Intel Xeon L5238
Runs in an LGA 775 board only with the adapter sticker, the socket tabs removed and BIOS support for its core. How the mod works.
Intel Xeon L5238: 2-core, 2.66 GHz, Wolfdale, LGA 771, 1333 MT/s FSB, 6 MB (shared) L2, 35 W TDP.
The L5238 sits at 35 W while running 2.66 GHz from a 1333 MT/s bus and a multiplier of 8, with 6 MB of shared L2 on 45 nm. ARK lists its vertical segment as Embedded, and its Tcase is 71 °C. The catch for a desktop build: the table lists no Enhanced SpeedStep, so the chip lacks Intel's clock and voltage scaling. VID runs 0.85 V to 1.35 V, launch was Q1 2008, and it comes in C0 (CPUID 10676, SLANM) and E0 (CPUID 1067A, SLBAZ). With VT-x and SSE4.1, which some newer software expects, it suits a cool, compact LGA 775 machine that does a bit of everything.
| Family | Xeon |
|---|---|
| Codename | Wolfdale |
| Socket | LGA 771 |
| Cores / threads | 2 / 2 |
| Base clock | 2.66 GHz |
| Front-side bus | 1333 MT/s (333 MHz base clock) |
| Multiplier | 8x |
| L2 cache | 6 MB (shared) |
| TDP | 35 W |
| Process | 45 nm |
| Launch | Q1 2008 |
| Dual-socket capable | Yes |
| VT-x | Yes |
| SSE4.1 | Yes |
| Enhanced SpeedStep | No |
| Max case temperature | 71 °C |
| Voltage range (VID) | 0.85 V to 1.35 V |
Steppings and microcode IDs
| Stepping | CPUID | sSpec |
|---|---|---|
| C0 | 10676 | SLANM |
| E0 | 1067A | SLBAZ |
A BIOS needs a microcode update matching the CPUID (and, for Xeons, the LGA 771 platform ID). See LGA 771 Xeon microcode and how to read your stepping.
Mod notes
Sticker, two cut tabs and microcode for CPUID 10676 and 1067A with the LGA 771 platform ID are the whole recipe, and the board must already list 45 nm Core 2 Duo support at 1333 MT/s. Dump the current BIOS with the board maker's tool before flashing, so a bad write does not leave you with a dead board.
Check a specific board with the LGA 771 to 775 compatibility checker.