Asrock X58 Supercomputer Xeon X5650 Help

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
jimbob200521

jimbob200521

Diamond Member
Apr 15, 2005
4,108
29
91
So I recently purchased a Xeon X5650 to upgrade from my i7 920 on my Asrock X58 Supercomputer motherboard. I read many places online (while not "officially" supported on Asrock's site) that this CPU would work in this motherboard. However, I'm having no luck. I cannot get the computer to boot when this CPU is installed. Any ideas guys? Any settings in the BIOS that would stop this CPU from working or anything I could try? Thanks in advance.
 
Y

YBS1

Golden Member
May 14, 2000
1,945
129
106
I'm assuming you've done this but just in case, make sure you're running the latest BIOS version (even if it's a beta). Also be sure to clear CMOS so that it is sure to load set-up defaults and not trying to carry over any settings from your 920. If this fails, you may have a dead CPU or incompatible board. Hopefully you still have your 920 to flash to newest if required. Can you find any evidence of someone actually running a Westmere Xeon in that board, or just people saying it should work? Though I'm also in the "should work" camp.
 
MongGrel

MongGrel

Lifer
Dec 3, 2013
38,466
3,067
121
Last edited:
MongGrel

MongGrel

Lifer
Dec 3, 2013
38,466
3,067
121
My bad, I didn't look at the CPU list close enough.

But it does sound like the bios to me.
 
Last edited:
V

.vodka

Golden Member
Dec 5, 2014
1,203
1,537
136
Latest bios should at the very least let the system POST, the i7 version of gulftown is supported.
 
jimbob200521

jimbob200521

Diamond Member
Apr 15, 2005
4,108
29
91
Ok so I've flashed multiple BIOS's via the i7 and the last time I flashed (the latest, of course) BIOS via the BIOS Instant Flash feature. Rebooted, shut down, installed new X5650, turned on, and violla: it worked. So I shut down, buttoned things up, and started up again and nothing. Very frustrating, been pissing with this for a couple hours now. I had it booted, verified it detected the CPU, etc. But when I shut down to close the computer up, it wouldn't boot again after that. Boots just fine with the i7 in it but only once successfully with the Xeon in it which to me confirms the CPU is good. Thoughts on this noggin scratcher? I find it hard to believe that successful boot was a "fluke".
 
Y

YBS1

Golden Member
May 14, 2000
1,945
129
106
Ok, this may help but I won't be able to give you an exact setting which will be the magic bullet. Try clearing CMOS again and get it to post if you can. If it posts, go into BIOS and only change ACHI/IDE/RAID to whatever you need it to be, save, restart. Then if it posts again, go back into set-up a change a couple more, rinse, repeat, until your finished. I had an X5675 that was very picky like this, whereas my 920 and 5670 were easy to deal with.
 
jimbob200521

jimbob200521

Diamond Member
Apr 15, 2005
4,108
29
91
I'm beginning to wonder if it's something with the CPU itself, perhaps the weather it was shipped in. It's been cold here lately so I ran home from work once it was delivered and brought it inside. I removed it from its packaging and placed it on the counter to let it warm up while I went back to work. It was able to sit for several hours before I made it home to work with it. Perhaps condensation?

IDK at this point I'm about at whits end. Do I soak it in rubbing alcohol in a futile hope that there was something that was shorting out? Do I wait a day or two and try it again? Do I write it off? I have no other boards to try it in nor will I purchase one for this reason. I just with I had something I could do to figure out what is causing this.
 
jimbob200521

jimbob200521

Diamond Member
Apr 15, 2005
4,108
29
91
YBS1 said:
Ok, this may help but I won't be able to give you an exact setting which will be the magic bullet. Try clearing CMOS again and get it to post if you can. If it posts, go into BIOS and only change ACHI/IDE/RAID to whatever you need it to be, save, restart. Then if it posts again, go back into set-up a change a couple more, rinse, repeat, until your finished. I had an X5675 that was very picky like this, whereas my 920 and 5670 were easy to deal with.
Click to expand...

Can I ask if there was a specific reason you suggested first to change the ACHI/IDE/RAID settings?

Edit: I still find it hard to wrap my head around that it booted one second, I turned it off, then upon reboot (without changing any hardware) it wouldn't boot. All I did was secure the heatsink down, screw in the video card, and stand it up.

Any possible RAM issues it could be? I am running triple channel which should be good to go.
 
Y

YBS1

Golden Member
May 14, 2000
1,945
129
106
Like I said, not a magic bullet, but from what I can remember that was just the one in my specific case that seemed to cause the issue with the 5675. Seems like I remember it hanging if I changed anything else in addition to that setting upon initial setup with that particular CPU.
 
Y

YBS1

Golden Member
May 14, 2000
1,945
129
106
jimbob200521 said:
All I did was secure the heatsink down, screw in the video card, and stand it up.
Click to expand...

