HP DC7700 CPU upgrade

[zefie]

Hello everyone, I have a HP DC7700 Convertible tower in which I have a E7400 processor in. The board does not like the 45nm and throws the "Invalid Microcode Update" error, but runs fine, however it runs the processor at half speed (1.6ghz), due to speedstep not working.

I am hoping there is a way to modify the microcode file to support this processor and the entire range of speeds, or even locked at 2.8ghz.

HP has released a microcode-only update file here:
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=12454&prodSeriesId=3232028&prodNameId=3232101&swEnvOID=1093&swLang=13&mode=2&taskId=135&swItem=vc-59061-1

Thanks

[Ytterbium]

I've created a BIOS with the appropriate microcode for E7400.

http://rapidshare.com/files/319078914/u7E_0105.bin.html

Clearly this is a risky procedure and could Permanently kill your PC.

[1234s282]

Wait , I notice a couple of things with Ytterbium's bios mod.

Firstly , the readme for this microcode update says it adds support for Pentium 4's , not Core 2 Duo's

Secondly , the uploaded file is only the microcode file extracted from the HP .exe. Its not your bios containing the microcode

I would wait forYtterbium to clarify these points before you flash the bios

Regards
Admin

[zefie]

Secondly , the uploaded file is only the microcode file extracted from the HP .exe. Its not your bios containing the microcode

I would wait forYtterbium to clarify these points before you flash the bios

Yeah, the file Ytterbium posted, and the original microcode update have a matching md5sum. Did you upload the wrong file to rapidshare, Ytterbium?

[DasShrubber]

Latest BIOS for the HP DC7700 now has suppost for up to the intel E7600 processor.

The processor can be install and the bios will recognize it and not complain. It is running however at half speed. Is something easy to fix?

Latest Bios: ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp54001-54500/sp54368.exe

Running at half speed: http://h30499.www3.hp.com/hpeb/attachmen...eport2.png

I was able to get the CPU running at full speed using CrystalCPUID and changing the multipler from 6 to 11.5 (max) using the Intel Enhanced Speedstep Control.

[DasShrubber]

Bump...

Nothing? Is it still the case that these bioses are not modable?

[rlwolfcastle]

Bump...

Nothing? Is it still the case that these bioses are not modable?

Are the BIOSes unmoddable or is it just that no one has found a way to extract the correct files form the bin yet?

[msbetatester]

Help with an HP CPU Microcode update.

I have a couple of HP/Compaq DC7700 PCs. They came with Pentium 3.0 ghz dual core cpus. HP has a microcode update to allow C2D cpus to function. So, I bought two Core 2 duo e7600 cpus. Before the microcode updates, the PCs beeped and complained. Also the fans reved up and went full to full speed. So, I applied the microcode update and no more beep or runaway fam issue. But those were replaced with two NEW issues.

1. The e7600 is a 3.06 ghz chip and it is only running at 1600mhz. The multiplier is stuck at 6x. Seems like SpeedStep is broken. Full speed is 11.5x. The e7600 chips have a CPU id of 1067A. Seems with this particular CPU id is messed up in the microcode. There are many HP forum discussion on this.

2. When the PC goes into sleep mode, is wont/can't wake. Nothing but a hard shutdown 10 sec power button can get it out of sleep.

As stated before these two issue are widely reported and HP has turned a blind eye to it. BTW, other CPUs (not 1067A) do not seem to have the issue. At least none reported.

So, I turn you you fine poeple in search of a resolution to this perplexing microcode problem. Any ideas? I hope that without all that other BIOS stuff to deal with, this would be an easy fix?

Here is the large link to the microcode update file.
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=12454&prodSeriesId=3232030&swItem=vc-90213-1&prodNameId=3232116&swEnvOID=1093&swLang=13&taskId=135&mode=3

File name is sp51243.exe
I extracted and used the DOS boot method. The raw file is exposed using this method.

Thanks!
msbetatester

[TheWiz]

It sounds like this has turned more into an ACPI problem than just a CPU support problem. My suspicion is the ACPI code does not properly handle the speedstep nor sleep with the new CPU. Do you know of another motherboard with the same chipset that supports this CPU?

[msbetatester]

It sounds like this has turned more into an ACPI problem than just a CPU support problem. My suspicion is the ACPI code does not properly handle the speedstep nor sleep with the new CPU. Do you know of another motherboard with the same chipset that supports this CPU?

I do not have another mobo with that chipset to test with. Do you think that is a problem for all CPU IDs with 1067A?

Would HP send this update out knowing the ACPI code doesn't work with the microcode update? I would assume they tested it with 1067A chips. This update specifically mentions the dc7700. I have 3 of these SFF PCs. Maybe I should put the Pentium D 3.0ghz CPUs back in. Just wanted the C2D's because they are optimized for performance.

I have installed and app that will allow changing the multiplier and you can mimic Speedstep. I have it running as a task schedule "startup. But, sleep is still a death knell for that boot session.