T7910 processor support - E5-26xx v3 to E5-26xx v4

[Ditto]

When the Dell Precisions dual processor T7910 came out, it supported E5-26xx v3. Later models show them shipping with v4 chips. I think the older T7910 can support the newer processor following a BIOS update, but I'm struggling to be convinced from Dell's support site. Anyone know for sure?

[FN-GM]

It looks like the support was added in the A12 BIOS update (although this isn't the latest version anymore):

 

https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-au/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=jj0x8&oscode=wt64a&productcode=precision-t7910-workstation

 

- Supports Broadwell (v4) CPUs.

- The BIOS version A11 and all earlier releases are incompatible with Intel Xeon E5-16xx/26xx-v4 CPUs (Broadwell). To downgrade the BIOS from version A12 or later (minimum revision to support Broadwell) to versions earlier than A11, you must update the BIOS to version A11 first. It is due to some significant changes required to enable v4 (Broadwell) CPUs. This step also simultaneously enables Xeon E5-16XX/26XX v3 (Haswell) CPUs and v4 (Broadwell) CPUs BIOS to stay in one BIOS stream. All versions of the Broadwell CPU enabled BIOS (A12+) understand how to migrate the Haswell settings. There are no upgrade restrictions. It is the only v3 (Haswell) BIOS with v4 (Broadwell) downgrade logic in place.

 

 

A33 is the latest version of the BIOS:

 

https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-au/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=33h37&oscode=wt64a&productcode=precision-t7910-workstation

Edited January 20, 2021 by FN-GM

[ICTDirect_Dave]

These do support Xeon E5-V4 with the bios update, we've been selling them with V4 CPUs through Bargain Hardware for a while now. Most were V3 only so we had to do the update first.

[Ditto]

It looks like the support was added in the A12 BIOS update (although this isn't the latest version anymore):

 

https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-au/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=jj0x8&oscode=wt64a&productcode=precision-t7910-workstation

 

 

 

 

 

A33 is the latest version of the BIOS:

 

https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-au/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=33h37&oscode=wt64a&productcode=precision-t7910-workstation

Thanks. I has read that and had almost persuaded myself the same, but I think the focus on downgrading OS fogged my brain!

There is precedent on this. I have a T5500 that supported Xeon x54xx that after a BIOS upgrade supported x55xx chips - well worth the upgrade. I've had the monstrous machine for a good few years now. With more recent Dell Precisions increasingly hitting the second hand market, I'm considering a refresh. To be honest the T5500 still runs extremely well and I have it highly loaded with twin processor and a ton of RAM. With SSD in place, it's runs smooth. Keeps the room warm too when pushed! It's biggest drawback now is PCIe gen 2 support so can't get best performance out of nVME. It's overkill as would be a T7910, but picking up bargain ex-corporate tanks is fun! I have picked up a T7610 for peanuts, which gets you to gen 3 PCIe, but it's a bit too big (physically) and the T7910 looks tempting are increasingly competitively priced - also opens up DDR4.

[Ditto]

These do support Xeon E5-V4 with the bios update, we've been selling them with V4 CPUs through Bargain Hardware for a while now. Most were V3 only so we had to do the update first.

Thanks. I have seen yours on sale. As it's hobbyist, I tend to buy at more risk on ebay (so far I've been lucky and no problems), but if I was in school, I'd certainly be visiting your company for second user Dells of this sort. I think the only fault I've it on my T5500 in a good few years of use, is the 2nd CPU fan failed. BIOS boot up very nicely told me so. I got a replacement fan for about £10 and all good since.