Thanks for the suggestion. I had stumbled across this last night and tried it several different ways, and it still didn't work.

1) From my laptop connected to the same home LAN as my server, I access my MediaSmart Server Homepage, and log into my Home Server Console. From here, I go to the Shared Software folder on the server, where I have another folder containing "winflash". I am succesfull in changing the file atributes and UNLOCKING. When I try and run the file - whihc it appears to momentarily run - I still quickly get the popup: "OnBoard BIOS not Award BIOS".
2) I also tried connecting using the 'Remote Desktop Connection'. I was able to successfully access the server via this connection, but recieved the same results as above. Also, when I tried to change the "winflash zipped" file atributes to "unlock" so that I might try to unzip the file and get different results while in Remote Desktop, using the "right click" - I get an immediate pop up telling me :"Your current security settings do not allow this action".


All of the other needed files in your instuctions unzipped succesfully - creating the two needed ".bin" files and another executable file that produces the results in your instructions. I even turned off my lap top firewall - grasping at staws... I just can't seem to get this winflash to work!
Any other suggestions?

Thanks

Step 1 is invalid, you must use Remote Desktop as you describe in Step 2. Copy the file to the server desktop, then unblock.

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Alex Kuretz
Remote Notification: Monitoring and alerting for your Home Server via email, Twitter, text message, RSS, push notifications, and on your Mac desktop
Have you tried our Add-Ins?

It worked! Thank you so much. I won't be able to actually do my CPU upgrade for about 10 days - but upon completion - I'll post my results!

Been reading through the thread and decided its time to do a CPU upgrade on my aging EX470 (did the 2GB mem upgrade awhile ago, didn't realize there's now a 4gb upgrade so I'll have to try that). My EX470 was having trouble transcoding via PlayOn and their support says my CPU just doesn't have enough horsepower (that's one of the reason driving this upgrade). My issue now is that I can't find the ADD4200 processor anywhere which seems to be the recommended one. If I've been reading correctly the here: http://www.homeserverhacks.com/2008/03/ ... -with.html will work for the physical upgrade portion and then instructions in this thread will handle the BIOS upgrade... I just need a place to purchase the ADD4200 from. Any recommendations? or is there another donor CPU that's easier to find?

I completed my CPU upgrade, and the system works flawlessly! It's a different machine. I ordered the AMD Athalon 64 4200+ (ADD4200IAA5DOE) on-line from AVNET, and it arrived last week. It wasn't cheap - about $152 + shipping - but it arrived in 3 days. I am using 2 GB of memory since I did the memory upgrade a couple of years ago.

The CPU is running between 35 - 40 C, so heat has not been a problem. It's actually running COOLER than witht the stock processor, and its only been 4 days. I used the Arctic Silver 5 application method recommended on their web site that was specific to the AMD processor. According to Arctic Silver, the heat sink takes about 200 hours - and severel heat/cool cycles - to get to the final optimized conductiviity - so I am very happy with the interim results.

The price seems a "bit" high... and when I checked earlier today they were showing as out of stock, and to top it off it looks like the price has gone up. $198.57 is the price currently showing.

I recently completed the AMD ATHLON 64 4200+ processor upgrade (see Current Configuration below) and my server continues to work flawlessly. What an unbelievable performance improvement! My CPU temperture now averages 28 degrees C - so heat is no problem. So while I'm on this "upgrade" bandwagon, I thought I might consider an additional memory upgrade. When I purchased my server, I upgraded memory from the stock 512 KB to a G.SKILL 2GB - and was very happy with the initial performance improvement. However, I see that you upgraded beyond the 2 GB threshold to the 4 GB G.Skill DDR2 800. How much of a differrence over the 2 GB - did this upgrade make? Where did you purchase the new memory?

Thanks!

Current Configuration: HP EX470 MediaSmart Server (purchased 11/30/2008); Version 3 software (upgraded 4/5/2010); 3.5 TB with three hard drives; G.SKILL 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Desktop Memory Model F2-5300CL4S-2GBPQ (upgraded 12/5/2008); AMD ATHLON 64 4200+ ADD4200IAA5DOE X2 2.2 GHz (upgraded 11/22/2010); BIOS (upgraded 11/19/2010);
MSS Fan Control (upgraded 11/19/2010);

Can anyone update me on what the currently tested and proven optimal upgrade CPU is? I have a co-worker selling an AMD X2 2.6 Ghz. AD05000IAA5DS. Will this work?

The greatest success has been with the 35W processors. The processor you're asking about is a 65W processor. It probably will not work due to heat issues.

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HP MSS EX490, Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300, 1TB System drive, 6TB Storage pool managed by StableBit DrivePool

Sorry, too much heat.

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EX 470, 4200+ 2.2ghz, 2 gig G-Skill RAM, BIOS mod, HP 3.0 upgrade, MSS Fan Control (1.0.0.9), Updated SiS191 NIC driver (v. 2.0.1039.1100), 4TB (1x 2TB Hitachi Deskstar, 1x 2TB Seagate Barracuda), Magic Jack as service, Perfect Disk 11.

With that said,

I've been offered 3 3800+s, but they are ADO versions as well. Will they make too much heat too? Everyone is talking about the ADD EE 35w versions a lot. But i can get 3 of the other ones for cheap.

Update: Specifically 2x ADA3800IAA5CU and ADO3600IAA5DD Brisbane
But now im pretty sure that the ADA will not work 89 watts seems a tad too high... but 65 seems do able
Will they not work either?

I registered JUST to ask this... Love the site, been lurking for years.

I wouldn't exceed a 45 Watt processor. Not even all the 45 Watt processors work for everyone.

If its more than 35W I wouldn't do it. Even at that, people are recommending using the MSS Fan Control add-in and watching the temp. I've never read aout anyone trying anything higher than 35W so I can't say for sure. If it were safe why not get a faster chip with the same (AM2) socket? You could get a 2.4ghz chip with 65W.

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EX 470, 4200+ 2.2ghz, 2 gig G-Skill RAM, BIOS mod, HP 3.0 upgrade, MSS Fan Control (1.0.0.9), Updated SiS191 NIC driver (v. 2.0.1039.1100), 4TB (1x 2TB Hitachi Deskstar, 1x 2TB Seagate Barracuda), Magic Jack as service, Perfect Disk 11.

There are some 45w processors that are known to work with the EX47x. I have BE2300's in my EX470's and I do have to run the Fan Speed Control Add-In available on this site to keep the CPU cool.

There are very few processors which are known to work with the EX47x and I would recommend using what is know to work. Also pay close attention to the entire processor part number, wattage and core to make very certain you purchase the correct processor. If its a duel core you will need to modify your BIOS if you have not already done so.

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Exploring the possibilities!

Migrated from WHS2011 to WS2012E: HIGHLANDER

~ Norco 4220 Enclosure
~ Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD5
~ AMD Phenom II X4 995 3.2 GHz
~ 8 GB Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
~ 3 Supermicro AOC-SASLP-MV8

I have successfully installed a ADD6650IAA5DO. Temp is fine and WHS seems to work great. Windows shows dual core. However the Bios doesnt show a Processor Model. I have applied the Bios patches as described in this post. Does anyone know if I need to do something else for this proc to show up correctly? Is there something I need to upgrade in Windows or a different patch for the bios to recongize this processor model. It does seem to work fine, just doesnt show the model.