Core 2 Duo Support Requires BIOS Update ... i think the 7800 line was discontinued, so if dell wanted a high end gfx card they had to go up.

spirals · 06-06-2006, 04:26 AM

i think the 7800 line was discontinued, so if dell wanted a high end gfx card they had to go up.

philby · 06-06-2006, 04:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grandmaster

Well, my T7200 2.0GHz Merom has just arrived and the offer still stands:

So long as someone provides me with an A00 i9400/E1705 BIOS or tells me how to back-up my current image, I'll happily put the Merom compatibility with A01 to the test.

Now to find a decent enough screwdriver with enough purchase to get those screws loose...

I have A00 Bios in my 9400/E1705 - let me know how to back it up and I'll get it to you.

grandmaster · 06-06-2006, 04:36 AM

Joker 5150 has already supplied details on how I can back-up my current A00 BIOS - will be giving that a go later. If it works, it would be VERY useful for owners of the M1710/M90 BIOS to do the same

philby · 06-06-2006, 05:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grandmaster

Joker 5150 has already supplied details on how I can back-up my current A00 BIOS - will be giving that a go later. If it works, it would be VERY useful for owners of the M1710/M90 BIOS to do the same

Your right!!! - I've just finished backing the Bios up - but the link to the VGA bios is in german, which I can't read I've tried the links but I don't know what it's saying the bios is only 512kb - have compacted with rar and it attached to this post.

grandmaster · 06-06-2006, 05:13 AM

I don't think we need the VGA BIOS - it will be different depending on our graphics configurations any way.

Nice work BTW

Have some rep.

SolApathy · 06-06-2006, 09:10 AM

I am wondering if intel was seeing their ES Memrons floating areound & ending up in end user machines and sent a little request out to computer vendors that they pull any current memron support (i.e. A00 Bois) until the product is official.

I wouldn't put it past them...Heh it's something I would do if I was the chip vendor.

nickspohn · 06-06-2006, 10:16 AM

merom sol, merom

grandmaster · 06-06-2006, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SolApathy

I am wondering if intel was seeing their ES Memrons floating areound & ending up in end user machines and sent a little request out to computer vendors that they pull any current memron support (i.e. A00 Bois) until the product is official.

I wouldn't put it past them...Heh it's something I would do if I was the chip vendor.

Why? Intel would kill for the kind of publicity independent Merom benchs will do for them.

abugnego · 06-06-2006, 02:04 PM

I was told by a Dell Rep that Merom will work in the current E1705, and I would assume the same goes for the other current notebooks. But Dell Reps arn't always right either.

grandmaster · 06-06-2006, 03:24 PM

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!

madcow706 · 06-06-2006, 04:27 PM

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?

grandmaster · 06-07-2006, 12:54 AM

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.

grandmaster · 06-07-2006, 01:11 AM

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.

JaxChris · 06-07-2006, 01:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curt

JaxChris, Can you post some sources for this info you are spreading? I tend to agree with the others here and say that 1705 is too new and has too much potential to be used as a 9 month stepping stone by Dell. For crying out loud, that would mean that the 1710 etc would also be out of date as well! Plus the 1210 and the 1405 (or whatever) JUST came out.

They would be viable for only 3 months before memron? That doesn’t seem right.

The same people I get the part number excel files from Dell... my rep.

operaman · 06-07-2006, 02:03 AM

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...

06-06-2006, 02:04 PM	#39
abugnego Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 24 Credits: -292	I was told by a Dell Rep that Merom will work in the current E1705, and I would assume the same goes for the other current notebooks. But Dell Reps arn't always right either. __________________ "Nothing's greater than positive infinity, except maybe a ham sandwich." -J. Shall Dell E1705, Core Duo T2500 (2 Ghz, 667 Mhz), 2 GB 667 Mhz Ram, Nvidia Geforce Go 256 MB 7900GS, WUXGA, Hitachi 7k200-200GB. (Very close to positive infinity)

06-07-2006, 01:11 AM	#43
grandmaster Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 237 Credits: 39	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. Last edited by grandmaster; 06-07-2006 at 01:14 AM.

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06-06-2006, 04:26 AM	#31
spirals Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 241 Credits: -288	i think the 7800 line was discontinued, so if dell wanted a high end gfx card they had to go up.

06-06-2006, 04:36 AM	#33
grandmaster Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 237 Credits: 39	Joker 5150 has already supplied details on how I can back-up my current A00 BIOS - will be giving that a go later. If it works, it would be VERY useful for owners of the M1710/M90 BIOS to do the same

06-06-2006, 05:13 AM	#35
grandmaster Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 237 Credits: 39	I don't think we need the VGA BIOS - it will be different depending on our graphics configurations any way. Nice work BTW Have some rep.

06-06-2006, 09:10 AM	#36
SolApathy Adios! Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 4,049 Reviews: 1 Credits: 0	I am wondering if intel was seeing their ES Memrons floating areound & ending up in end user machines and sent a little request out to computer vendors that they pull any current memron support (i.e. A00 Bois) until the product is official. I wouldn't put it past them...Heh it's something I would do if I was the chip vendor.

06-06-2006, 10:16 AM	#37
nickspohn Adios! Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 12,614 Credits: 0	merom sol, merom

06-06-2006, 03:24 PM	#40
grandmaster Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 237 Credits: 39	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!

06-07-2006, 12:54 AM	#42
grandmaster Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 237 Credits: 39	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.