I searched, but couldn't find any topics on this that were relatively recent.

1) What would be the preferred brand/model of RAM to upgrade an ex485 from 2GB -> 4GB?

2) Will both a RAM upgrade and a CPU upgrade (to a E5200) be plug-and-play with no other changes needed?

Thanks...

I'm a bit confused -- do you mean an EX495 (what your subject says) or an EX485 (what your message body says)?

Personally I have an EX487 and an EX490, and both I upgraded to an E5300 and 4GB of Patriot DDR2 6400 memory that I bought from Newegg. Since you're talking about "upgrading" to an E5200 (the stock processor of the EX495), I'm going to guess you're talking about an EX485.

I think the general consensus is that if you plan to change out the processor of an EX485 or EX487, you need to first apply the EX49x modded BIOS. Here's an excellent thread to get you started: viewtopic.php?p=80777

In that thread you'll notice I ask about whether it can be done without the debug cable. The answer is yes, it can, and I did it, but I recommend you just get the debug cable if you don't have one already. It WILL make your life much, much easier. With an $80 price tag it seems a bit much, but when your time is valuable, it pays for itself very quickly. I have one for both of my servers.

Once you've applied the modded BIOS to the EX485, you can go ahead and swap the processor. Several folks here have used quad-core processors without issue. Be careful with the quads, however, and try to favor the lower power ones (I think they end in "S" in their name like Q9550s instead of Q9950). Since the EX4xxx servers use passive cooling, the quads can get a bit toasty if you're not careful.

I'm very happy with the E5300s and they run Server 2012 very nicely. If you plan to do some heavy-duty media transcoding on your server or other processor intensive activities, then you may want to very strongly consider a quad-core. If your intent is for backups and otherwise light use, then an E5200 (which it sounds like you plan on using) should be just fine.

Upgrading the memory is plug and play. No other changes needed. If running WHS v1, which is 32-bit, you won't be able to use all the memory--you'll be capped at 3-3.25GB. Upgrading from a single-core Celeron in the EX48x series requires the BIOS mod. If you have an EX49x server, you can swap the processors without any BIOS mods.

Lastly, a reminder, make sure you get a debug cable if you don't have one. Trust me on this one. viewtopic.php?t=8066

Matt

_________________
Matt Sawyer
Owner, Dojo North Software, LLC

HP EX490, 4GB, E5300, 15TB - Server 2012 - Sharing and Streaming
HP EX487, 4GB, E5300, 13TB - Server 2012 Essentials - Backups

Thanks for the reply. You are correct, it's an ex485. I have corrected the title.

I'm confused about this auction:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-MediaSmart-S ... 20d02cd85d

as it states that this specific processor model is "plug-and-play" ...but I would still need to update the BIOS with a modified version?

The auction text also refers to an EX595 server. I don't think there is such a server. The E5200 is the stock server of the EX495, which is what I believe the auction poster meant.

The processor is, for the most part, plug and play. If used in an EX490, it is. No BIOS tweaks required. The EX485/487, unfortunately, had their BIOS pretty much locked so you were stuck with the Celeron. You must remember, when HP built these servers, they never intended for the end user to open them up and perform surgery on them. By simply removing the lid and popping out the disk backplane, you're effectively voiding the HP warranty. I voided my EX490's warranty about two weeks after I got the server--to upgrade the pitiful Celeron that was powering it.

The E5200 is a good fit for the EX485, definitely. But like I said, check over the posts I linked and follow the instructions carefully. Alex (yakuza) referenced this post, and I think it's an EXCELLENT start: http://www.mediasmarthome.com/article/1 ... B879AD2C7B

Matt

_________________
Matt Sawyer
Owner, Dojo North Software, LLC

HP EX490, 4GB, E5300, 15TB - Server 2012 - Sharing and Streaming
HP EX487, 4GB, E5300, 13TB - Server 2012 Essentials - Backups

Just so you know, the Smoke and Mirrors article indicates if you get the E5200 processor that uses the SLAY7 or QFHQ SSpec code, then NO BIOS change is required. Apparently this is because they are stepping M0 processors.

If you opt for an E5200 with SSpec code SLB9T, which is stepping R0, then you have more work in front of you.

When I google the processor part number, AT80571PG0602M, from the auction, the hits are coming back as SLB9T, so you would have to look into the BIOS upgrade.

