The HP Proliant Microserver Gen 8 is one of the best LAB server for Hyper-V, Private-Cloud, System Center, Windows Server since it has dual network adapters AND a full blown iLO 4, so we can do all kinds of in-bound and out-of-band monitoring. It also support IPMI so it is possible to test and play with bare metal deployment in SCVMM 2012 (R2). But it lacks a bit of performance around the CPU. It comes with the Intel G1610T or Intel G2020T, but since it has a standard 1155 socket and it is of course possible to change the CPU, however this s of course NOT SUPPORTED by HP.
There are a couple of CPUs you can change into (since is a 1155 socket) but basically it comes down to either the “server” version Intel Xeon E3-1230 v2 or the “desktop” version Intel Core i5-3470T. You can look for yourself here to see the difference http://www.cpu-world.com/Compare/490/Intel_Core_i5_i5-3470T_vs_Intel_Xeon_E3-1230_v2.html. My choice was the desktop version, just because I wanted to try that (could not find anyone that had tried it). I think the Intel Xeon E3-1230 v2 is a better choice, but just for fun I wanted to test it. You can compare the Intel I5 3470T with the original G2020T here http://www.cpu-world.com/Compare/466/Intel_Core_i5_i5-3470T_vs_Intel_Pentium_Dual-Core_G2020T.html. The I5 has Hyper-Threading, Intel VT-d and Turbo Boost (plus some more stuff) and and slightly higher CPU speed, but it consumes the same amount of power 35 Watt, so it is a bit more “safe” then the Xeon E3 that consumes 69 Watt (TDP). I do recommend this excellent post to read before you even consider doing anything at all. http://homeservershow.com/forums/index.php?/topic/6596-hp-microserver-gen8-processor-faq/
There are some posts out there that shows how to change the CPU, just remember to get thermal paste before you start, also if you had any form of warranty, which is gone by the wind when you do this…
Here is guide on how to change the CPU http://b3n.org/installed-xeon-e3-1230v2-in-gen8-hp-microserver/
This is how it looks in iLO after replacing the CPU.
This is how it looks in Windows Server 2012 R2 after replacing the CPU.
/mike
The Deployment Bunny 
Did you find 16 GB RAM enough for your testing? Have seen a few people trying chnage to 32 GB RAM and for some the server actually picked 32 GB.
//Magnus
I do find 16 GB of RAM to be “ok”, yes
16 GB is what we run in most of our labs and it is ok for testing, playing and LABs
Cool, just bumped up my internal mgmt ESXi host to 32 GB RAM
Interesting… I didn’t know it would work with a Core i5 since that CPU doesn’t support ECC.
dito.. :-)
is that very hot?
No, not at all
Do you have knowledge of any 32GB (2x16GB) memory kits that work with it?
No, not yet. Had a conversation just a month ago with no luck
Message me if you see a working kit :-)
I will
no, not so far, but I hope for it
Hmmm…. Free box from HP by any chance?!? ;-)
I prefer the ML110 any day, we now run our on-prem dev on a old ML110 G6 – takes 4x cheap DDR-3 sticks (8GB), has 4 LFF SATA bays + 2x spare SATA (yep SSD in there too) and has a few PCI slots. We had a pair of DL140’s & DL380 for shared storage back in the day before Azure and Office 365 – now retired and seeking a good home!
I find the 3470T does not support ECC ram, is it means that I can use non-ECC ram with the 3470T?
Well, when I tested it I had the unsupported ECC RAM in the machine and it worked…
When you say ‘unsupported’ ECC RAM, do you mean non-ECC RAM
Yes, sorry, that is correct, I’m using memory that should not work.
I find that 3470T does not support ECC ram, does it mean that I can use non-ECC ram with 3470T?
This blog is incorrect. I’ve installed a 3470t, it works, but it will NOT post without ECC RAM.
ok, strange, if remember this I did not have ECC memory in machine and it did work, I do remember that the machine did not like all kinds of memory, but the memory I did install was just standard gaming memory from an online-store somewhere. I need to go back and find out exactly what memory I did use. Still, please remember that it is not supported in any way from anyone to do this…
Thanks for the reply, I do understand it’s all unsupported, it does post fine with the ECC, maybe its the fact I’m running a later firmware?
The RAM I have is 2x 4GB Non-ECC Ram from a HP machine. so would have thought this would have worked, the server is far too odd / picky with RAM!