means they are binned higher than the consumer level or even the extreme edition LGA775 CPU's. This usually equates to better overclocks and lower operating temperatures.

Compatibility

The following boards/chipsets have been proven compatible:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0ArP20vNBl1vSdHUxTTFLMEdmejU3Vi1WaVVqLVF4Vmc&single=true&gid=0&output=html&widget=true

Choosing the right motherboard for this mod is extremely important. Some boards need a simple microcode update while others will not post with the Xeon CPU's at all. I will attempt to create the most complete compatibility chart I can, but also take a look at post #3 and see if your board is listed.
If you are running a motherboard with the X38, X48, Q35, or Q45 chipset there is a high chance it may not be compatible with this mod!

The Mod

Before you modify your motherboard, update your bios to the latest version if you haven't already.

Disclaimer: I am not responsible for any damage you may do to your motherboard or CPU while performing this mod!

First gather the necessary tools and components:

A sharp knife: Xacto, box cutter, or anything similar
A LGA775 motherboard with a compatible Chipset
A LGA771 Xeon CPU
A "Pin Mod" Sticker Link 1
Optional:
A pair of tweezers
A well lit room or a lamp to light up your work space

Lets start with the motherboard. First located the two CPU guides in the CPU socket:

Now use your knife and cut them both off

Once you do that you are done with half the mod!

Now get your CPU and "Pin Mod" stickers, tweezers come in handy when applying the stickers

And stick the sticker on with the little triangle facing the triangle on the bottom of the CPU

Now make sure when placing the CPU into the socket you line up the triangle on the CPU and the triangle on the socket!

You did it! Now put your system back together and get to overclocking!

Conclusion

If you made it this far, you either completed the mod or have read through the thread and are still unsure about it. If you have completed the mod, make a post sharing your success, it will help get others to try the mod for themselves. If you still aren't unsure about it, have a look at some of the others who have done completed the mod.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Servos

Weirdest/best upgrade deal I've ever made. Sold my q6700 enough to buy a e5440, the adapter, some mayhems dye (for main computer). And hands down the e5440>q6700

Well the evga 780i seems to play nice with the E5440.
I oc'ed it to 4.0ghz, but my vdroop was pretty bad. Didn't crash, but ibt faild after 2-3 tests.
So stuck it at 3.2 for 1:1 fsb:ram.

The crasiest part is the temps. I let this go for about an hour and nothing hits over 55*c (even at 4.0ghz). I thought maybe it realtemp was misreading the sensor, but I felt the exhaust and it wasn't particularly over-wam. My q6700 was hotter under load stock.

Didn't realize I was using old bios too, off to flash em.

bumped it up to 3.4ghz, somehow I had the multi at 8 instead of 8.5.

Quote:

Originally Posted by imi2003

Hi all
I just successfully used a Xenon E5430 to work with a Gigabyte G41MT-S2P motherboard using a pin mod sticker and modding the socket
There is only one problem since my E5430 is a E0 stepping it has disabled sse 4.1 etc.
Does any one have a modded bios for this motherboard or can any one point me in the direction of some sort of tutorial so I can have a go myself
oh and this motherboard is pants for overclocking wont go over 335fsb without locking up on boot

Thanks imi2003

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrad

Awesome news i fortunately got lucky and my X5460 posted right away with bios P32 on my Evga 680i

, I'm going to install it on my 780i since it overclocks better. I wasnt expecting it to work though on the 680i since it didnt officially support 45nm Yorkfield quad cores.

Going to start testing overclocks with it next to see how high it can go, i wonder if it will overclock as nice as the Q6600s.

Thanks so much to all who contributed to this thread

Edit: alright just got it up and running on my XFX 780i also, running bios P09.

I think this engineering sample X5460 might have an unlocked multi because its letting me select any multiplier i want

Quote:

Originally Posted by TB13

So, I posted on bios-mods.com earlier today and never got a reply. Being incredibly impatient and bored I decided to try and mod the BIOS myself, I'll let the picture do the rest of the talking...