_________________
Matt Sawyer
Owner, Dojo North Software, LLC

HP EX490, 4GB, E5300, 15TB - Server 2012 - Sharing and Streaming
HP EX487, 4GB, E5300, 13TB - Server 2012 Essentials - Backups

Hmmm...that is interesting. I will message the seller and check re: the SLAY7/QFHQ code.

Thanks.

Regarding RAM: are there limitations on which 4GB stick I choose?

I don't think you'll run into a RAM limitation. Mine is a DDR2 PC2-6400; technically I think the server's max speed is DDR2 PC2-5300 but the memory is able to run at the 5300 speed. As long as whatever you buy can accommodate that, you should be fine.

I'm interested in the seller's response. The SSpec code is major so hopefully he is absolutely clear in his response.

_________________
Matt Sawyer
Owner, Dojo North Software, LLC

HP EX490, 4GB, E5300, 15TB - Server 2012 - Sharing and Streaming
HP EX487, 4GB, E5300, 13TB - Server 2012 Essentials - Backups

I have a ex485 running a e5200 with m0 stepping, 4 gig ddr2 pc6400

Processors Information
Processor 1 ID = 0
Number of cores 2 (max 2)
Number of threads 2 (max 2)
Name Intel Pentium E5200
Codename Wolfdale
Specification Pentium(R) Dual-Core CPU E5200 @ 2.50GHz
Package (platform ID) Socket 775 LGA (0x0)

DIMM # 1
Size 4096 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC2-6400 (400 MHz)

_________________
EX485, 4gb ram
Intel® Pentium® Processor E5200 (2M Cache, 2.50 GHz, 800 MHz FSB)
4 1Tb drives
WHS 2011 64bit

Just an FYI.

Even with a SLAY7 e5200 processor you will have to modify the bios if you want full speed out of the processor. I know the writeup labeled removing the smoke and mirrors says otherwise but listen.

I did the exact upgrade two years ago, I bought a SLAY7 e5200 as directed

An e5200 SLAY7 is plug-n-play in the e487 - BUT, and a big BUT, it will not function at full capacity without the bios update.
So, the e5200 SLAY7 will work, but unless you flash the bios, the speed stepping will not work and the processor is locked at 1 speed multiplier.

I discovered this when after installing the new e5200 the server booted properly and was identified correctly but the server was slow. I installed a few cpu monitors and they all showed the processor, no matter the load never clocked itself up or down.

I flashed the bios, rebooted and immediately the server was significantly faster. This time the cpu monitoring software reported the processor clocking itself up and down with load.

So, in my opinion, get a SLAY7 if keeping the sleep function in WHS V1 is important to you, otherwise, get any compatible processor and plan on flashing the bios no matter what.

With the factory BIOS and speed stepping disabled on my system the speed of my e5200 SLAY7 stays at 2.5ghz and never changes, with speed stepping enabled it says at 1.2ghz, I dont know if it changes based on load or not.

Speed stepping disabled


speed stepping enabled
I have always had it disabled

_________________
EX485, 4gb ram
Intel® Pentium® Processor E5200 (2M Cache, 2.50 GHz, 800 MHz FSB)
4 1Tb drives
WHS 2011 64bit

Strange, I had the exact opposite experience. But looking at the comments in the removing the smoke and mirrors threat it seems common for people to share my experience. My processor is labeled SLAY7 but not al SLAY7's are the same I guess

interesting. the CPU is on the way, so i'll do some testing after installing it without a BIOS upgrade.

one more thing about RAM - is there any advantage to upgrading to 4GB if I am sticking with WHS v1? Or does the bump from 2 to 4GB only help if I move to WHS 2011?

The bump to 4GB is absolutely worth doing with WHS v1. Everything seems faster on my EX495 after installing 4GB of Patriot memory. It was $125 well spent.

This may be helpful as well, these is a 300 watt power supply available which may allow oen to run the higher wattage processors, the thread is http://www.mediasmartserver.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=13116

_________________
EX485, 4gb ram
Intel® Pentium® Processor E5200 (2M Cache, 2.50 GHz, 800 MHz FSB)
4 1Tb drives
WHS 2011 64bit

upgraded both, and i have the same issue as jeffla described - multiplier locked at 6x, even under full load (prime95 stress test).

is there any way to disable speed-stepping without the KVM add-on for the HP MSS?

edit: I found the method that uses AFUWIN 4.xx and AMIBCP 3.xx. Any potential issues with that method?