Compaq Presario V5200 series: CPU Upgrades

[passeuli]

I was trying to upgrade the CPU on my sister's laptop, a Compaq V5207 (V5000 series INTEL). My initial research for V5000 showed that it had a 945 chipset and would support the Intel T7200 (core duo) that I bought. Once I got the laptop, I learned that the V5207 actually has a 940/943gml chipset. I went to the official Intel website and found a conversation with an INTEL rep who stated that, even though the official limit of that chipset was 533mhz FSB, it would actually support 667mhz (up to Intel T7600), and even though that chipset supposedly only supports Celeron. I got the last BIOS update from Compaq (Phoenix F24A) and, in the details, it stated support for Intel core duo, but numbers something like T2130. I'm assuming that's due to the official 533fsb limit. I'm looking for how to modify this BIOS to support the T7200 I bought. When I installed the T7200, I just got a blank screen, though it sounded like it was booting. On a side note, when I put the old Celeron back in it, I had the 667mhz RAM still in it and it ran fine. And, I was able to install Windows 7 (32).

Every search I've done leads me to old answers and dead links.

Any ideas?....and here's the link to the last Compaq BIOS:
http://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp37001-37500/sp37159.exe

[passeuli]

I think I posted in the wrong forum so I'm posting it here instead:

I was trying to upgrade the CPU on my sister's laptop, a Compaq V5207 (V5000 series INTEL). My initial research for V5000 showed that it had a 945 chipset and would support the Intel T7200 (core duo) that I bought. Once I got the laptop, I learned that the V5207 actually has a 940/943gml chipset. I went to the official Intel website and found a conversation with an INTEL rep who stated that, even though the official limit of that chipset was 533mhz FSB, it would actually support 667mhz (up to Intel T7600), and even though that chipset supposedly only supports Celeron. I got the last BIOS update from Compaq (Phoenix F24A) and, in the details, it stated support for Intel core duo, but numbers something like T2130. I'm assuming that's due to the official 533fsb limit. I'm looking for how to modify this BIOS to support the T7200 I bought. When I installed the T7200, I just got a blank screen, though it sounded like it was booting. On a side note, when I put the old Celeron back in it, I had the 667mhz RAM still in it and it ran fine. And, I was able to install Windows 7 (32).

Every search I've done leads me to old answers and dead links.

Any ideas?....and here's the link to the last Compaq BIOS:
http://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp37001-37500/sp37159.exe

[Overclockedtoster]

Note: Do not listen to me, you may break something you can't afford to replace.
Do a 533 to 667 Mhz FSB BSEL pinmod with the Celeron M to see if the chipset will even run 667, (we only need to know that the FSB changes and that it boots when actually running 667, a locked multiplier dosn't matter for this test.)

You may have to do a 133-> 166 FSLx mod to the clockgen and do a 667->533 BSEL mod to the CPU to get it to run even with the correct microcode.

[passeuli]

Note: Do not listen to me, you may break something you can't afford to replace.
Do a 533 to 667 Mhz FSB BSEL pinmod with the Celeron M to see if the chipset will even run 667, (we only need to know that the FSB changes and that it boots when actually running 667, a locked multiplier dosn't matter for this test.)

You may have to do a 133-> 166 FSLx mod to the clockgen and do a 667->533 BSEL mod to the CPU to get it to run even with the correct microcode.

Thanks you so much for replying....would have never thought of this on my own.

I tried to read up on a BSEL pinmod for Socket M. Unfortunately, most posts were so old, the photos/diagrams no longer followed the post. I'm too tired tonight to continue researching as I've been working on a computer all day. I'm assuming from the one post I read, that I can use wire instead of a conductive pen so that I don't make it permanent Plus, I don't have a conductive pen. I am curious if the BIOS can prevent this procedure? Can it put a limit on the FSB even if it allows the particular CPU? By damage, I'm assuming you mean to the chip. I found a T1350 that works in the laptop (better than the Celeron), so I don't mind if something happens to the Celeron. I can't imagine overheating or the like with a short test. My ultimate goal would be to get it to use the T7200 I initially bought for it and according to a post on the Intel website, a rep said this chipset will run up to T7600. Give me a chance to find what I need and test this out.