So ladies and gents, if anyone here needs a BIOS modded to support Xeons or other 775 CPU's let me know and I can do it.

I'll be back later with some overclocking results

Quote:

Originally Posted by TB13

Bump for this thread!

These guys showed up this afternoon and I got to installing them

They are somewhat like the ones OP had, but they do not need to be cut and have adhesive pre applied. Peel the adhesive, mod the socket, and drop it in. Bam, quad core awesomeness!

Booted up no problem on my Foxconn G31 board.

Its running a bit warm, but I will pick up a new heatsink sometime soon and hopefully overclock it a bit.

bluenight · Oct 10, 2013

Quote:

Code:
Originally Posted by 000000

[HOW-TO] Updating the CPU Microcodes (AMI/Award)

Here is a guide how to obtain the microcodes from the Intel website.
http://donovan6000.blogspot.ru/2013/06/insyde-bios-modding-cpu-microcodes.html

BTW, there broken link to the microdecode tool, so i have to attached it.

microdecode.zip 17k .zip file

So, there are two different ways, depends on your BIOS type (Award or AMI):

Create a blank file "ncpucode.bin"

Code:

Code:

type NUL > NCPUCODE.BIN

Extract the existing cpucodes from the BIOS image:

Code:

Code:

cbrom195.exe BIOS.BIN /nc_cpucode NCPUCODE.BIN

Merge existing and the new cpucodes:

Code:

Code:

copy /b ncpucode.bin + cpu00010676_plat00000004_ver0000060f_date20100929.bin + cpu00010676_plat00000040_ver0000060f_date20100929.bin + cpu0001067a_plat00000044_ver00000a0b_date20100928.bin ncpucode.bin

Make it "read-only" to prevent from deletion after the update is complete:

Code:

Code:

attrib +R ncpucode.bin

Update the BIOS image with the new cpucodes:

Code:

Code:

cbrom195.exe BIOS.BIN /nc_cpucode NCPUCODE.BIN

Double check that cpucodes have been added:

Code:

Code:

intelmicrocodelist.exe BIOS.BIN

At the end of the output you should find the following lines:

Code:

Code:

CPUID=10676 UpdateRev=60F 2010/09/29 Checksum=8FE1A243 PlatformID=2 CPUID=10676 UpdateRev=60F 2010/09/29 Checksum=8FE1A207 PlatformID=6 CPUID=1067A UpdateRev=A0B 2010/09/28 Checksum=B007E7B0 PlatformID=2,6

Also, you may use cbrom to ensure that cpucodes have been successfully added:

Code:

Code:

cbrom195.exe BIOS.BIN /D

Now flash modified BIOS image and you're done!

Open the ROM file with MMTOOL

Choose the "CPU PATH" tab

Browse for the cpucode (*.bin) files and insert it one by one.

Save the modified image

Flash it and you're done!

A slightly easier compared to the Award way, don't you think?

lga771_microcodes.zip 16k .zip file

CBROM195.zip 84k .zip file

intelmicrocodelist_v04a.zip 43k .zip file

MMTool_322_1B_21Fix.zip 150k .zip file

that's good

, can you help me mod bios for x48 asus rampage formular, i cannt post with xeon x5260

here the lastest bios

RAMPAGE-ASUS-Formula-1001.zip 979k .zip file

bgdwiepp · Oct 14, 2013

I posted this is the other thread, but i think it's welcome here too, I can't confirm it, but it looks pretty accurate;

davtylica · Oct 15, 2013

Am i correct to assume that both links for the pin mod stickers come with pre applied adhesive? I ordered the stickers from the first link.

TB13 · Oct 15, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by davtylica

Am i correct to assume that both links for the pin mod stickers come with pre applied adhesive? I ordered the stickers from the first link.

I can confirm the ones from the first link do have adhesive.

davtylica · Oct 15, 2013

Good to know because i almost ordered the stickers from the second link since they were cheaper. This may be the cheapest mod ever. $32 for a x5460 and $19 for pin stickers how does one argue with that?

davtylica · Oct 15, 2013

Does anyone know if it is safe to clean the bottom side of a processor with alcohol? For whatever reason my Xeon came with TIM caked on the bottom of one corner. I dont see why you shouldnt be able to do this without any consequences but i thought id make sure first.

