Question 1

Can anyone tell me if I can use Noctua NH-D14 or D15 heatsink for this motherboard?  If not then what aftermarket heatsink would any of you guys suggest?

Or does anyone know if I can use a corsair H60 AIO cooler for the motherboard?

Accepted Answer

I'm using two Thermaltake Water 3.0 Pro. I like them a lot.

Question 2

I found on the manual that E5-26** V2 CPUs are supported only with R3.0 BIOS. Will the board be shipped with R3.0 BIOS or do we need to update?

I will be buying a new system which means I only have V2 CPU around me. In that case can I still power up the motherboard in order to update the BIOS?

Accepted Answer

I own this since the fall of 2013, along with the X9SRE-3F, and a partly built X9SRG-F.  The X9DA7 (which I don't like at all, no IPMI or Crossfire/SLI on such an expensive board) had been running a 2620v1 up until recently and had been updated prior to upgrading to a 2630v2.  That said, if memory serves, I did have to pull the 2620v1 to get the X9SRE-3F working with the 1620v2 that has been in it since day 1, so I would assume that applies here if the BIOS/EFI isn't updated.

The only other alternative (and I don't know if it's possible here, but have done it on Tyan dualies) is if the required BIOS/Flash ROM chip is PLCC or otherwise pullable, and swappable with an flashed, updated firmware sourced either from the manufacturer or an auction site, where there are specialist sellers who trade in that for a few dollars.  Perhaps, in theory it might be possible to update the BIOS through IPMI without a supported CPU, but again, there is no IPMI on this board, not even vPro.

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