Did you have to go into the BIOS to do the Quad install? I would buy an EX490 if I could install a QUAD without the additional cost of accessing the BIOS. The cost of the Quad is bad enough:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... Tpk=Q9550S

Almost the cost of the EX490 whne it was on sale last week for $389

No Bios tweak necessary. Just open up and pop the processor in. It works like a charm. It is definately a performance boost. Also if you have extra money pick up a 4gb memory module to compliment the processor.
There is a add in called Admin Console that has temperatures of the internal hard drives.

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HP Mediasmart Server EX495 (18TB)
Intel Q9550S 2.83 GHz Processor
8TB HDD (4 x 2TB Hitachi Deskstar's)
4GB Memory (Kingston KVR800D2N6/4G)
Sans Digital Towerraid TR5UT eSata
10TB HDD (5 x 2TB Hitachi Deskstar's)

I have been wanting a EX490 to play with. Now I wish I had purchased last week when they were $389. Did not know you could just put in a Quad and it would work. Thanks

Thats probably better than my i5, since it is one of the Dual core i5 Processors.

My Q9550S is running at 72C when pushed. All 4 cpus are showing 80-95% use and the 4 GB of RAM is showing 47% use - it's busy converting videos and has been for 18 hours. On occasion the EX495 spins up to high to cool it down. When idle the CPU runs about 47C. Server response is sluggish but not catatonic like it was with the stock CPU and RAM doing the same task.

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- Tom

Are we quite sure that a 95 W CPU is too much for the HP MMS???

Found the answer, looks like the server reboots at 100 degrees C, so it would not work

I have QX9650 130W running smoothly at 48 degree idle at my ex490 and runs greatly everything I throw at it. Converting videos bushes it to max raising the temps to 64 degree as seen on picture.

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EX470 - upgraded Athlon 64 LE-1660, 2GB memory, 3 TB
EX490 - upgraded intel Core 2 Extreme Processor QX9650, 4Gt Kingston, 5 TB
DIY CoolerMaster Stacker - ASUS MS-7125, Processor AMD 3500+, 2GB Memory, 450GB - Dedicated to downloads

My Ex495 works like a ... turtle. Thats Why I purchsed a G skill 4gb module and a Xeon L3360 (almost as same as Q9550s) and a cable to tweak bios. I did not installed them yet sice caple did not arrived yet. I'll post some news as soon as I upgrade. My server keeps using 100% of stock CPU for more than 15 days. Now it's turned off.

You don't need to "tweak" anything in the BIOS to run an upgraded cpu and memory module. Just install them, power on the MSS, let it fully boot, then restart it one more time. After one or two restarts, it should recognize your new hardware just fine. Mine did it with one single restart, and has been running great ever since.

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EX490 w/ a Q9300 processor and stock RAM
Stock Seagate System Drive
(3) 1TB Samsung Spinpoint F3 7200rpm storage pool drives
Gen3 Debug Board (all connections)

How many hard drives are you guys running? I was using the q9300s with 3 hard drives for months with no problem. After I installed my 4th hard drive I was getting unexpected shut downs. When I switched back to my stock CPU, the issue went away. Either the power supply cannot handle the load or mine is just bad.

Tks. I hope I can upgrade tomorow. I'll let you know.

I'm running a full power Q9300, have all hard drive bays occupied with non-eco friendly 7200rpm drives, and don't have a single problem. If I remember correctly, the power supply is a 150W unit (don't quote me on that), and when I put a power meter on my MSS, I monitored 35-100W max. That's from idle to full load, so the stock power supply should be plenty enough to handle your setup with no problem. I would say that you are either running into a temperature issue, or a failing power supply.

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EX490 w/ a Q9300 processor and stock RAM
Stock Seagate System Drive
(3) 1TB Samsung Spinpoint F3 7200rpm storage pool drives
Gen3 Debug Board (all connections)

This is beginning to sound like the good old days with the ex470 and LE-1640 procs.
Some worked great while others locked up.
To me it seems to suggest we are approaching the limits of the hardware.
Either the power supply or the systems ability to shed enough heat.

It exciting to see these very powerfull CPU's in these little power house systems
GO HP!

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Current DIY server DL380 G6 2xquad core 2.8ghz 32GB rdimm ram 512mb 2xHP 410 raid with 2x sas expanders (2 X norco RPC-4220) 48 slots stacked with room to grow.
30TB (Movie/File/Music)Win 2012 essentials 64bit Storage spaces
Ex490 E6400 4gb ram

Finnaly I upgraded my cpu and RAM. Now i've got my Xeon L3360 (AS5) and GSkill 4gb running perfectlly. Outside the case tem reached 92 degrees Celsius. I got a little scared. I performed some changes on bios. I did not need to change anything to it recognize CPU and memory. I tryed to disable serial and parallel ports but system did not boot. I choose the memory fsb to 800 mhz. After my setup I placed motherboard into the case. I placed the case inside a open front and end furniture where I place my AV equipment (several het producer equipment). The server case is besides 3 no-breaks (1.2, 1.3 and 1.4 kva) and on the back of a Linksys NAS 200. My server is now with 3 hds. Its running for some 6 hours now. Its copying 1.5tb of videos from NAS200. Temperature now is stabilezed at 55 degress Celsius. CPU utilization 5% (before upgrade wass always 100%), Memory utilizatio is 26%. I run a D-Link DIR 655 wireless gigabit router.

I have been following this thread for some time now and thinking about pulling the trigger on the CPU upgrade. While some of the quys are using the quad core low power cpu which are expensive. How this one Q8400 Processor BX80580Q8400