[workingclasshacker]

So I bought a CPU upgrade for O2. This CPU comes with a gigantic heat-sink, and fan, and is shaped like a square. But when I pulled out the motherboard, the CPU module that was present had a notch in it to accommodate a ribbed heat-sink on another chip. This heat-sinks prevents the new CPU module to fit, am I missing some kind of riser card or something to make this work? Or is my motherboard the wrong revision for this particular CPU upgrade? And offcourse, how can I make this work?

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Searching the web and looking at multiple pictures, it seems I am missing a white plastic standoff / riser bracket to fit the new module.
Anyone know the part number, and/or where I might be able to find one?

[workingclasshacker]

Turns out it wasn't as straight forward as I thought. After talking to Ian over at SGIDepot, I figured out I am missing more parts to make this work.

So in case anyone else wants to do this, I will post pictures and the procedure in this thread once I source all the parts I need.

[TruHobbyist]

I'm in the process of upgrading my O2 in a similar way and would very much appreciate your info + pics.

Thanksss

[Intuition]

This isn't a case of r5k o2 being upgraded with an r10k or r12k cpu is it? You can upgrade an r10 to an r12 but I don't think you can upgrade an r5k to anything but another r5k.

[workingclasshacker]

Yes it is. R5K -> R12K it should be possible if we can trust the internet, but it isn't straight forward.

I will write up my progress as soon as I get the pieces I am missing.

[Jacques]

You will need :

1) the right prom update, just update to 4.18 as standard
2) A chassis that can take an R10k/R12k. If you have a removable chassis piece for the primary drive then you're good on the first step. Check the base of the O2, should be able to unscrew the drive cage holder. If not you need to cut / drill the chassis. You will also need an R10/R12k motherboard tray.
3) suitable CPU module stand-offs - little white connectors between the cpu module and motherboard. The stanard R5k ones are too short. Difficult to obtain!
4) correct PCI tray extender, the R5K one is shorter than the R10/R12k one.

[workingclasshacker]

That is the same information I have. Some of these parts, particular the plastic standoff and the riser for the CPU sockets are hard to source. Also the MAC address / system ID is contained in the 'PCI board, so you will need to either re-authorize all software, or perform a transplant.

[Jacques]

That is the same information I have. Some of these parts, particular the plastic standoff and the riser for the CPU sockets are hard to source. Also the MAC address / system ID is contained in the 'PCI board, so you will need to either re-authorize all software, or perform a transplant.

There is a PCI riser on ebay for £19 + postage from Russia

The transplant of the little Dallas chip on the riser should be quite easy to do with a soldering iron.

Somebody on Nekochan reported putting an R12k CPU module onto an R5k motherboard, it involved shaving off the heatsink on the motherboard and wedging the PCI riser card in at an angle. Not something I would want to attempt with so few working parts left...

[Intuition]

Yeah, Honestly. I'd just upgrade your r5k to the best possible.. Maybe 300-350mhz. Then just buy a separate r10k o2 for a decently low price and get one of those 300mhz cpus on ebay. Or a 400mhz from Ian.

Mush less fiddling and testing and more getting down to using them.

--edit---

Just realized you already have 300mhz. Well. I'd get a separate r10-r12k vs all the modifying of the case and chassis. You'll be tearing up a perfectly good r5k when you can get an r10k-r12k easily without modding and not spending too much money or hours debugging.

[Jacques]

It would certainly be best if you can find an R10k / R12k system for cheap. Only issue is location and availability is a bugger, especially here in the UK. Not many good O2's left...

edit

the only thing is the R5k 300Mhz is substantially slower than the R10k / R12k cpus. The R7k 350Mhz is expensive and I believe may suffer from a math bug of some variety? There was some chatter about this on Nekochan.