EVGA X58 and an i7 920 @3.7Ghz ...for now.

[jsfitz54]

Ok stupid question time... is this image showing the northbridge or the cpu?

Northbridge, not CPU.

 

[Sasqui]

Northbridge, not CPU.

That's what I was seeing from your image. Got some digging to do tonight

 

[Sasqui]

What you se there is the CPU socket on the mother where the cpu are putted in. Here is a overlay of your motherboard where the parts are placed.

That's what I thought too, but it turns out the diagram is showing the NB!

 

[stinger608]

@stinger608 ...you're in this thread:

http://forums.evga.com/m/tm.aspx?m=2068568&p=1

Was a while ago, hoping to pick your brain. I've got a rev 1.1 of the board, it says so on the PCB. BIOS says 13 for the northbrigde. Anyway, the diagram for the mod is quite a bit different than my board, the two resistor locatiins they show are actually between the RAM slots on mine. Grrr....

Edit: Here's the diagram that looks very different from my board. What's really weird is the area printed with "132-BL-E758" is the same!

If my memory is correct, I just ended up flashing to the V83 bios, installing the Xeon 5639 and it all showed up correctly and away I went. LOL. I'm quite sure I never did any kind of solder mod to allow the Xeon hex core to been seen.

 

[jsfitz54]

See this page: post #2345 and next 2.
http://www.overclock.net/t/1461359/...cussion-and-xeon-l5639-benchmarks-inside/2340

FROM EVGA SITE:
* Westmere processors are only supported natively on the X58 SLI3, FTW3, and Classified3 Models. A product modification may be needed for older models.

X58 Series Motherboard (LGA 1366)

• Gulftown
  • Core i7 990X - 3.46 GHz **
  • Core i7 980X - 3.33 GHz **
  • Core i7 980 - 3.33 GHz **
  • Core i7 970 - 3.20 GHz **
• Bloomfield
  • Core i7 975 - 3.33 GHz
  • Core i7 965 - 3.20 GHz
  • Core i7 960 - 3.20 GHz
  • Core i7 950 - 3.06 GHz
  • Core i7 940 - 2.93 GHz
  • Core i7 930 - 2.80 GHz
  • Core i7 920 - 2.66 GHz
  • Xeon W3580 - 3.33 GHz
  • Xeon W3570 - 3.20 GHz
  • Xeon W3540 - 2.93 GHz
  • Xeon W3530 - 2.80 GHz
  • Xeon W3520 - 2.66 GHz
• Gainestown
  • Xeon W5590 - 3.33 GHz
  • Xeon W5580 - 3.20 GHz
  • Xeon L5530 - 2.40 GHz
  • Xeon E5507 - 2.27 GHz
  • Xeon E5503 - 2.00 GHz
• Nehalem
  • Xeon X5570 - 2.93 GHz
  • Xeon X5550 - 2.66 GHz
  • Xeon L5520 - 2.26 GHz
  • Xeon L5506 - 2.13 GHz
  • Xeon E5540 - 2.53 GHz
  • Xeon E5530 - 2.40 GHz
  • Xeon E5520 - 2.26 GHz
  • Xeon E5506 - 2.13 GHz
  • Xeon E5504 - 2.00 GHz
• * Westmere
  • Xeon X5690 - 3.46 GHz
  • Xeon X5680 - 3.33 GHz
  • Xeon X5677 - 3.46 GHz
  • Xeon X5670 - 2.93 GHz
  • Xeon X5667 - 3.06 GHz
  • Xeon X5660 - 2.80 GHz
  • Xeon X5650 - 2.66 GHz
  • Xeon L5640 - 2.27 GHz
  • Xeon L5630 - 2.13 GHz
  • Xeon E5649 - 2.53 GHz
  • Xeon E5645 - 2.40 GHz
  • Xeon E5640 - 2.67 GHz
  • Xeon E5630 - 2.53 GHz
  • Xeon E5620 - 2.40 GHz
  • Xeon E5607 - 2.27 GHz
  • Xeon E5606 - 2.13 GHz
  • Xeon E5603 - 1.60 GHz
• * Westmere processors are only supported natively on the X58 SLI3, FTW3, and Classified3 Models. A product modification may be needed for older models.
• ** Latest BIOS update is necessary to run

 

[Sasqui]

Ok, I'm going senile lol. I was looking in the wrong place and misread the numbers. I was assuming the diagram was showing the CPU socket!

Here's the location on the board (kitty with x-ray eyes):

And a close-up:

So... R538 need to be moved to the open contacts at R539 (red arrow in pic)

Does R538 then need to remain open? I read some conflicting information in some forums about that.

Someone else mentioned they literally pushed R538 over to R539 by nudging it with a soldering tip. Sounds like a good idea to me, the thing is frikking TINY!!!

If my memory is correct, I just ended up flashing to the V83 bios, installing the Xeon 5639 and it all showed up correctly and away I went. LOL. I'm quite sure I never did any kind of solder mod to allow the Xeon hex core to been seen.

I guess at this point I should go ahead and grab an X5670 on eBay and try it. If it fails, I'll try the mod.

 

[jsfitz54]

So... R538 need to be moved to the open contacts at R539 (red arrow in pic)

Does R538 then need to remain open? I read some conflicting information in some forums about that.

