Core 2 Duo Support Requires BIOS Update ... Quote:Originally Posted by grandmasterNot only does Merom work on ...

madcow706 · 06-07-2006, 07:58 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.

Thanks for this info, it makes me feel much better about my recent e1705 purchase.

operaman · 06-07-2006, 12:36 PM

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.

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.

grandmaster · 06-07-2006, 02:05 AM

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...

operaman · 06-07-2006, 02:12 AM

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.

philby · 06-07-2006, 04:21 AM

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!!!!)

pepto · 06-07-2006, 05:55 AM

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?

grandmaster · 06-07-2006, 06:47 AM

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.

kantana · 06-07-2006, 06:57 AM

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?

grandmaster · 06-07-2006, 07:03 AM

The M1710 is basically the same as the M90. It definitely works on an A00 BIOS.

kantana · 06-07-2006, 07:19 AM

Any XPS 1710 owners can confirm if A00 bios is needed for Merom or will A01 work as well?

yellowlt4 · 06-07-2006, 07:24 AM

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.

nickspohn · 06-07-2006, 02:38 PM

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?

grandmaster · 06-07-2006, 02:43 PM

Lots of them! I think the M90 A01 BIOS and the M1710 A01 BIOS are one and the same. Therefore Merom won't work.

nickspohn · 06-07-2006, 02:47 PM

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

06-07-2006, 12:36 PM	#2
operaman King of the high C's Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 986 Credits: 880	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. __________________ "Don't take life too seriously. No one gets out alive anyway."

06-07-2006, 01:11 AM	#3
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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06-07-2006, 02:05 AM	#4
grandmaster Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 237 Credits: 39	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...

06-07-2006, 04:21 AM	#6
philby Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Sydney Posts: 435 Reviews: 2 Benchmarks: 1 Credits: 597	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!!!!)

06-07-2006, 05:55 AM	#7
pepto Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 43 Credits: -336	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?

06-07-2006, 06:47 AM	#8
grandmaster Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 237 Credits: 39	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.

06-07-2006, 06:57 AM	#9
kantana Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 10 Credits: -348	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?

06-07-2006, 07:03 AM	#10
grandmaster Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 237 Credits: 39	The M1710 is basically the same as the M90. It definitely works on an A00 BIOS.

06-07-2006, 07:19 AM	#11
kantana Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 10 Credits: -348	Any XPS 1710 owners can confirm if A00 bios is needed for Merom or will A01 work as well?

06-07-2006, 07:24 AM	#12
yellowlt4 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 836 Credits: -140	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.

06-07-2006, 02:38 PM	#13
nickspohn Adios! Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 12,614 Credits: 0	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?

06-07-2006, 02:43 PM	#14
grandmaster Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 237 Credits: 39	Lots of them! I think the M90 A01 BIOS and the M1710 A01 BIOS are one and the same. Therefore Merom won't work.

06-07-2006, 02:47 PM	#15
nickspohn Adios! Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 12,614 Credits: 0	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