Adding Second Processor to a PowerEdge 1600SC

[CrazyAL]

My friend has a poweredge 1600SC and wants to upgrade it with a second processor. Has anyone out there done this? If so can you walk us through this? He would prefer to go with "after market" components since Dell is kinda pricey! Thanks in advance!

 

[redbeard1]

Dual processors generally need to be almost exactly the same to avoid problems. You may find a cpu that is the same speed, but if it isn't the same stepping, from the same factory, from similar dates, you can run into instability.

 

[BCinSC]

You have to get a VRM (voltage regulator module) for the second CPU. I had a matched pair of 933MHz P3s and had to order the VRM from Dell for like $15. You might find cheaper on evilbay, but there are variations of VRMs, thus beware.

 

[selene]

all you need to do is goto support.dell.com, post your service tag on their forum and their mod will tell you which vrm, model, etc. you'll need and you can call dell to order it or look for it on ebay

 

[BoberFett]

You don't need the same stepping. I put a retail Xeon 1.8 alongside the one that was already in my 1600SC and it works just fine.

 

[calais86]

I added a second 2.4GHz Xeon processor to my 1600SC. The P4 generation 1600's do not need a VRM added. Also, the added processor was a retail processor. HOWEVER, the retail fan/heatsink will not work. (They just don't fit.) For that you will need to go to dell. Don't quote me, but I think the heatsink/fan & two clips cost about $30. After that, the BIOS saw and added the second processor with no problems. What speed is the processor in your friend's 1600?

Also, if you have an OS already installed, you may have to make it SMP aware. (I was runing XP Pro and I had to do this via the system hardware info in control panel, but I don't recall exactly what I did at the moment.)

If you have any specific problems/questions, you can PM, but overall it is an easy process.

 

[BoberFett]

When I get home tonight I can dig up those part numbers for the heatsink/fan/clips that you'll need from Dell.

 

[fargazer]

On my PowerEdge 1600SC I have (bootable Intel utility) a 2.4GHz Xeon processor, CPUID 0F27. I see on Intel's site there are two spec numbers: SL6EP (core voltage 1.500V) and SL6K2 (core voltage 1.475V). Anyone know which of the two I need to get, or does it really matter? I suppose I can just remove the existing heatsink and read what's on the chip, but the machine is not in a very easy place to access.