Intel Xeon X5450
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 X5450: 4-core, 3.0 GHz, Harpertown, LGA 771, 1333 MT/s FSB, 12 MB (2 x 6 MB) L2, 120 W TDP.
Clock and bus match the E5450, 3.0 GHz on 1333 MT/s, but the X5450 is rated 120 W, a higher heat rating for the same speed. In an LGA 775 board that means the regulators and the cooler must be sized for 120 W, and ARK allows a Tcase of only 63 °C at the center of the lid. Inside are 12 MB of L2, SSE4.1, VT-x and Enhanced SpeedStep. Steppings are C0 SLASB, CPUID 10676, and E0 SLBBE, CPUID 1067A. If the board's power delivery is modest, the E5450 is the easier fit.
| Family | Xeon |
|---|---|
| Codename | Harpertown |
| Socket | LGA 771 |
| Cores / threads | 4 / 4 |
| Base clock | 3 GHz |
| Front-side bus | 1333 MT/s (333 MHz base clock) |
| Multiplier | 9x |
| L2 cache | 12 MB (2 x 6 MB) |
| TDP | 120 W |
| Process | 45 nm |
| Launch | Q4 2007 |
| Dual-socket capable | Yes |
| VT-x | Yes |
| SSE4.1 | Yes |
| Enhanced SpeedStep | Yes |
| Max case temperature | 63 °C |
| Voltage range (VID) | 0.85 V to 1.35 V |
Steppings and microcode IDs
| Stepping | CPUID | sSpec |
|---|---|---|
| C0 | 10676 | SLASB |
| E0 | 1067A | SLBBE |
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
Closest LGA 775 desktop chip: Core 2 Quad Q9650 (3 GHz, 1333 MT/s, 12 MB (2 x 6 MB)). A board that lists it is the best sign it can run the Xeon X5450.
A 120 W chip needs a board whose power delivery is up to it, on top of 45 nm Core 2 quad support. Fit the sticker, cut both key tabs, and add microcode for 10676 and 1067A with the LGA 771 platform ID. A sticker seated even slightly crooked can stop the board from starting or damage it.
Check a specific board with the LGA 771 to 775 compatibility checker.