Someone else mentioned they literally pushed R538 over to R539 by nudging it with a soldering tip. Sounds like a good idea to me, the thing is frikking TINY!!!

My understanding is that you move the resistor and then the other spot remains open. Some cleanup may need to be done so no stray solder can cause any issues.

TINY is right, I had thought about buying something like these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tenma-21-82...262999?hash=item33c63dad97:g:a6AAAOSw241Yb3R7

 

[Sasqui]

My understanding is that you move the resistor and then the other spot remains open. Some cleanup may need to be done so no stray solder can cause any issues.

TINY is right, I had thought about buying something like these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tenma-21-82...262999?hash=item33c63dad97:g:a6AAAOSw241Yb3R7

I have another project that might benefit from a pair of those.

Yes random leftover solder isnt a good thing

 

[jsfitz54]

Yes random leftover solder isnt a good thing

My other thought about how to do the job would be to use solder wick to remove the resistor and solder, then salvage the resistor (trying not to loose it) and use something like this to re-solder:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004RIF3BM/?tag=tec06d-20

Have you contacted EVGA to see if they still do the modification?

 

[Sasqui]

Have you contacted EVGA to see if they still do the modification?

I think they still do, at least some chatter from 2014 I read. It was $50 or $60 + shipping charges.

I do have soldering experience and am going to try it. My hands aren't as steady as they used to be and my eyes are stiffening up but I can swing it, lol

 

[Hokum]

Hey nice to see another Westmere user, just noticed this thread, I'd suggest a w3680, their unlocked and i'm running at 4.4ghz with 1.25v core as my daily machine.

Not seen anything yet that would make me upgrade. Oh i'm on an X58A-OC so no need for the mods here sorry I can't help with that
.

 

[Sasqui]

Hey nice to see another Westmere user, just noticed this thread, I'd suggest a w3680, their unlocked and i'm running at 4.4ghz with 1.25v core as my daily machine.

Not seen anything yet that would make me upgrade. Oh i'm on an X58A-OC so no need for the mods here sorry I can't help with that
.

Now that's one I don't see on the supported list above (see post #55 @jsfitz54 ). ... whats up with that?

I looked it up and it's got only 1 QPI link, but all else looks quite similar.

 

[f22a4bandit]

Wow, I've got that same mobo running an i7 960 right now! I've tried to overclock my chip on occasion, but couldn't keep it stable with even a mild bump. Glad to see you've had success!

 

[Sasqui]

Wow, I've got that same mobo running an i7 960 right now! I've tried to overclock my chip on occasion, but couldn't keep it stable with even a mild bump. Glad to see you've had success!

The Xeon X5600 series are easily getting 4 - 4.5 Ghz on these boards. That's 6 cores / 12 threads and 12Mb cache. Monsterous! I'm planning to do the resistor mod this weekend to accept the Xeon.

Do you have this?: EVGA X58 132-BL-E758-A1

Edit: I see you have the EVGA x58 sli 132-BL-E758-RX. I think you could drop $40 on an X5660 and see a lot more than your 960. ...No mod should be needed.

 

[stinger608]

I'm planning to do the resistor mod this weekend to accept the Xeon.

Bro, I'd just update the bios and try a hex core in it. I sure believe that is all I did back then.

 

[Sasqui]

Bro, I'd just update the bios and try a hex core in it. I sure believe that is all I did back then.

I'm so impatient... you're right I think I will. ...just got out some soldering tools and looking at practicing on and old aBit board it's torture lol.

 

[stinger608]

I'd give a shot anyhow man. It will either boot or it won't.

 

[jaggerwild]

@ Sasqui,
The link stated he used solder and a iron and nudged the resistor till it came out, not over to the other resistor spot. R 538 and R539 should be empty

 

[Sasqui]

@ Sasqui,
The link stated he used solder and a iron and nudged the resistor till it came out, not over to the other resistor spot. R 538 and R539 should be empty

Link?

 

[Sasqui]

Ok, small update. My X5670 is supposed to arrive today (that was quick)

I took a dead Dell motherboard and tried to see if I could move a resistor that measures about 2mm long by 1mm wide.

• First try was with a pencil type soldering iron. Lesson learned? Don't try it.
• Second try was with a very nice pair of tweezers, heated up with a mapp gas torch. I grab the resistor by both ends, it melts the solder and easily removed. I place it on the target traces before the tweezers cool off. Worked about 60% of the time. 60% doesn't give me a high level of confidence! This is with a 10x jewelers loupe in one eye.

Not sure what to try next...

 

[Sasqui]

Put the X5670 in, press power button, MB LED Code FF instantly, no beep, nothing on screen.

Can one bloody millimeter resistor make all that difference??? <- Rhetoric question lol.

I'm going to buy this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IU6EL2I/?tag=tec06d-20

 

[dorsetknob]

I'm going to buy this:

neat gadget
You could also use it afterwards to caulterise those troublesome Zits

 

[Sasqui]

neat gadget

Didn't you suggest that? I looked thru this thread didn't see it but I recall someone posting a pic of that

 

[dorsetknob]

Sorry not me cannot claim credit for that but will claim credit for alternate use ^^^^^^^

 

[basco]

i cannot recommend this tool because its to bulky for such work.
i could not even hold such small resistor with it.
just a good soldering iron(like Ersa) with small tip and good cleaning before with isoprop or other
and maybe get a magnification glass.