E5420 and E5430 together

[pdanes]

I have an older server with an E5420 processor. The motherboard has two sockets, and someone has offered me an uneeded E5430. Can the two coexist? Do I need to provide more information about the machine?

[fenyal]

they are almost exactly the same so i would say yes. however expect the E5430 to run at 2.5 ghz (7.5 multiplier) to match it's slower sibling.

NOTE*
this information is purely out of my own opinion because i have no real detail of the server you have in question. (model number, manual, ect, ect.)

it could possibly not work at all depending on how strict the motherboard is on it's processors playing well with each other.
but considering how close those 2 are, i would have to think they should play nicely.

[gshv]

I agree, if it has the same stepping, and if you underclock it to match the speed of the E5420 then it might work.

Gennadiy