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31186
March 28th, 2013 16:00
Dell XPS 435mt Shows odd Memory and proc configuration
Dell XPS 435MT <ADMIN NOTE: Service tag removed per privacy policy>
XPS 435MT
i7 processor
extreme? (thats what Dell is calling it) 8core
6 1GB DDR3 Memory
sticks
Gigabit Ethernet
Windows Vista Home Prem. 64bit upgraded to Windows
7 Home Prem. 64Bit
Ok in the original Vista and now in the Windows 7 the
customer upgraded to it shows in the properties box and in task manager that 1.4
gb of memory is available. When I tested Ram I pulled all but 1 stick. in the
Black slot closest to the proc I inserted 1 gb stick and booted. I get 2 beeps
pause 2 beeps as if there is no ram inserted. I installed a 4Gb stick in that
slot and get the beeps. in the next slot which is white it boots but says 4GB
installed 1.4gb usable.
the i7 8core shows as a dual core.
I swapped out an
i5 dual core and it shows a single core
I ran an
MRI Hardware test on it (Eurosoft pc-check 7.03) and it shows no errors and ran
as a 8 core. I pulled the heatsink to replace the thermal paste and checked the
numbers. it is indeed an i7 extreme 8 core proc.
With all of that I am
going to assume that the motherboard is hosed. I just am hoping for either a
confirmation or a direction for testing.
RoHe
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April 5th, 2013 15:00
You didn't say if the latest version of BIOS installed. And if you reboot and open BIOS setup, does that show the correct amount of RAM and the correct processor?
If BIOS is correct, then there's a problem with Windows and you may need to do a clean install of Win7, especially if an "in-place" upgrade from Vista to Win7 was done.
If BIOS isn't correct, then there may be a motherboard problem.
Mohavepc
9 Posts
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April 5th, 2013 16:00
I am sorry RoHe As it seems my last post is blank??? :emotion-7:Dunno what happened there. I was able to narrow it down to windows by using a tosser 80gb sata drive and installing windows 7 hp 64bit sp1
It now shows 8 cores. I am in process of backing up files once again and I will wipe the drive and reinstall. new install below.
Thanks for your help
I know the old mobo was bad also though because it failed on a stress test on the third run last night. I had reinstalled it because when the new mobo showed the same issue I was going to return it, when the old one failed, well I figued it was good karma.:emotion-5:
New install
RoHe
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March 28th, 2013 18:00
For starters, the manual says on page 23:
Ensure that you install a single memory module in DIMM connector 1, second closest connector to the processor, before you install modules in any other connector.
So your testing was correct. No RAM will be detected when you only have a module in the slot closest to the CPU. :emotion-55:
Do you know if those CPUs and the RAM are fully compatible with this PC? There are lots of versions of Core i7 processors and Dell PCs are very fussy about RAM.
Did you try clearing BIOS after installing that processor and the RAM?
RoHe
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March 28th, 2013 18:00
BTW: The 435 MT has an Intel X58 chipset. Is the i7 compatible with that?
Mohavepc
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March 29th, 2013 09:00
"BTW: The 435 MT has an Intel X58 chipset. Is the i7 compatible with that? "
The Proc and memory are original according to the customer and the manifest he provided
I did indeed clear the bios and reset it to factory after each test as per protocol from Dell.
The thing that bugs me is why would the hardware test show everything is ok but Windows shows a 2 core i7?
RoHe
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March 29th, 2013 14:00
Do you have the latest version of BIOS installed?
Run something like the free CPU-Z and see what it reports. Maybe Windows is just wrong?
Mohavepc
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April 4th, 2013 16:00
Ran CPU-z with the "New" (really was new stock from Dell) Mobo which id still showing dual core i7 and 1.4 gb usable out of 4 gb installed from the 8 core i7 and 6gb Memory.
I can post screenshots of cpu-z if you like.
I'm Pulling hair out.... oh wait .... I have none *sigh*
RoHe
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April 4th, 2013 17:00
I can relate to that... :emotion-9:
I've asked the other forum regulars if anybody has any ideas, so stay tuned...
Mohavepc
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April 4th, 2013 18:00
Thank you, I have noticed one thing, with the new board this is running a lot faster and not crashing. so there is that. lol :)
Mohavepc
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April 5th, 2013 15:00
RoHe
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April 5th, 2013 18:00
OK, glad you got it sorted.
Hope the clean install goes well. Don't forget that you have to install the drivers in the correct order after loading Win 7, starting with Desktop System Software (System Utilities) if it's required on this model, and then followed by chipset, video, audio, network. modem etc, in that order.
Philip_Yip
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April 6th, 2013 05:00
I had a similar situation to you on a Latitude D820, the dual core came up as a single core and the useable RAM was much lower than it should of been. The performance was dreadful. Likewise I had 7 on another partition and all checked out okay. The clean install worked (another reason why I recommend clean installation) dirty installs aka upgrades always ruin Microsoft Windows.
Ensure that you carry out a completely clean install, I would recommend blanking your hard drive completely using DBAN. My Windows Reinstallation Guide/A Clean Install of Windows 8 will instruct you in this aswell as overcoming Windows Activation Problems with an Upgrade license on a blank hard drive:
http://philipyip.wordpress.com/dell-community-forums/
Driver wise do not install the Windows 7 drivers. Instead install:
BIOS
A16 (latest BIOS if you don't already have it)
Chipset
Intel Update Utility
Video
ATI AutoDetect [Variant A]
nVidea AutoDetect [Variant B]
Ethernet
Realtek 8111E Network (XPS 8500)
Your unit has 81xx but likely the XPS 8500 Windows 8 driver contains the driver you need.
Audio
Realtek ALC887 (XPS 8500)
Your unit has ALC888 but likely the XPS 8500 Windows 8 driver contains the driver you need.
Mohavepc
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April 6th, 2013 11:00
NATAKUC4 Are you telling me to use windows 8 drivers for windows 7?
RoHe
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April 6th, 2013 13:00
I think that must be a typo since you're using Win 7..??
Mohavepc
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April 6th, 2013 13:00
I thought so too RoHe but if you look at the links? I am not sure whether he misunderstood the os or is he saying the win8 drivers will work and are better? I think I will stick with what Dell set of win 7 for now.