[Overclockedtoster]

You can kill the board if you pinmod the wrong pins in such a way that pins attached to parts that can't handle 1.3v get 1.3v (I've killed boards in weirder ways, LVDS connectors are NOT hot pluggable on laptops.) The chipset will lock the multi to idle clocks, but if you are running at the higher FSB and it boots, then we know something somewhat important: It can run 667 Mhz FSB, it needs the microcode though (we know this because to the clockgen, there is no difference between a chip BSEL'd to 166 from 133 vs one that has that BSEL set at the factory, thus it turns your 533 chip into a 667 chip that you know is compatible, giving you a definitive test if it can boot 667 without a a FSLx mod and the relevant memory SPD tweaks.) You can use thin wire in the socket since it is a PGA chip, only LGA needs the conductive pen or blob of solder.

http://www.overclockers.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=68067&stc=1&d=1221789942

There is the BSEL chart.


http://img805.imageshack.us/img805/9052/98548186.jpg
http://forum.notebookreview.com/hardware-components-aftermarket-upgrades/605383-fsb-downclock-mod-intel-gl960-gl40-useful-info-pll-modders.html


There is a pinout (The one shown is for a 266->200 BSEL mod, but the BSEL pins are labeled.)

[BDMaster]

Hi friend,
I hope this Bios Modded by TTAV134 can help You :

http://www.sendspace.com/file/9yl3hl

Regards

[passeuli]

You can kill the board if you pinmod the wrong pins in such a way that pins attached to parts that can't handle 1.3v get 1.3v (I've killed boards in weirder ways, LVDS connectors are NOT hot pluggable on laptops.) The chipset will lock the multi to idle clocks, but if you are running at the higher FSB and it boots, then we know something somewhat important: It can run 667 Mhz FSB, it needs the microcode though (we know this because to the clockgen, there is no difference between a chip BSEL'd to 166 from 133 vs one that has that BSEL set at the factory, thus it turns your 533 chip into a 667 chip that you know is compatible, giving you a definitive test if it can boot 667 without a a FSLx mod and the relevant memory SPD tweaks.) You can use thin wire in the socket since it is a PGA chip, only LGA needs the conductive pen or blob of solder.

http://www.overclockers.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=68067&stc=1&d=1221789942

There is the BSEL chart.


http://img805.imageshack.us/img805/9052/98548186.jpg
http://forum.notebookreview.com/hardware-components-aftermarket-upgrades/605383-fsb-downclock-mod-intel-gl960-gl40-useful-info-pll-modders.html


There is a pinout (The one shown is for a 266->200 BSEL mod, but the BSEL pins are labeled.)

I'll try to keep my response short, since I tend to be verbose:

These are my sister's and niece's laptops. They are virtually identical Compaq's. I had such an easy time upgrading the CPUs in my laptop (and backup laptop) that I didn't know about the micro codes in BIOS. For example, I upgrade the CPU on my Sony from T1350 (FSB 533, single core) to T7200 (FSB 667, dual core) without any problems. I had done my research on the motherboard (knowing that it could handle T7200), updated the BIOS and apparently was just lucky that Sony had included it in the codes.

Your skill set is a couple of clicks above mine; so, I have to read a lot to catch up with what you're telling me. For example, I'll have to read up on your comment about LVDS hot plugging. You do realize these are laptops?

One thing I noted that may or may not be very important is what happened when I tried to install the T7200. Well, let me back up. When I learned that I couldn't easily install the T7200, I went ahead and bought the T2350, because I understood it was included in the BIOS update. Unfortunately, I has misread and it was T2150, I think. Anyway, when I put these CPU's in the laptop and turned it on, I could hear the laptop booting (but blank screen). And, the reason I'm sure that it was really booting was because, when I put the Celeron back in, I got the Windows notice that told me Windows hadn't started properly, etc....the one with "start windows normally, safe mode, etc.". Wouldn't that indicate that it was indeed booting with the T7200?

