So I just got my hands on a Dell XPS 720. I did install a Core 2 Quad Q9550, but the computer detects it as an unknown CPU and does not have all the features it should have, like enabling VT-x. The CPU is a Core 2 Quad Q9550 spec SLB8V. Attached is the original BIOS. I think it needs the newer microcode to work better. It will boot, but the computer doesn't exactly know what the CPU is.
Make a screenshot of regedit with expanded key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\System\CentralProcessor\0
(02-21-2022, 12:45 AM)DeathBringer Wrote: [ -> ]Make a screenshot of regedit with expanded key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\System\CentralProcessor\0
[
attachment=23375]
Do
Load Defaults in BIOS, save and reboot.
Make DOS USB-stick (e.g, by
Rufus), download and unzip all files for
the modded version of CHECKUP7 to this DOS USB-stick.
Boot from this DOS USB-stick and make a photo of the screen with results.
Show screenshots of winver and CPU-Z.
(02-21-2022, 04:04 PM)DeathBringer Wrote: [ -> ]Show screenshots of winver and CPU-Z.
cpu-z hangs on processors 15%, also winver probably won't be of much use. i have vista SP2 installed on here
So I have found the issue with this system. The system can run some 45nm chips, but it does not know about the E0 stepping of Core 2 Quad processors from that generation, like the SLB8V. The fans run at 100% constantly and the system doesn't know what the processor is. All it just needs is the E0 stepping microcode and then it should work. I don't think any extra details are needed, aside from the fact this system is a Dell XPS 720 and uses an nForce 680i SLI chipset.
Try to install Windows 7 SP1 and run CPU-Z.
(02-22-2022, 12:25 AM)DeathBringer Wrote: [ -> ]Try to install Windows 7 SP1 and run CPU-Z.
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attachment=23383]
So Windows 7 managed to detect the processor and even shows it as a Q9550, but the actual computer still prompts at startup that "the processor is not supported" and thus runs the fans at full speed and won't use any extra features of the CPU like VT-x. I think a BIOS mod is required at this point.