HP Z6 G4 Workstation CPU upgrade (new CPU) possible?

[IanTBLA]

Hi, our office is using HP Z6 G4 Workstation and we are looking for upgrading the CPU only if possible. Is it possible to do this by our own, like buy the new cpu and install it? Or is there any special support required for this? Do we have to buy the new cpu from HP? 

Appreciate any help.

[SDH]

A number of us have been upgrading processors in HP workstations for years now. I'll assume you have an IT support resource who is skilled at a relatively high level. I'd also recommend you do a google search for upgrade processor in Z6 G4 and do some self education. YouTube videos can give you some good perspective, such as HERE and HERE , and there are official HP videos HERE  and  HERE  related to the steps needed.

Some basics:

1. You want to upgrade the BIOS to the latest. It is no fun to try to run a new processor on old BIOS and have the workstation not know how to interface with the processor. Processors listed in old QuickSpecs documents may drop off the listings in newer QuickSpecs but the latest BIOS will still support those too. There are very rare exceptions.

2. HP puts out QuickSpec documents that have much valuable information on each workstation, and the latest will have info on the latest processors HP has certified for use. The latest for the Z6 G4 is attached below.

3. HP generally supports adding a second identical processor to dual processor workstations that came with only one originally. HP does not generally support upgrading a 1- or 2-processor workstation to another processor than what it originally came with (which is what you want to do). However, many of us have done that. No, you don't need to buy the upgrade processor(s) from HP.  Recent Z6 series workstations need a second "riser" (mini-motherboard) added to use a second processor and if you don't have that already I'd not recommend doing it due to expense, multiple parts needed, and complexity. I've done that successfully, however, on prior Z6 workstations and it was not worth the hassle for our needs.

4. Newer processors may run hotter than the original and it is easiest to buy a HP-approved "new" or "new used" processor that has near same maximum TDP as your original. For example, in the Z4 G4 any processor with greater than 140W TDP will trigger a demand by the BIOS for a special "Premium" heatsink/fan/fan wiring adapter. I don't see that same wording in the QuickSpecs for the Z6 G4. I've posted in here on that and how to make one of those for the Z4 G4. Some HP workstations bought originally for lower cost came configured with less cooling capacity (such as not coming with a front case cooling fan/fan holder or not having a special memory cooling "saddle"). When you soup up one of those with a new processor or more/bigger memory sticks the BIOS may also demand adding those on. Those are pretty easy to find on eBay if you know the correct part numbers, HERE  .

5. You imply you want to keep everything else the same. Note in the QuickSpecs I attached below that the HP-approved processors list shows different speed memory, from 2133 up to 2933. If you use slower memory that will slow down any new faster processor to the slowest memory rating of even one of your memory sticks. Faster memory won't make a slow processor run faster, but slower memory will make a fast processor run slower.

6. One of the forum members here, NonSequitur777, has posted some added tips HERE and HERE.

7. I only install used processors from eBay, generally only from respected US sellers. HP workstations have often used server processors which tend to be retired sooner than workstations do. Hence, bigger supply/lower demand = reasonable cost. Intel has specifications sites that show the HP-approved processors you find from the QuickSpecs, with their max memory speed, max TDP, and their sSPEC codes that are also laser etched on the stainless heat spreader cap over the processor. That code is helpful to quickly find on eBay. They are found for each processor under the Intel "Ordering and Compliance" tab. Sometimes there are more than one and in that case you'd want the latest "stepping". In cases where there are more than one sSPEC code for the processor I've only seen HP use the latest stepping, but that issue is rare these days.

8. This is not a project for a novice. However, every expert begins as a novice.

Your latest QuickSpecs, below:

[DGroves]

i'd like to also point out that if this is a business mission critical system,

then my personal recommendation is to have a professional do the upgrade for you

if the system is not critical AND YOU CAN AFFORD the possibility of downtime

due to unforeseen problems with the upgrade

then yes doing the upgrade yourself is possible

most issues arise on a cpu upgrade due to people damaging

the cpu socket pins during the upgrade as these pins are quite delicate

[SDH]

DGroves is right, but with careful attention to those two HP videos and a healthy paranoia about getting processors out and in very carefully I've never bent one pin doing over about 200 processor upgrades over the years.

I have straightened out a few socket pins after buying used eBay HP workstations or motherboards with the processors already gone. That is why I prefer to buy ones with the old slow original processor still in place. Best processor cover ever...