If you’ve been with us for a while and your dedicated server is running an older Intel Xeon CPU, you might be able to upgrade to a more powerful processor without a full server migration. During our Las Vegas data center transformation, we offered CPU and RAM upgrades at reduced cost, and we continue to help customers upgrade their hardware.
How CPU upgrades work
When a CPU upgrade is within the same socket type, it’s a physical swap. We shut down your server, replace the CPU (and sometimes add RAM), and bring it back up. Your disks, OS, and data stay exactly as they are. For many customers, this is a quick way to get more performance without rebuilding anything.
For example, if you’re running a Xeon E5-2620 v2 (6 cores), you might be able to move to a Xeon E5-2697 v2 (12 cores) in the same socket. That doubles your core count without touching your software stack.
Linux vs Windows upgrade paths
Linux dedicated servers are flexible. Linux handles CPU generation changes well, so you can often jump from an older E5 v2 to an E5 v4 or even to a Xeon Scalable with just a reboot. The kernel detects the new hardware and adjusts.
Windows dedicated servers are more restrictive. Windows activation is tied to hardware signatures, and jumping across CPU generations (e.g., from E5 v2 to Xeon Scalable) can cause Windows to fail to boot or lose activation. For Windows servers, we recommend staying within the same CPU generation when upgrading, or planning a fresh install if you need to jump generations.
When to upgrade vs replace
If your dedicated server is more than a few generations old, upgrading the CPU might not be worth it. The motherboard, RAM type, and storage interface may all be outdated. In that case, moving to a new dedicated server with current hardware (Xeon Scalable, DDR4, Samsung NVMe) gives you a bigger performance jump.
We can help you evaluate both options. Contact us with your current server details and we’ll tell you what upgrade paths are available and whether a new server makes more sense.