MTP04 · Oct 16, 2013

What an awesome find to be able to use 771 cpu's in 775 sockets...hats off to the one that put it out there for us.

Anyway, I picked up a few of those adapters from alibaba(thanks OP) and got myself a E5440 to try in a Lenovo M58 SFF. First off I tried the patched E5440 in a Zotac GF9300 ITX and it booted and ran windows perfectly. So then I tried the Lenovo and it wouldn't post, even with the latest bios. I have zero bios modding knowledge and was wondering if someone can mod it for me?

TB13 · Oct 16, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTP04

What an awesome find to be able to use 771 cpu's in 775 sockets...hats off to the one that put it out there for us.

Anyway, I picked up a few of those adapters from alibaba(thanks OP) and got myself a E5440 to try in a Lenovo M58 SFF. First off I tried the patched E5440 in a Zotac GF9300 ITX and it booted and ran windows perfectly. So then I tried the Lenovo and it wouldn't post, even with the latest bios. I have zero bios modding knowledge and was wondering if someone can mod it for me?

I might be able to mod it for you, is the BIOS file a .bin? If it is I can add the microcodes and it should work.

MTP04 · Oct 16, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by TB13

I might be able to mod it for you, is the BIOS file a .bin? If it is I can add the microcodes and it should work.

Unfortunately its *.usf

TB13 · Oct 16, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTP04

Unfortunately its *.usf

Can you post a link to it? I might be able to get it to work.

MTP04 · Oct 16, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by TB13

Can you post a link to it? I might be able to get it to work.

Here you go, http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc/pccbbs/thinkcentre_bios/5cjt77a.zip

EDIT, replaced the link with a zipped download instead of a executable. Just a bit cleaner that way.

Caz · Oct 16, 2013

Wow, even though I won't try it, this is pretty epic. Hopefully in a half dozen years someone does the same thing with 1155 and 1156.

Rep'd.

TB13 · Oct 16, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTP04

Here you go, http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc/pccbbs/thinkcentre_bios/5cjt77a.zip

EDIT, replaced the link with a zipped download instead of a executable. Just a bit cleaner that way.

Wow, I've never seen a BIOS packaged like that, its just a bunch of files. Do you have the .usf you mentioned earlier?

MTP04 · Oct 16, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by TB13

Wow, I've never seen a BIOS packaged like that, its just a bunch of files. Do you have the .usf you mentioned earlier?

Try this, http://www.mediafire.com/?jnmqzr66a50mnn2

EDIT, just in case your able to figure it out my E5440 is a EO stepping SLBBJ.

TB13 · Oct 16, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTP04

Try this, http://www.mediafire.com/?jnmqzr66a50mnn2

EDIT, just in case your able to figure it out my E5440 is a EO stepping SLBBJ.

Hmm, CBROM won't open it. When it boots, does it say if it has an award BIOS or a Phoenix BIOS?

MTP04 · Oct 16, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by TB13

Hmm, CBROM won't open it. When it boots, does it say if it has an award BIOS or a Phoenix BIOS?

Yeah, its a Phoenix.

TB13 · Oct 16, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTP04

Yeah, its a Phoenix.

Alright, I was using the wrong tool. I will give it another shot tomorrow after school.

bgdwiepp · Oct 16, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by davtylica

Does anyone know if it is safe to clean the bottom side of a processor with alcohol? For whatever reason my Xeon came with TIM caked on the bottom of one corner. I dont see why you shouldnt be able to do this without any consequences but i thought id make sure first.

Yeah, she'll be right mate, could probably get away with just rubbing it off with a coffee filter even.

MTP04 · Oct 16, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by TB13

Alright, I was using the wrong tool. I will give it another shot tomorrow after school.

Thanks TB13, I appreciate it.

[MOD] LGA775 Support For LGA771 Xeon CPUs

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