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Core 2 Duo Support Requires BIOS Update - Page 3

post #41 of 99
6/6/06 at 6:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by grandmaster
Well I have the 2.0GHz T7200 in my E1705, A00 BIOS. Firstly, the computer works... however, speed seems to be limited to 1GHz. In the BIOS, the chip reads that it has a maximum speed of 0GHz and a minimum speed of 0GHz.

I am tempted to flash to A01. This seems to indicate that the 7900-enabling BIOS is different to the A01 BIOS that JaxChris has pointed out could eliminate Merom performance.

In the meantime, aside from the fact that the E1705 A00 BIOS predates the M1710/M90 one, can any one suggest on how I could get the full 2.0GHz speed? Seems to me that it's either a duff chip, but more likely BIOS-limited.

I've PMed operaman along with a couple of other 'pioneers' so hopefully we can get to the bottom of this!

So did the merom work with the A01 bios?
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post #42 of 99
6/7/06 at 2:54am
Not only does Merom work on the Inspiron 9400/E1705 A01 BIOS, it is absolutely essential that you flash to this BIOS or you're stuck with an x6 multiplier clock speed - in my case, 1GHz.

I consulted someone who had upgraded his M1710 and he mentioned setting 'SpeedStep' to 'Enabled' under 'Performance' in the BIOS. Well, the E1705 A00 BIOS doesn't have a SpeedStep option that I can find. If you look at the A01 BIOS enhancements list, you'll see that the 'Performance' heading is added in this revision.

I decided that I might as well try to flash the BIOS because otherwise I would have been stuck with a 1.0GHz Merom. I might as well have just put my T2400 back in - which I would have to have done if the BIOS was hobbled any way. I didn't even need to manually set it. It just worked.

So to conclude... Inspiron 9400/E1705 works with both Merom and the 7900GS-enabled A01 BIOS - and you must upgrade to A01 get Merom working.
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post #43 of 99
6/7/06 at 3:11am
As older Dell BIOSs appear to disappear into the ether never to return, it's recommended you download a copy of A01 now.

Click here.
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post #44 of 99
6/7/06 at 3:56am
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post #45 of 99
6/7/06 at 4:03am
Quote:
Originally Posted by grandmaster
Not only does Merom work on the Inspiron 9400/E1705 A01 BIOS, it is absolutely essential that you flash to this BIOS or you're stuck with an x6 multiplier clock speed - in my case, 1GHz.

I consulted someone who had upgraded his M1710 and he mentioned setting 'SpeedStep' to 'Enabled' under 'Performance' in the BIOS. Well, the E1705 A00 BIOS doesn't have a SpeedStep option that I can find. If you look at the A01 BIOS enhancements list, you'll see that the 'Performance' heading is added in this revision.

I decided that I might as well try to flash the BIOS because otherwise I would have been stuck with a 1.0GHz Merom. I might as well have just put my T2400 back in - which I would have to have done if the BIOS was hobbled any way. I didn't even need to manually set it. It just worked.

So to conclude... Inspiron 9400/E1705 works with both Merom and the 7900GS-enabled A01 BIOS - and you must upgrade to A01 get Merom working.

Plus rep for you bud. I only made sure it booted. You did a lot of legwork. Thanks...
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post #46 of 99
6/7/06 at 4:05am
So amazingly we have the situation right now where Dell's 'budget' 17" laptop runs Merom with the latest BIOS, but the top-end machines don't.

How absolutely bizarre...
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post #47 of 99
6/7/06 at 4:12am
Quote:
Originally Posted by grandmaster
So amazingly we have the situation right now where Dell's 'budget' 17" laptop runs Merom with the latest BIOS, but the top-end machines don't.

How absolutely bizarre...

Tell me about it.
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post #48 of 99
6/7/06 at 6:21am
Grandmaster - well done this answers a lot of questions for some of us, I went ahead with the E1705 because I thought I would be able to upgrade the GPU anf CPU at a later date - Have some Rep!!!

(A00 bios already re-flashed!!!!)
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post #49 of 99
6/7/06 at 7:55am
I was pretty much decided on getting an M90 but if this is the case then I might reconsider.

How likely is it that the E1705 will be upgradable to a 7900 GTX or direct x 10 graphics card at a later date?
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post #50 of 99
6/7/06 at 8:47am
If the BIOS can be retrograded to A00 I would buy an M90 too. But right now I can't buy one knowing I'd be stuck with a T2700 as the top-end chip. So between you and me, that's $6000 Dell have just lost right away!

The first M1710s should be appearing on the Dell Outlet here in the UK any day now so I may see if I can pick up a cheapo machine - chances are it would have the older BIOS.
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post #51 of 99
6/7/06 at 8:57am
OK so now results for Merom compatibility are:

M90 bios A00
E1705 bios A01

What about the XPS 1710 which version bios will Merom work on?
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post #52 of 99
6/7/06 at 9:03am
The M1710 is basically the same as the M90. It definitely works on an A00 BIOS.
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post #53 of 99
6/7/06 at 9:19am
Any XPS 1710 owners can confirm if A00 bios is needed for Merom or will A01 work as well?
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post #54 of 99
6/7/06 at 9:24am
I'm betting that in a few months when merom is actually released that all of these systems will get a BIOS update. Its luck at this point that merom works in these systems and the BIOS code that they are using is likely beta just like the chips are. All this testing is good but it really doesn't tell us much since the processors being used are engineering samples and may not even represent the final product. Processors go through what Intel calls steppings and the BIOS has to have code to support each stepping so it is possible that Dell would pull the code needed to support engineering sample processors once Intel releases the final product.
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post #55 of 99
6/7/06 at 9:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by grandmaster
Not only does Merom work on the Inspiron 9400/E1705 A01 BIOS, it is absolutely essential that you flash to this BIOS or you're stuck with an x6 multiplier clock speed - in my case, 1GHz.

I consulted someone who had upgraded his M1710 and he mentioned setting 'SpeedStep' to 'Enabled' under 'Performance' in the BIOS. Well, the E1705 A00 BIOS doesn't have a SpeedStep option that I can find. If you look at the A01 BIOS enhancements list, you'll see that the 'Performance' heading is added in this revision.

I decided that I might as well try to flash the BIOS because otherwise I would have been stuck with a 1.0GHz Merom. I might as well have just put my T2400 back in - which I would have to have done if the BIOS was hobbled any way. I didn't even need to manually set it. It just worked.

So to conclude... Inspiron 9400/E1705 works with both Merom and the 7900GS-enabled A01 BIOS - and you must upgrade to A01 get Merom working.

Thanks for this info, it makes me feel much better about my recent e1705 purchase.
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post #56 of 99
6/7/06 at 2:36pm
Hey guys, not posting a FS. Just letting people know I got two more Merom processors of the 2.0 ghz variety on the way to me and will let one of them go for $475 + the actual shipping which is my actual cost. So I am merely trying to be a friendly neighbor here for the forum. Just pm me and I will give details.
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post #57 of 99
6/7/06 at 4:38pm
damn, i would try one in my m1710 if i can get my hands on it.

I still think you can have the A01 bios, and merom. Did i miss the post saying you couldnt?
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post #58 of 99
6/7/06 at 4:43pm
Lots of them! I think the M90 A01 BIOS and the M1710 A01 BIOS are one and the same. Therefore Merom won't work.
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post #59 of 99
6/7/06 at 4:47pm
The M90 and the m1710 bios aren't the same, im sure of.


if i can get my hands on a merom, ill try it
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post #60 of 99
6/7/06 at 6:28pm
id buy one from you operaman to try out, to bad i didnt plan on buying the CPU now
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