You know what, try removing the video card, inspect the pci-e slot just to make sure there is no odd debris or fuzz ball, and reseat it. Screwing it down might have jostled it.
 
jimbob200521

jimbob200521

Diamond Member
Apr 15, 2005
4,108
29
91
YBS1 said:
You know what, try removing the video card, inspect the pci-e slot just to make sure there is no odd debris or fuzz ball, and reseat it. Screwing it down might have jostled it.
Click to expand...

Tried that, even tried a different video card. No go :(
 
jimbob200521

jimbob200521

Diamond Member
Apr 15, 2005
4,108
29
91
YBS1 said:
Like I said, not a magic bullet, but from what I can remember that was just the one in my specific case that seemed to cause the issue with the 5675. Seems like I remember it hanging if I changed anything else in addition to that setting upon initial setup with that particular CPU.
Click to expand...

I'll have to give that a shot tomorrow when I have more time to play with it. I just (once again, like a broken record) don't know why it'd boot fine then not boot the very next time I pressed the power button. I get finicky but that's a bit extreme!
 
mysticjbyrd

mysticjbyrd

Golden Member
Oct 6, 2015
1,363
3
0
My x5650 did something similar. I installed it, it failed to post, I reset CMOS with the jumper. Then I got into settings, and started overclocking it. Didn't have an issue after that. It's currently running at 4.4ghz in my system right now.

I think I disabled xmp, and set the QPI to 4.8 to start with.
 
V

.vodka

Golden Member
Dec 5, 2014
1,203
1,537
136
Clean the CPU's pads with an eraser, get them shiny again if they're a dull gold color. Worth a shot..

EDIT: You mentioned you secured the heatsink after that successful first POST, maybe you overtightened it? This is known to screw with 1366 platforms, memory channels stop working, among other issues.
 
Last edited:
jimbob200521

jimbob200521

Diamond Member
Apr 15, 2005
4,108
29
91
mysticjbyrd said:
My x5650 did something similar. I installed it, it failed to post, I reset CMOS with the jumper. Then I got into settings, and started overclocking it. Didn't have an issue after that. It's currently running at 4.4ghz in my system right now.

I think I disabled xmp, and set the QPI to 4.8 to start with.
Click to expand...

I will have to give that a shot, I was going to mess with QPI settings but I wasn't sure if I set it to 4.8 or 6.4 or whatever while the i7 was still in it would mess with the i7 if I had to put that back in. So a CPU will run at a lower than rated QPI?

.vodka said:
Clean the CPU's pads with an eraser, get them shiny again if they're a dull gold color. Worth a shot..

EDIT: You mentioned you secured the heatsink after that successful first POST, maybe you overtightened it? This is known to screw with 1366 platforms, memory channels stop working, among other issues.
Click to expand...

I thought about that in regards to the heatsink but I don't think that's it, for several reasons. First, the i7 works the first time every time I insert it whether I clip the heatsink or just set it on. Second, the heatsink clips to a mount that is secured to the motherboard so it's hard to "over tighten" it, so to speak. Third, I've gone down that road just a bit and have tried starting it without the heatsink even on it (one finger on the CPU, one on the power switch in case it got too hot).

Would cleaning the CPU pads with an eraser be any better than with rubbing alcohol on a Q-tip? That's what I tried but I'm open to about anything at this point, I will give it a shot tonight.
 
Denithor

Denithor

Diamond Member
Apr 11, 2004
6,298
23
81
Strip down to just boot essentials: motherboard, CPU, 1 stick RAM. When I set up my X5650 system it wasn't happy with my RAM, would only recognize a single stick in a specific slot (any stick but only one slot functioned correctly to even boot). Once I got into the setup, added a little extra RAM voltage and suddenly everything worked great. So if it still won't boot, move the RAM stick around to different sockets and see if you can find one that works. I also make it a general policy to do my initial builds open air on a desk so it's easy to swap parts around, etc. Once everything is working I transplant into the case.
 
Burpo

Burpo

Diamond Member
Sep 10, 2013
4,223
473
126
You got any screenshots of bios from your AsRock X58? You didn't have any issues using Xeons did you?
 
Burpo

Burpo

Diamond Member
Sep 10, 2013
4,223
473
126
Sorry for your issues.. I was hoping BTRY B 529th FA BN would chime in and maybe post some screenshots of his settings, or talk about his experience with AsRock X58, that's all. You can sell the Xeon to me if it doesn't work out for you. ():)
 
jimbob200521

jimbob200521

Diamond Member
Apr 15, 2005
4,108
29
91
Burpo said:
Sorry for your issues.. I was hoping BTRY B 529th FA BN would chime in and maybe post some screenshots of his settings, or talk about his experience with AsRock X58, that's all. You can sell the Xeon to me if it doesn't work out for you. ():)
Click to expand...

I suppose I could still post a few screenshots of my BIOS but at this point it's not going to make much of a difference, I'm afraid.

If you are serious about the Xeon, shoot me a PM and we'll figure something out. At this point I have nothing to lose.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom