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Vostro 200 / E8400 / Windows 10 / BIOS (chip?) problem - CompareExchange128 & fan
Over the years, I've upgraded many Vostro 200 systems including CPU (E8400) and memory (up to 4x2GB DDR2-800). And upgraded several to Windows 10 without any problem.
But one Vostro 200 (shipped with a Celeron 440, BIOS version 1.0.15) has bizarre problems.
Motherboard: GM3302, Rev. A00 (silkscreened on board) Rev. A01 (sticker beside D P/N 0CU409).
Swapped Celeron 440 with an E8400.
Attempting to install Windows 10 fails with the claim that CompareExchange128 is not supported. I have a half dozen Vostro 200/E8400/Windows 10 systems that suggest otherwise.
Running Windows 7 with all updates, on resuming from sleep the fan runs full speed until the system is shutdown. Even a restart does not slow the fan. Only sleep or shutdown will slow the fan.
Clearing CMOS, by removing the battery and moving the jumper does not change these behaviours.
Attempting to update the BIOS (to 1.0.16) also fails with an error.
In Windows, with the Dell BIOS updater, Winflash reports: "OnBoard BIOS Not Award BIOS."
In DOS, the flashing problem reports that there is a file size mismatch with the BIOS file.
Aside from the fan speed issue, Windows 7 works fine and the BIOS appears normal.
Q: Any ideas what is causing the ComparExchange128 problem? Could I have an early board (ship date 1/24/2008)? Could some BIOS setting that would apply to a Celeron 440 but not an E8400 be refusing to be reset?
Since I've upgraded so many similar systems, I feel like it must be somewhere (eg. a corrupted BIOS).
Q: How can I either 1) force a BIOS update with the official Dell version, or 2) force a BIOS downgrade?
speedstep
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July 25th, 2016 09:00
Compare exchange 128 means the CPU is not capable of running 64 bit windows 8.1 or 10.
32 Bit windows 8.1 or 10 likely works fine.
Pentium D 900 series or better is REQUIRED to have CMPXCHG128 ,
LAHF/SAHF, etc for 64 bit windows 8.1 or 10.
JacquesAssert
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July 25th, 2016 11:00
I know what CX16 means. The problem is that the E8400 CPU supports it, on this platform, with Windows 10, as the half dozen other Vostro 200 systems that I've configured attest to.
But for some reason it complains on this one. Along with the other issues that make me think the BIOS might have an issue. But I don't know how to force a BIOS update...
speedstep
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July 28th, 2016 00:00
G33M02 DOES NOT support E8400. G33M03 does. Nothing to do with bios.
Bios updates require old software aka XP/VISTA/7 to install.
Dell sold two versions of the Foxconn G33M motherboard, the G33m02 and G33m03, that are essentially identical except for the power regulation section of the motherboard.
The G33m02 is a depopulated (cheaper) version of the G33m03 board which only has 6 voltage regulator IC's as opposed to the 11 voltage regulators on the DG33m03.
The more expensive versions of the board also have 350W instead of 305W power supplies.
JacquesAssert
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July 29th, 2016 08:00
shesagordie does not agree with you, and the half dozen Vostro 200 systems with this motherboard running an E8400 don't either.
It really seems like a BIOS issue, as other system utilities report that CompareExchange128 is supported. So trying to rewrite the BIOS (I already reset CMOS without effect) appears the only plausible route.
"The following is a list of compatible processors for the G33M02 motherboard:
Intel Pentium Dual-Core 2140 (1.6 GHz, 800 MHz FSB)
Intel Pentium Dual-Core 2160 (1.8 GHz, 800 MHz FSB)
Intel Pentium Dual-Core E5200(2.5 GHz, 800 MHz FSB)
Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 (1.8 GHz, 800 MHz FSB)
Intel Core 2 Duo E4400 (2.0 GHz, 800 MHz FSB)
Wolfdale Core 2 Duo, E5200, 2.5GHz, 2MB, 65W, M0
Intel Core 2 Duo E6320 (1.86 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB) 65nm
Intel Core 2 Duo E6420 (2.13 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB)
Intel Core 2 Duo E6550 (2.33 GHz, 1333 MHz FSB)
Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 (2.66 GHz, 1333 MHz FSB)
Intel Core 2 Duo E7400 (2.80 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB)
Wolfdale Core 2 Duo, E8400, 3.0GHz, 6MB, 1333FSB, 65W, E0 45nm
Wolfdale Core 2 Duo, E8500, 3.16GHz, 6MB, 1333FSB, 65W, C0
Wolfdale Core 2 Duo, E8600, 3.33GHz, 6MB, 1333FSB, 65W, E0
Conroe E6850, 3.0G, 4MB, 1333FSB, G0
Conroe E6700, 2.66G, 4MB, 1066FSB, B2
Conroe E6600, 2.4G, 4MB, 1066FSB, B2
Wolfdale E5700 3.0GHz 65W Dual-Core
Prior to installing the processor, check that you have BIOS Version 1.0.15, or higher installed, when support for new Intel CPU's was added."
Bev.
shesagordie
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July 29th, 2016 10:00
Regards to "G33M02 DOES NOT support E8400. G33M03 does. Nothing to do with bios".
The Foxconn G33M02 motherboard does support the e8400, I've been using the e8400, as an upgrade with this motherboard in an Inspiron 530 MT, with the default 300w PSU since 2008, until this month, when it was replaced with a E8600, [$14.95 off eBay] without any issues.
The e8400 has since been installed in a friend's Vostro 200, that's a clone of the Inspiron 530, again without any issues.
Bev.
JacquesAssert
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July 29th, 2016 11:00
Thank you Bev.
This corresponds with my experience on several Vostro 200 systems, but this one is a strange exception. Especially since it won't let me update the BIOS (error: "Onboard BIOS not Award BIOS") or 'Bios file mismatch' when attempted from DOS.
Would love to force a BIOS update to an early or same version to eliminate BIOS issues as the cause. I don't believe a hardware failure would cause these issues, but a screwy BIOS might. I did not control the system for it's entire lifespan, so I have no idea what may have occurred with it before.
speedstep
8 Wizard
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July 29th, 2016 12:00
Compare Exchange 128 unhappiness comes from 64 bit version of windows. If this is your only issue then a 32 bit version of windows 10 will likely install.
JacquesAssert
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July 29th, 2016 22:00
Running 32-bit is a helpful suggestion, if Windows 10 was my primary goal. But I've been running these systems with 8GB of ram (4x2GB since it's basically free) so 32-bit is less than ideal. Staying with Windows 7 would be a preferable option in that case.
But it does look like someone put a bios mod on this board as it auto-activated Windows 7. So that might be the cause of the odd BIOS behaviour.
Does anyone know how to force a BIOS update to the same or earlier BIOS version? The BIOS read ver. 1.0.15, and every version from Dell is either older, or gives 'Not Award BIOS'/Size Mismatch.
rdunnill
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July 31st, 2016 18:00
Can you install an older version of the BIOS?