DELL Precision 690 microcode update

[geep]

I was wondering if it is possible at all to update the microcode of a Dell Precision 690. Most of the other manufactures have update the microcode in there boards to support the 1333 fsb 54 series xeon CPU's dell has not for some reason or another. I just want it to support the chips that run at 1333 there are some 1333 fsb 54 series chips http://ark.intel.com/products/series/33905 but mainly i just want it to support the chips that dell says it does but dose not unless you downgrade the firmware to a older version. I think dell is just trying to make money on newer products and they are crippling the older systems intentionally.Here is a supermicro board with the same x5000 series chip that supports the 1333 54s http://www.supermicro.com/products/mothe.../X7DA3.cfm and here is the dell 690 firmware http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19/GetDriver/OtherFileFormats/Product/precision-690?driverId=5MH1N&FileId=2731101870&isUSDownload=true

[Kimmo_]

Iw been also searching a way to mod 690's bios to enable to use x54xx processors, is there any way to do it?

-k-

I was wondering if it is possible at all to update the microcode of a Dell Precision 690. Most of the other manufactures have update the microcode in there boards to support the 1333 fsb 54 series xeon CPU's dell has not for some reason or another. I just want it to support the chips that run at 1333 there are some 1333 fsb 54 series chips http://ark.intel.com/products/series/33905 but mainly i just want it to support the chips that dell says it does but dose not unless you downgrade the firmware to a older version. I think dell is just trying to make money on newer products and they are crippling the older systems intentionally.Here is a supermicro board with the same x5000 series chip that supports the 1333 54s http://www.supermicro.com/products/mothe.../X7DA3.cfm and here is the dell 690 firmware http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19/GetDriver/OtherFileFormats/Product/precision-690?driverId=5MH1N&FileId=2731101870&isUSDownload=true

[martinbeaulne]

Has anyone figured it out yet ? I'm very interested too...

[marcie]

Does anyone know how to update the microcode? I have been getting all kinds of conflicting info and trying everything. So far, all I have learned is how to extract the .rom and .hdr files from a DELL BIOS and load them into HxD

And extracting a new microcode from the Intel websites Linux distro.

I have followed some good threads here but am not sure how to determine what I am even looking at in HxD. When I search for the CPUID (in little ENDIAN format) it yields a result but I also may not even have the correct CPUID since I cannot run CPU-Z (processor is not installed)

Anyway, I am so confused that I could ask a million questions that pertain to nothing sensible or necessary.

If it makes things easier then I can upload a link to the .hdr for the closest related DELL Precision that supports the processor (Xeon 5400 series) but from what I can understand it isn't a matter of swapping modules but replacing the microcode.

I am interested in BIOS microcode update for 490, 690 and T3400. So any kind of nudge in the right direction is greatly appreciated. I am not asking to be spoon fed. Thanks in advance!

[Teh_Danz0r]

Hello all! I happened upon this board while searching for help with a bit of a situation I have on my hands.

I recently obtained a working Dell Precision 690. It came with an LGA771 Intel Xeon 5050. I did some research and was convinced that the system would be able to support two x5450 processors, since the chipset (Intel 5000x) supports it, similar voltage range, FSB, and so on.

However, it seems that I didn't do ENOUGH research. I purchased the processors, installed them, and the system failed to get past POST. I would run a couple of tests, and halt displaying a couple of diagnostic lights, with no video display. Looking around, I found that some people have had similar problems when trying to use a CPU that is not supported by the system. Turns out that early revisions of the 690 bios lacks quad core support (which mine falls into this category). Further, in the revisions that do support quads, the 54xx Xeons have been left out.

Would it be possible to add support for this processor line? Assistance would be greatly appreciated; here's some information to help out...

Original CPU:
Intel Xeon 5050
spec number: SL96C
CPUID: 0f64h (I believe)

The CPUs I purchased:
Intel Xeon x5450
spec: SLASB
CPUID: 10676h

Precision 690 BIOS:
ftp://ftp.dell.com/Pages/Drivers/precisi...OS Updates

My current one is the A00 revision.

As for the donor BIOS recommendation, I located a Dell BIOS for a system that uses the Intel 5000x and has support for the x5450:
http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/e...erid=16RCK

[Teh_Danz0r]

UPDATE:

In the A08 revision, I have located the microcodes to the 5000 series Xeon. I've also located a microcode that I haven't been able to identify. It contains a large portion of a couple of revisions of the 5300 microcode... the rest I can't identify. Both microcodes have been stripped of their header sections, which is why I wasn't able to locate them before. Another problem that I've run in to is that both the 5000-series and 5300-series microcodes are immediately proceeded by some other hex values, not padding.

Honestly not quite sure where to go from here.

[Teh_Danz0r]

So I decided to take another shot at it...

I looked at the A08 revision of the BIOS and found the microcode to (I believe) the Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 (CPUID 10677). The length of the microcode section is BD0, with hex values immediately before and after (no padding or or header). The microcode for the Xeon is F70 in length. However, there are large padding sections near the end... but I'm going to guess that it wouldn't be as simple as moving the hex values enough to make room for the x5450 microcode.

Also, I was incorrect in stating that my current BIOS is A00. It is actually A01.

Thoughts?

[chris89]

If anyone can tell me if the BIOS is AWARD Bios? I would hope so but if not I'm not sure. Otherwise I can add the microcode to AMI and AWARD bios....... Let me know ..

Thanks

[henriquepena]

If anyone can tell me if the BIOS is AWARD Bios? I would hope so but if not I'm not sure. Otherwise I can add the microcode to AMI and AWARD bios....... Let me know ..

Thanks

Could you add the microcode for:
Phoenix
Chipset: Intel 5000x
Bios: http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/1...Id=R186067
Intel Xeon Processor:

Quad cores
X5450 (12M Cache, 3.00 GHz, 1333 MHz FSB)
L5430 (12M Cache, 2.66 GHz, 1333 MHz FSB)
L5420 (12M Cache, 2.50 GHz, 1333 MHz FSB)
L5410 (12M Cache, 2.33 GHz, 1333 MHz FSB)
E5450 (12M Cache, 3.00 GHz, 1333 MHz FSB)
E5440 (12M Cache, 2.83 GHz, 1333 MHz FSB)
E5430 (12M Cache, 2.66 GHz, 1333 MHz FSB)
E5420 (12M Cache, 2.50 GHz, 1333 MHz FSB)
E5410 (12M Cache, 2.33 GHz, 1333 MHz FSB)
E5405 (12M Cache, 2.00 GHz, 1333 MHz FSB)

Thank you

[chris89]

Kindly download AIDA64 and go to [MOTHERBOARD] then to [BIOS] and list the [BIOS TYPE].

Thanks