Intel CPU and Board Compatibility Tool

If there are ever any doubts on whether a particular CPU will work with a specific motherboard, the Intel Processors and Boards Compatibility Tool is the site to check with.

We are looking at updating the DX38BT based QX9650 Core 2 Extreme system here in the shop with an Intel Core I7-875K Processor.

And the results are:

Given that the I7-875K is unlocked so that we can change the bus and clock frequencies to tweak the CPU’s performance, it is our preference to look for an Extreme series board.

We end up with either the DP55SB or the KP55KG.

Now, we need to have two PCI-E x16 slots available for the dual ATI Sapphire 3870 x2 video cards (yeah, a little dated but they run 4 monitors really well).

Both boards have PCI-E 16x slots that share bandwidth with the primary PCI-E 8x slot if something gets plugged into them. Since we are not gaming, there is no real need for the extra bandwidth.

The catch for this situation though is that we also have a SoundBlaster X-Fi PCI series soundcard in this system. Thus, we need a legacy PCI slot to plug the sound card into. So, the DP55KG will fit the bill.

In the end, we will have replaced just the board and CPU and ended up with a good step up in overall system performance for a very reasonable cost.

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists
Co-Author: SBS 2008 Blueprint Book

*Our original iMac was stolen (previous blog post). We now have a new MacBook Pro courtesy of Vlad Mazek, owner of OWN.

Windows Live Writer

How A Capacitor Is Not Supposed To Look

This is on an Intel X38BT Extreme series motherboard:

There is something definitely growing on top of the one capacitor down near the video card and just to the right of the memory stick on the right. It is brown and crusty and reminds me of a barnacle.

The system and board happen to be running quite stable as it does run 24x7 with the occasional reboot for an update.

The situation was discovered when showing a client the internal workings of this particular system which just happens to be sitting on my desk.

An RMA request has been placed with Intel for a replacement which we should see tomorrow.

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists
Co-Author: SBS 2008 Blueprint Book

*Our original iMac was stolen (previous blog post). We now have a new MacBook Pro courtesy of Vlad Mazek, owner of OWN.

Windows Live Writer

Intel DX38BT Critical BIOS Update Available

Intel released a new BIOS update for the DX38BT Extreme motherboard.

This particular update is rather critical as it resolves a number of important issues.

• Intel DX38BT BIOS Updates
• Intel DX38BT BIOS Update 1554 Release Notes (PDF document)

This is definitely one update to add to the Technician's Thumb Drive.

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists

*All Mac on SBS posts are posted on our in-house iMac via the Safari Web browser.