Modded BIOS for HP 6730b to support Q9000.

[harvas81]

Hello guys. I have an old laptop HP Compaq 6730b with C2Duo P8400 and I have bought the quad-core Q9000 in order to increase its performance. The online seller told me that this CPU IS supported by my laptop’s chipset GE45/GM45.

So I bought Q9000 and immediately updated the BIOS to its latest version, F.20 (date December 2011). Despite that, the laptop refuses to boot with Q9000. It is booting normally only with CPU P8400 and T9600.

I made an online research and found out that indeed my chipset supports C2Q but the basic problem is that the necessary CPU microcodes are missing from the BIOS. So I have two questions:

1. Can someone more experienced edit the latest F.20 BIOS for me in order to inject the necessary microcodes for supporting Core2Quad Q9000/Q9100?
   
2. Would I be able to reflash my laptop with the modded version of F.20 BIOS or not? I know that some laptops accept ONLY NEWER BIOS versions and refuse flashing lower versions or even same versions.
   

Thanks.

[DeathBringer]

Make a good photo of your X9000.

[harvas81]

Make a good photo of your X9000.

I am sorry for the mistake. I have bought Q9000 and not X9000. Can someone change the title of this thread?
https://postimg.cc/hhtN4qH2
I am attaching a close view of my actual CPU Q9000. If you can mod the BIOS, please keep in mind that it is possible to buy Q9100 in the near future. Thank you very much.

PS: If we fail for whatever reason to make it work with my Compaq 6730b, I would like to use the processor Q9000 in another laptop I own, a Fujitsu-Siemens Amilo Xi 3650, which is a real workstation (BIOS 1.0H from 04/2010). Just keep it in mind as a second option. I just don't want to waste it.

[NewLogin]

Microcode 1067A - Penryn/QC you got. It's same for every CPU you listed (you can check at Intel site). C2Q got weak support in laptops. Possibly you need something more than microcode and chipset.
I saw exactly same model but motherboard was different. Laptop specs shows support but wasn't accurate. That one with C2D changed to C2Q freeze at bios loading. Other one give only black screen with C2Q.

Most probable that Quads use more pins (possibly bigger power line) or some options at bios must be changed. First part you can check comparing CPU pins function. Second one comparing bios.

[DeathBringer]

Current BIOS already has suitable microcode for Q9000.
A few motherboards with Socket P can boot quad cores CPUs. It's hardware incompatibility.

[harvas81]

Current BIOS already has suitable microcode for Q9000.
A few motherboards with Socket P can boot quad cores CPUs. It's hardware incompatibil

Thank you for your reply. So you say that latest BIOS F.20 for my Compaq 6730b INCLUDES microcode support for C2Q CPUs but lacks compatibility due to hardware limitations.
I wrote before that I also have another socket P laptop in my home, which is a Fujitsu Siemens Amilo Xi 3650 workstation (18.4 screen) with BIOS version 1.0H from date 04/2010. It is also failing to boot with Q9000 (starts and after 6-7" closes). Can you please tell me IF its BIOS 1.0H version has microcode support for my Q9000? Otherwise, I bought that CPU and waste my money. Thank you.

[DeathBringer]

I wrote before that I also have another socket P laptop in my home, which is a Fujitsu Siemens Amilo Xi 3650 workstation (18.4 screen) with BIOS version 1.0H from date 04/2010. It is also failing to boot with Q9000 (starts and after 6-7" closes). Can you please tell me IF its BIOS 1.0H version has microcode support for my Q9000?

This laptop has native CPU - P8400, P8400 and Q9000 use the same microcode. So I think it hasn't support for quad cores CPUs.

waste my money

Yes, you're right.