I also see that someone provided a BIOS on this post as a possibility, but I fear using it without knowing how it was modded.

Since your skill set is above mine, I need to look at all the info you gave me and make sure I thoroughly understand. While this is an old laptop and I could probably find a cheap replacement on eBay, I'd rather not fry the board.

Thanks for all your help thus far.

Oh yeah.....I also read multiple posts about people having problems with this set of Compaq laptops with this chipset and installing the CPU's that are actually listed in their seemingly secret specs. Something about CMOS and it not clearing completely. The CMOS battery is VERY difficult to access so I thought about a short experiment of using a program I found on UBCD that clears all CMOS settings, letting the laptop set for a half an hour (without laptop battery and unplugged) and then, try installing the CPU.....while I'm reading up on the stuff you posted.

[Overclockedtoster]

This was a laptop that got LVDS hotplugged. In theory nothing should die, but as the board was sending a nice 19v down the LVDS connector due to a failed mosfet (it may have been in the dumpster for that reason,) the panel didn't like this and sent that down any data pins the board had. For figuring out if the upgraded CPU actually booted, try to access the laptop remotely with teamviewer or try pinging it.


You can try a modded bios without too much worry if you have a recovery method (I'm not sure if you have a way to get the board to flash itself from a USB drive if it have a bad bios, some HP/compraq laptops do have that ability.)

[passeuli]

Hi friend,
I hope this Bios Modded by TTAV134 can help You :

http://www.sendspace.com/file/9yl3hl

Regards

Thanks for the download. Unfortunately, it just takes you to the download with no explanation of how it was modded or anything. I went ahead and downloaded it. It looks from the file, that it is for SLIC and whitelist but I doubt he did anything with CPU support (though I could be easily wrong). If I knew the post, I might be able to determine.

Thanks again, it will be useful even if I can't use it for CPU support.

THANKS

[passeuli]

This was a laptop that got LVDS hotplugged. In theory nothing should die, but as the board was sending a nice 19v down the LVDS connector due to a failed mosfet (it may have been in the dumpster for that reason,) the panel didn't like this and sent that down any data pins the board had. For figuring out if the upgraded CPU actually booted, try to access the laptop remotely with teamviewer or try pinging it.


You can try a modded bios without too much worry if you have a recovery method (I'm not sure if you have a way to get the board to flash itself from a USB drive if it have a bad bios, some HP/compraq laptops do have that ability.)

This may be a misunderstanding of BIO on my part, but when Compaq, Dell, etc. have flash updates, are they cumulative? In other words, if the first flash was F11, then F14, etc.....with the last being F24A, does F24A contain all the info from the other flashes? Or, can it be one of the flashes in the line that contains the new micro codes? This may be a stupid question on my part. I didn't know if when it's flashed, it replaces the whole ROM with a new one (with all the previous instructions).

And yes, I read about a back up plan in case a flash doesn't work, especially for Phoenix BIOS. It involved a usb Flash-drive and some executable that ran automatically when you turned on the computer (if the screen was black). I only read through it once.

I took a look at the BIOS that other guy provided....and found the post associated with it and it may actually have the micro codes. That doesn't mean I don't want to learn what you have provided. I DO! (including using the pin mod on her OLD PC) I need it for other things I've been trying to do on some of my hobby stuff. I'm just tempted to give that BIOS a try since it might easily solve the problem for my sister's laptop. Just spooked by flashing.

Actually, I bought this used HP workstation laptop (I'd hope to repair for myself) that I think may have a corrupt BIOS (blank screen)....no beeps, fan comes on and it sounds like it's booting....but that's for another time....I actually only bought it for the processor out of it, but really liked it once I got it. Too many projects going on at one time...