ES Xeon Discussion

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zorg33

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Oct 19, 2022
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Hi!
I've been here in read-only mode for a few years now. I've done a lot of bios mods and hw mods in desktops and also servers.
But i'm lack of knowledge about how Intel ME restricts CPU support.
My desire lately is building a 4th gen dual Xeon rig with some cheap D0 stepping ES CPUs.
But I come with 2nd gen Xeon experiences and it surprises me that Supermicro and Asrock boards no longer support early ES's.
WHAT IF I simply desolder the 256MB flash chip from the X13DEI/DAI board and write in an unsigned modded BIOS that contains ES microcodes with a programmer?
We should really find a solution, guys :)
Update: hmm I guess the first problem is that we cannot decrypt a signed BIOS to see its contents?
 

RolloZ170

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Apr 24, 2016
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WHAT IF I simply desolder the 256MB flash chip from the X13DEI/DAI board and write in an unsigned modded BIOS that contains ES microcodes with a programmer?
the BIOS is checked at every power up by RoT mechanism. if validation fails the BIOS is restored from Backup(flashdisk)
this prevents the whole system for modifying of FW even with physical access. if there is a way it will be closed soon.
there are some unofficial early BIOS for some X13 boards with D0 ES support. but you have to stay on old buggy BIOS forever.
Update: hmm I guess the first problem is that we cannot decrypt a signed BIOS to see its contents?
it is not encrypted, it is signed with a Private Key (Cert,supermicro)
health checked with the Public Key.
there is a way for OEMs. you can sign the BIOS with your own cert key and provide the key to the SUM.efi to accept your OEM BIOS.
Afaik only supermicro can re-sign the BIOS.
 

zorg33

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Oct 19, 2022
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you go with Gigabyte MS73-HBx, latest BIOS still support D0 ES.
i run QYFP,QYFQ and more on MS33-AR0 BIOS F19 i.e.
Yes I already learned that but I had bad experience with buggy GB boards from the LGA3647 era. Might give it a chance again.
BTW are there any blade form LGA4677 boards available? I converted some blades from previous generations to standalone operation.
 

zorg33

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Oct 19, 2022
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check the step 4, E0 steppings, costs a little more but much better compatibility.
Q0KL i.e.
and did somebody test Asrock Spc741d8 if bios can be modded? (i know its single socket, but "very" cheap)

UPDATE: it has only ucode for 6F8, but does the board accept modded BIOS?
UPDATE2: With MC Extractor there are all ucodes 6F4, 6F5, 6F6, 6F8, so E0 earliest by stock BIOS, but can it be modded?
1700126393475.png
 

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dsp8913

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Jan 22, 2018
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What are the motherboard options now for the LGA4189 Ice Lake stepping C0 or stepping L0 ES CPUs? From this thread it appears that SuperMicro is a no go unless it's BIOS revision 1.0, except maybe X12DPi-N6 up to 1.1b? What about Gigabyte or ASUS?

I have an ASRock Rack SPCC621D8 and the C0/L0 ES CPUs work on BIOS 1.20 and 1.23, but nothing after that.

Looking for some guidance, thanks!
 

RolloZ170

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Apr 24, 2016
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UPDATE2: With MC Extractor there are all ucodes 6F4, 6F5, 6F6, 6F8, so E0 earliest by stock BIOS, but can it be modded?
as you can see on the ASRock Rack SPC621 series at some BIOS rev.
nonPRD stepping ES stopped working(not started by ME), but the microcodes are still there.
you can expect similar on SPC741 series.

there is only one way to find out !
i usualy buy motherboard and test/check this, but i am out after buying X13SEI, ASUS W790 and GB MS33-AR0 (buy and sell with loss of money)
 
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RolloZ170

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Apr 24, 2016
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What about Gigabyte or ASUS?
I have an ASRock Rack SPCC621D8 and the C0/L0 ES CPUs work on BIOS 1.20 and 1.23, but nothing after that.
ASUS do not have retail LGA4189 boards???.
Gigabyte MU72 can run step 4/5 ES up to some BIOS.
i got a cheap QWAT($199usd), runs on X12SPM-LN4F BIOS 1.6. i can stop now thinking about BIOS versions.
have now QVM7 for sale :cool:
 

MillionMiles

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Aug 22, 2023
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ICX ES QVM8 runs on Gigabyte MU72-SU0 and the latest bios F23.Gigabyte retains support for non-PRD steps

Should I use D0 ES to make it better?They're cheap now
aida64.PNGCB23.PNG
 

MillionMiles

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Aug 22, 2023
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QVM8 (C0) ES2 is as good as (D0) ES2 but mostly more power
No!I just had a fatal screen freeze, the keyboard and mouse screen was unresponsive, the audio continued to play, and the bmc and OS logs didn't give me any reports after the reset

All bios is the default. They have been running normally for 48 hours,I'll try to find the problem before I return it
 
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RolloZ170

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Apr 24, 2016
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No!I just had a fatal screen freeze, the keyboard and mouse screen was unresponsive, the audio continued to play, and the bmc and system logs didn't give me any reports after the reset

All bios is the default. They have been running normally for 48 hours
and you are sure that's ES issue ? have seen many reports like this with retail processors.
 

MillionMiles

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Aug 22, 2023
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if you want them to run on every motherboard step 6 D0 is your choice of course.
ES1 have the issue of loosing memory channels over time.
Very interesting, this es1 QV2G has been working for almost a year without problems (seller said),I'll replace it, all mem channels are good
Yes, anything can happen ,everything goes against the grain

1701007653277.png
 
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