Dell Latitude E5500 Processor Swap

[Musafir_86]

Hello everyone,

-I currently have a Dell Latitude E5500 laptop with me, and I'm intending to change its processor to a Pentium Dual-Core T2330.

-Unfortunately, according to official Dell documentations, it seems that Dell only allowed Core 2 Duo or Celeron (socket P) to be installed into this laptop.

-The laptop has already been updated to the latest A19 BIOS, but it wouldn't boot with this T2330 installed (blinking Caps Lock LED).

-I've never tried updating/adding microcode into the BIOS (just done minor BIOS mods before), so I hope some experts could help me on this.

-1066MHz FSB support is mentioned in official Dell documentations, and it uses Intel GE45 chipset, so this model should support both 65nm Meroms and 45nm Penryns (but artificially/intentionally limited to Core 2 Duo and Celeron brands/range only).

-The A19 BIOS for Latitude E5500:
http://www.dell.com/support/home/my/en/m...erId=2KY24
http://downloads.dell.com/FOLDER01545890...500A19.exe (direct link).

-Latest Intel processors' microcode data file (including the mobile Pentium/Merom):
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/downloa...-Data-File
http://downloadmirror.intel.com/24661/en...150121.tgz (direct link).

-Latitude E5500 documentations (1066MHz FSB support is mentioned inside):
http://downloads.dell.com/Manuals/all-pr...5500_setup guide_en-us.pdf
http://downloads.dell.com/Manuals/all-pr...5500_Setup Guide2_en-us.pdf

-Every help is really appreciated, thank you very much.

Regards,
-Musafir_86.

[LosSantosPro]

Hello everyone,

-I currently have a Dell Latitude E5500 laptop with me, and I'm intending to change its processor to a Pentium Dual-Core T2330.

-Unfortunately, according to official Dell documentations, it seems that Dell only allowed Core 2 Duo or Celeron (socket P) to be installed into this laptop.

-The laptop has already been updated to the latest A19 BIOS, but it wouldn't boot with this T2330 installed (blinking Caps Lock LED).

-I've never tried updating/adding microcode into the BIOS (just done minor BIOS mods before), so I hope some experts could help me on this.

-1066MHz FSB support is mentioned in official Dell documentations, and it uses Intel GE45 chipset, so this model should support both 65nm Meroms and 45nm Penryns (but artificially/intentionally limited to Core 2 Duo and Celeron brands/range only).

-The A19 BIOS for Latitude E5500:
http://www.dell.com/support/home/my/en/m...erId=2KY24
http://downloads.dell.com/FOLDER01545890...500A19.exe (direct link).

-Latest Intel processors' microcode data file (including the mobile Pentium/Merom):
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/downloa...-Data-File
http://downloadmirror.intel.com/24661/en...150121.tgz (direct link).

-Latitude E5500 documentations (1066MHz FSB support is mentioned inside):
http://downloads.dell.com/Manuals/all-pr...5500_setup guide_en-us.pdf
http://downloads.dell.com/Manuals/all-pr...5500_Setup Guide2_en-us.pdf

-Every help is really appreciated, thank you very much.

Regards,
-Musafir_86.

Hi, can you please dump your bios using this tool and post here, then i will update microcode for you as i cannot extract the bios ROM from your exe link provided.

https://app.box.com/s/y2q3dc4eic4veho02m5m

[Musafir_86]

Hello everyone,

-I currently have a Dell Latitude E5500 laptop with me, and I'm intending to change its processor to a Pentium Dual-Core T2330.

-Unfortunately, according to official Dell documentations, it seems that Dell only allowed Core 2 Duo or Celeron (socket P) to be installed into this laptop.

-The laptop has already been updated to the latest A19 BIOS, but it wouldn't boot with this T2330 installed (blinking Caps Lock LED).

-I've never tried updating/adding microcode into the BIOS (just done minor BIOS mods before), so I hope some experts could help me on this.

-1066MHz FSB support is mentioned in official Dell documentations, and it uses Intel GE45 chipset, so this model should support both 65nm Meroms and 45nm Penryns (but artificially/intentionally limited to Core 2 Duo and Celeron brands/range only).

-The A19 BIOS for Latitude E5500:
http://www.dell.com/support/home/my/en/m...erId=2KY24
http://downloads.dell.com/FOLDER01545890...500A19.exe (direct link).

-Latest Intel processors' microcode data file (including the mobile Pentium/Merom):
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/downloa...-Data-File
http://downloadmirror.intel.com/24661/en...150121.tgz (direct link).

-Latitude E5500 documentations (1066MHz FSB support is mentioned inside):
http://downloads.dell.com/Manuals/all-pr...5500_setup guide_en-us.pdf
http://downloads.dell.com/Manuals/all-pr...5500_Setup Guide2_en-us.pdf

-Every help is really appreciated, thank you very much.

Regards,
-Musafir_86.

Hi, can you please dump your bios using this tool and post here, then i will update microcode for you as i cannot extract the bios ROM from your exe link provided.

https://app.box.com/s/y2q3dc4eic4veho02m5m

-Thanks, but sorry, the laptop is not with me anymore...

[Mike188]

Swapped out the processor in my mother-in-laws Dell Latitude E5500.
Went from an Intel Core 2 Duo Mobile T7250 SLA49 2.0GHz/2M/800MHz/35W to an Intel Core 2 Duo Mobile
T7800 SLAF6 2.6GHZ/4M/800MHz/35W.
When I turn it on after the boot screen it gives me two beeps then gives me the message:

***Processor Microcode Update Failure***
The revision of processor in the system is not supported.
Strike F1 key to continue, F2 to run the setup utility

I hit the F1 key and it boots into Windows 7 with no problem.
In the System and Device Manager it recognizes the CPU with no problem.
When I enter the BIOS it recognizes the processor also with no problem.
The BIOS is the last update offered by Dell for the E5500, A19.
It has passed the Dell Diagnostics with no problem.

Other then the double beep when we boot it and having to hit F1, it works fine.

I was told by someone on another board to come here and inquire about a BIOS modification.


Is there another BIOS out there for the Dell Latitude E5500 beyond the Dell A19 BIOS.

[DeathBringer]

And make a screenshot of regedit with expanded key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\System\CentralProcessor\0

[Mike188]

How do I post a screenshot?
I have taken it.  It is a gif.

Figured it out

[DeathBringer]

Current BIOS hasn't microcode for CPUID=0x6FB.
BIOS A19 has digital sign and can't be modified.
Can you downgrade to BIOS A16?

[Mike188]

Yes I can downgrade the BIOS to A16 as long as it will not mess with my Win 7 install.
Have to wait until the mother-in-law is done with it.

[DeathBringer]

Post a screenshot of third (Mainboard) tabs of CPU-Z with BIOS A16.

[Mike188]

System will not allow me to downgrade the BIOS.  Will have to do a boot from a USB drive and do it in a DOS environment.
But I did notice in the BIOS is shows "Processor ID =  6FB".
It may show in Windows that there is a "Digital Signature" in the BIOS, but in the BIOS configuration I do not have it "Enabled" .