Reading Xeon sSpec codes before you buy a used chip
How to read the etched lines on a used LGA 771 Xeon from a listing photo, tell C0 from E0, spot qualification samples, and what to ask the seller first. Keep reading »
Retro & Legacy Hardware
LGA 775 and LGA 771 platforms, Core 2 and Xeon chips, chipsets, memory and the old machines worth keeping alive.
Latest in Retro & Legacy Hardware
CPU coolers that still fit LGA 775
LGA 775 uses 72 mm hole spacing, not the 75 mm of later Intel sockets. How to read socket lists, push pins versus backplates, and height and RAM clearance. Keep reading »
Running retro Windows on old hardware: installers, drivers and what still works
Installing Windows XP, Vista or 7 on Core 2 era hardware: AHCI vs IDE mode, F6 drivers and nLite, activation today, driver archives and keeping the machine offline. Keep reading »
DDR2 vs DDR3 on LGA 775 boards: what your chipset can really use
Which LGA 775 chipsets take DDR2, DDR3 or both, the real capacity limits per chipset, the 4 GB module trap, and when DDR3 actually helps an FSB system. Keep reading »
Overclocking a Xeon on an LGA 775 board: FSB, straps and stable settings
How to overclock a locked Harpertown Xeon on an LGA 775 board through the FSB: straps, memory ratios, voltages in plain terms and how to prove it is stable. Keep reading »
The SATA SSD upgrade for old desktops, done properly
Why an SSD transforms an old desktop even on a SATA 3 Gb/s port, plus AHCI mode, cloning vs a clean install, TRIM, mounting, power adapters and checks. Keep reading »
Is a Core 2 Quad PC still useful? Honest jobs for an LGA 775 machine
What an LGA 775 Core 2 Quad or modded Xeon PC still does well, where it falls short, and which upgrades are worth doing before you retire it. Keep reading »