1E379119_mod3_xeon.zip [Edit] file removed use dsanke’s BIOS
I will tag @dsanke just to be sure that I have not missed something, as he has actual experience with running Xeons (thanks in advance).
This motherboard has dual BIOS so if the BIOS does not work for any reason you should be able to recover by booting from the second BIOS chip, switching the BIOS chip to the ‘bad’ BIOS and flashing it again with a working BIOS.
Okay the good news, the bios works, and the xeon cpu I bought for $60 usd the E-2176G works, now the bad news. The full length PCIE lanes, except for the bottom most full length PCI lane do not work, with the xeon CPU in the motherboard. I have tested this with my i5 8500, and the E-2176G, and I can confirm this, so it is not a socket issue. The cpu might be to blame, but I doubt it. The xeon bios, in my opinion, needs to be modified further, but I don’t know how. Thanks for the modified bios, but it needs some work.
@aerith Thank you for reporting back with useful information.
The top two x16 PCIe slots come from the CPU and the bottom x16 PCIe slot (which is x4 electrically) comes from the motherboard PCH, so I agree that the CPU is likely not the issue.
I have made some more BIOS for you test if you like.
This BIOS is the same as the first but has also had the PCIe patch applied via CoffeTime:
1E379119_mod3_xeon2.zip [Edit] file removed use dsanke’s BIOS
This BIOS has an older version of ME firmware (11.7.0.3307 corp cut) but no PCIe patch:
1E379119_mod3_xeon3.zip [Edit] file removed use dsanke’s BIOS
This BIOS has the older ME firmware (11.7.0.3307 corp cut) with CT PCIe patch applied:
1E379119_mod3_xeon4.zip [Edit] file removed use dsanke’s BIOS
If none of these work we might need to wait for dsanke for help.
