Question:
BIOS Update could prevent Merom upgrade
Last night, I got back to school (yeah, I have summer classes, and yeah, it sucks) and hooked up to the internet. I had noticed they had a BIOS update for my M90, so I decided to update, just to be up-to-date. Just a few minutes ago, I was looking around NBF and noticed a thread talking about Merom requiring a BIOS update. A few pages into the thread, they began talking about the new BIOS update for the M90/M1710 (A01), and how it appeared that they had made it impossible to use an unsupported CPU. See this link.
So far, this has only been tested in one machine, and the Merom T7200 did not work with A01 BIOS (it has been proven to work on A00). This could be a possible CPU problem, but if this proves that the new BIOS update for the M90/M1710 removes support for Merom, I am going to be VERY upset. I know many people have discussed Merom upgrading on here and bought Core Duo machines specifically for that reason. My whole reason for buying now was because I knew the only benefit of waiting till winter would be getting a Merom with the computer (no DX10/Vista by December), but I knew that the Merom worked in the M90, so I bought now. If this means that I will no longer be able to upgrade, I think I am going to send my computer back.
This is absolutely ridiculous. To think that Dell would cripple their two flagship machines and limit their lifespan to only a few months is mindboggling. Apparently, using a Merom requires that you have the A01 BIOS on the 9400/E1705 (otherwise it downclocks to 1GHz). I have a hard time stomaching the fact that Dell would support Merom in the Inspiron, but not the XPS M1710/Precision M90. I'm going to wait and see if anyone gets a Merom working in an M90 with the new BIOS, but if this proves to be true, I'm going to have to give Dell a call and give them a good piece of my mind.
Here is the thread on NBF.
Answer:
Re: BIOS Update could prevent Merom upgrade
you really think Dell would prevent M90 users the benefit of upgrading to Merom? **EDIT: i understand why they would, warranty issues, future products, etc... so maybe this point is invalid, sorry.**...even while their good buddies at Intel are releasing the 1st-gen Meroms so that Socket M people can have a chance at Merom? That's the whole reason behind the "Napa Refresh" campaign. To 'refresh' Napa with the better Merom chips before Socket P/Santa Rosa is released next year.
i understand how you can be upset, i would be too, but just wait it out, i'm sure you'll be able to upgrade to Merom either through a new bios update from dell or a known workaround with the A00 and A01 bios.
also, can you not just flash the rom and reflash with the older bios like you can with a desktop rig? am i missing something?
Answer:
Re: BIOS Update could prevent Merom upgrade
Dell probably did that, if it is true, for two main reasons:
A: Mainstream companies don't like when people alter the insides of their machines (excluding RAM/HDD). Making it impossible to upgrade eliminates that.
B: You have to buy a new Dell to get a Merom.
Of course, you need to be careful of the information in that thread too. I didn't see any concrete evidence of whether it would work or not in the M90. You are best off waiting as posted..
Answer:
Re: BIOS Update could prevent Merom upgrade
I've heard that you can reflash to the older BIOS, but requires a lot of messing around. I just want Dell to fix this without me having to possibly harming my computer by trying to flash back to the original BIOS.
Answer:
Re: BIOS Update could prevent Merom upgrade
Its not really dell's problem to fix though (IMO). The truth is that Merom isn't supported yet by Dell, so any user that wants to put Merom in their system is going to have to assume full responbility for their actions.
I have to agree with Chaz. Dell is already kind of relucant on any kind of CPU change and states that if a user upgrades the CPU, then dell will not support or fix that laptop. Honestly, I think they are trying to make it where you can't upgrade to Merom until it is officially supported by dell.
I know there are alot of experiments going on at NBF, but that is all they are. Merom is not even officially released yet to the public (I don't think at least), so I question how users are even getting Merom.
Answer:
Re: BIOS Update could prevent Merom upgrade
I didn't know flashing a notebook's BIOS was more complicated, have never dealt with that.
Also, maybe Dell will release another BIOS to support the Socket M Merom's because they will use the same M90 (and other notebooks) when they start using the Merom's next month (or maybe september unfortunately). So you could just use the "A02" bios when it comes out then.
If both of these options fail, I'm glad I know now and will wait to get my M90 until Dell uses the Meroms.
Hope everything works out for you notebook_ftw.
Answer:
Re: BIOS Update could prevent Merom upgrade
It isn't hard to flash to a newer version of BIOS... it is going backwards that can cause problems.
Answer:
Re: BIOS Update could prevent Merom upgrade
When Merom is released, will Dell sell models that can either have Core Duo or Core 2 Duo, because I want to wait until the Core Duo chips will drop in price before the release of Core 2 Duo but not wait so late that I will be forced to buy a Core 2 Duo instead? if this helps any in my question, i'm planning on buying the d820
Answer:
Re: BIOS Update could prevent Merom upgrade
None of us really know what they are planning on doing. Since they just updated all of their laptops to Core Duo, they will probably just update them to have Merom. We won't know until August or so.
Answer:
Re: BIOS Update could prevent Merom upgrade
According to another thread, blocked by our Websense (##@$!!), a 1705 and an M90 (same basic machines) have been upgraded with a Merom with the A01. Sorry I can't supply the links at notebookforum.com
These dell laptops, at least the 1505 - 1705 formats, beg to be upgraded, most items are very easy to get too and replace with instructions on the Dell site and the owners manual.
I agree 100%: Southerngirl wrote "I know there are alot of experiments going on at NBF, but that is all they are. Merom is not even officially released yet to the public (I don't think at least), so I question how users are even getting Merom."