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XPS 420 Bios A07 ICH9R sata raid controller does not support SSD, why won't Dell release an update?
I bought this XPS 420 in May 2008, and frankly, its been a very reliable system. I've replaced the drive, added a second optical drive and a second hard disk, upgraded the RAM to 8GB, and replaced the 8800GT with a 9800GT. Its running 64bit Windows 7 Ultimate without a single problem.
I thought I would try setting it up to use a SSD (Patriot Inferno 120GB) as its primary boot device, and upgrade the video card to a GeForce GTX 460.
The system won't boot with 5 SATA devices, its extremely underpowered.
The stock PSU only has one 6pin PCI-e connector, so the GTX 460 cannot be used.
Thankfully the PSU is standard, and can be replaced with a unit that supports the hardware I want to use.
The ICH9R Sata controller firmware is seriously old.
The A07 Bios was released by Dell in May 2009. It has PCI Option Rom for ICH9R version 7.6.1.1001
Intel has revised their own X38 Express chipset motherboards with the ICH9R controller 4 times since October of 2008:
October 9, 2008
SATA RAID info:
Intel(R) RAID for SATA - v7.6.0.1011
January 28, 2009
SATA RAID info:
Intel(R) RAID for SATA – v8.6.0.1007
July 1, 2009
SATA RAID info:
Intel(R) RAID for SATA – v8.9.0.1023
October 23, 2009
SATA RAID info:
Intel(R) RAID for SATA – v8.9.0.1023
The release notes for January 2009 specifically indicate that it was to support SSD's. Internet searches for this issue have show that other systemboard manufacturers have had to revise the ICH9R controller firmware for exactly the same reason, SSD support.
Why has Dell not revised the ICH9R firmware? I've been told by XPS technical support that Dell is dependent on the manufacturer to release updates, which clearly they have. It would be nice if Dell engineering or XPS brand management would take the 10 minutes or so to replace the PCI Option Rom in the XPS420_A07 (and other makes/models) for the ICH9R to upgrade it to 8.9.0.1023, or release the tools so we can do it ourselves.
I know there is room in the bios for a newer ROM, as hex editors show lots of empty space at the end of that module.
I've made 3 phone calls to Dell on this issue, scoured the internet for forums on how to mod the bios myself (pretty much every BIOS can be modded easily, EXCEPT DELL) with zero results.
If you look at other models with the same SATA Raid controller (ICH9R) that Dell has sold, not a single one of them has had a revision past 7.6.1.1001, which is more than 2 years out of date.
targetbsp
11 Posts
0
January 7th, 2011 05:00
Here is an XPS420 A07 bios modded to include Intel raid rom 8.5. This was made for me to fix a different issue to what you guys are having and I can't guarantee it will solve your problems as I have a different brand of SSD which is not affected by this. But based on this thread: http://www.ocztechnologyforum.com/forum/showthread.php?82608-List-of-BIOS-files-with-updated-Intel-ICH9-10R-RAID-ROMs upgrading to 8.5 of the rom should fix issues with sandforce based SSD's.
I can confirm the rom itself flashed fine and the PC now boots up with raid rom 8.5 And JamesKing420 who I've been discussing this with on another forum is hopefully testing this as we speak with regards to the sandforce issue.
The link to the modified bios is here: http://www.mediafire.com/?h02nep6115vkvc6 both the original and modified bios are included. Obviously you do this at your own risk!
jamesking420
3 Posts
0
January 7th, 2011 05:00
Well I will be testing this very shortly but it will be tomorrow. I will flash and confirm it flashes OK tonight, and then when I get my SSD tomorrow (it is waiting for me at my local Royal Mail sorting office) I can tell you whether or not it works :emotion-2:
James
Timdrouilard
628 Posts
0
January 7th, 2011 07:00
FWIW, I just stumbled onto this thread, but I have several Dells, (way too many to count), but one of them is indeed an XPS420 which was my main system till I bought a 9100 a few months ago.
I have been running an OCZ 120gig SSD in the 420 for quite some time with no problems at all. It installed as the primary drive just fine, and the system is currently running Windows 7 64-bit.
Yes the drive is fast, as proven by all the benchmarks I've thrown at it. I just wish is was a bit bigger.
My 420 currently has (from memory), DVD-RW, Card Reader, 120gig SSD, 1.5TB HD, and 2TB HD for SATA drives along with a sound blaster titanium, and a nVidia 295 video card.
Yes I upgraded the PS when I bought the video card.
I don't recall which BIOS it has, but I'm sure it is the latest BIOS.
targetbsp
11 Posts
0
January 7th, 2011 08:00
Which ocz though? The Vertex 1 is an Indilinx drive and I have one of those and it's fine. It seems to be the sandforce controller (which most modern drives - including the vertex 2 have) that are struggling.
Timdrouilard
628 Posts
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January 10th, 2011 08:00
I honestly don't know. the system is at home and is my secondary system there. If I can remember, I'll fire it up tonight when I get home and look.
jamesking420
3 Posts
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January 10th, 2011 14:00
Well this worked for me. It's possible it's just because my SSD was "OK" but it is also Sandforce, so I suspect I would have had the same problem you are experiencing if it weren't for updating the firmware using the info that target provided.
Obviously I can't guarantee it will work and it's at your own risk, but it's working 100% OK for me :)
Sand force SSD and Fastboot working together beautifully.
Timdrouilard
628 Posts
0
January 10th, 2011 19:00
OK, according to the box it came in, it's a Vertex Series 120GB SATA II 2.5" solid state drive.
kapalua
298 Posts
0
January 12th, 2011 07:00
Just saw this post again. Bios A06 works fine with OCZ Vertex 2, 180 GB times two in Raid 0 mode.
I feel guilty not going to bios A07 but I'm afraid that "might" screw things up.
Just ran Windows Experience Index for the Raided Sandforce Controlled Hard drives = 7.9
Treefriend
5 Posts
0
January 16th, 2011 06:00
The modified BIOS A07 works great with my XPS420 and OZC Vertex 2 120GB!!
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! :emotion-21: :emotion-1:
There before the SSD with System partition wasn´t boot some times at the PC start. That was very bad. Now with the Intel Matrix ROM 8.5 everything is good.
I think this was my last Dell. There´s so a bad support. SSDs are the future, but the XPS 420 (with his bad BTX-System) is the past. Only some private inspiration are my luck. :-) THANKS!
kapalua
298 Posts
0
January 16th, 2011 10:00
Congratulations!
What are you getting for Windows 7 hard drive WEI scores?
kapalua
298 Posts
0
January 16th, 2011 12:00
I'm curious as to how you got the Intel Matrix ROM 8.5 into the bios. The A )& bios upgrade supposedly only addresses audio issues.
Treefriend
5 Posts
0
January 17th, 2011 10:00
The WEI score of the SSD (primary partition) is 7.7
Treefriend
5 Posts
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January 30th, 2011 00:00
I can directly see that the serial number of the SSD wasn´t shown correctly with the 7x Intel Matrix ROM. It was like 625445░░░░~9
Now with the 8x the serial ist not broken and shown corret.
RadDoc98
1 Message
0
February 6th, 2011 20:00
I would also like to know how to roll the Intel Rom update into the T3400 A11 BIOS. It will not currently properly recognize my new Crucial RealSSD. I see it on the boot screens but the last characters are incorrect (as above) and the drive is not seen in Windows 7.
Thanks.
Treefriend
5 Posts
1
February 7th, 2011 07:00
You should friendly ask cd0nc from http://www.ocztechnologyforum.com/forum/showthread.php?82608-List-of-BIOS-files-with-updated-Intel-ICH9-10R-RAID-ROMs